223 miles across the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma, from Talimena State Park to Pinnacle Mountain State Park.
“223 miles across the Ouachita Mountains from Talimena State Park to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, no permit and no fee, 23 shelters along the way.”
Plan your Ouachita Trail trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
How to get OT
OT is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
More about Ouachita TrailPlanning another trip? See the permits we alert on.
OT permit season
- route distance
- 223mi
OT elevation profile
Talimena State Park (western terminus) to Pinnacle Mountain State Park (eastern terminus)Talimena State Park (western terminus)
Western terminus on Highway 271 near Talihina, Oklahoma; Segment 01 begins here and heads into the Winding Stair National Recreation Area.
- Mile
- 0
- Elevation
- ≈1,024 ft
OT landmarks
OT campgrounds
How to get an OT permit
As of September 2026, OT in Ouachita Trail, Arkansas requires a permit issued via walk-up. OT rates 4/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The OT route covers 223 miles.
- Type
- Thru-Hike
- Location
- AR
How this permit is issued
Get this permit in person at the trailhead or ranger station, or by phone.
Step 1: Check the agency page for the process
This permit is not sold online. Confirm where and when it is issued (and any fee) at the managing agency's website before your trip.
Step 2: Arrive early
Walk-up permits are issued first-come, first-served. Where the agency sets a daily quota, popular trailheads can run out on weekends and holidays.
Step 3: Have backup plans
Popular trailheads fill fast. Know alternate routes or dates.
More on OT: Live availability activityOuachita Trail permit itinerary
How much an OT permit costs
OT permit fee: Free; no permit required.
The OT hike
- Distance
- 223 miles
223 miles across the Ouachita Mountains from Talimena State Park to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, no permit and no fee, 23 shelters along the way.
About this permit
223 miles across the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma, from Talimena State Park to Pinnacle Mountain State Park: 192 miles across the Ouachita National Forest, per the Forest Service, plus another 32 to Pinnacle Mountain. There is no fee and no permit or reservation system for the trail. Trailhead registration boxes ask hikers to sign in for safety tracking, but that is not an issued permit and carries no quota.
The route
From Talimena State Park the trail crosses Rich Mountain at its 2,610-foot high point on the Arkansas-Oklahoma line, runs through Queen Wilhelmina State Park, and continues east past the Forest Service's mapped end near Perryville to Pinnacle Mountain State Park west of Little Rock.
Why it matters
The Forest Service does not gate this trail with a permit system, but it does warn hard about water: some segments have no dependable source at all, so the trailhead sign-in boxes exist for safety tracking, not access control.
OT hike highlights
- 23 open-sided trail shelters along the route, from Rock Garden at mile 9.4 to Scott Tarvin Shelter at mile 210.2
- Sign in at trailhead registration boxes for safety tracking
- 137 miles open to both mountain bikes and foot traffic; 55 miles foot traffic only
How hard the OT hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required5/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Experienced hikers with excellent fitness and relevant technical skills.
Recommended experience: Should have completed 10+ mile day hikes with significant elevation gain.
When to hike OT
Best time to visit
Not confirmed in the research bundle; check current Forest Service conditions before you go.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Day 5: 61% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
Today
89°
70°
26%
Mon
86°
71°
Tue
92°
66°
Wed
83°
71°
47%
Thu
74°
68°
61%
Fri
73°
69°
50%
Sat
69°
65°
28%
OT rules, gear and safety
Hazards & considerations
- Long dry stretches; the Forest Service's own segment guides warn some sections have no dependable water at all
- Groups larger than 75 need a special use permit from the nearest Ranger District
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for OT.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for OT · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
OT FAQ
Do I need an Ouachita Trail permit to hike or backpack it?
No. The U.S. Forest Service page for the trail states there is no fee, and no permit or reservation system covers the route -- confirmed by an empty Recreation.gov search for the trail on 2026-09-26.
How long is the Ouachita Trail?
The Forest Service's own trail page states 192 miles across the Ouachita National Forest, plus 32 additional miles on other land to reach Pinnacle Mountain State Park -- commonly rounded to about 223 miles end to end.
Where does the Ouachita Trail start and end?
It begins at Talimena State Park on Highway 271 near Talihina, Oklahoma, and the Forest-Service-maintained section ends south of Perryville, Arkansas on Highway 9; an additional unmapped stretch continues to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, 15 miles west of Little Rock.
What is the highest point on the Ouachita Trail?
Rich Mountain, at trail mile 46.3 on the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line, at 2,610 feet -- the Forest Service's segment guide's stated high point.
Are there shelters along the Ouachita Trail?
Yes. Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT), the trail association, lists 23 open-sided trail shelters spaced along the route, from Rock Garden at mile 9.4 to Scott Tarvin Shelter at mile 210.2.
Do I need to register or self-issue a permit at wilderness boundaries on the Ouachita Trail?
The Forest Service's own segment guide asks hikers to sign in at registration boxes at trailheads for safety tracking, but this is not an issued permit and carries no quota.
Is water reliable along the Ouachita Trail?
No. The Forest Service's segment guides repeatedly warn of long dry stretches -- for example, 'the only dependable water on this section is what you begin with' between miles 51.8 and 58.5, and only one possible water source across all of Segment 05 (miles 68.1-85.0), at mile 74.2.
Can I bring a large group on the Ouachita Trail?
Groups of more than 75 people camping in the Ouachita National Forest need a special use permit from the nearest Ranger District office; there is no Ouachita-specific published limit for smaller backpacking groups.
Is the Ouachita Trail open to mountain bikes?
Parts of it. The Forest Service states the trail is 'open to foot traffic only for 55 miles' while '137 miles is now open to both mountain bikes and foot traffic,' specifically from the western Oklahoma boundary to the Big Cedar trailhead (mile 30.5) and from the Talimena Scenic Drive crossing near Queen Wilhelmina (mile 54.1) east to a Highway 7 trailhead at mile 160.4.
OT trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about OT.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to an OT permit
Where to stay near OT
- Cedar Lake (Oklahoma) campgroundOuachita National Forest
- Winding Stair Campground (Ok)Ouachita National Forest
- Potato Hills Central campgroundSardis Lake
- All Arkansas campgrounds
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