North America/United States of America/Arkansas/Mena/Ouachita National Forest/

Ouachita National Forest

• Location & Contact Information
  • Address: AR USA 71902
  • Telephone Number: +1-501-321-5202
  • Official Website: [1]
• Overview

Ouachita National Forest is a National Forest that lies in the western portion of Arkansas and portions of eastern Oklahoma.The Ouachita National Forest is the oldest National Forest in the southern United States. The Forest encompasses 1784457 acrekm2|0, including most of the scenic Ouachita Mountains. Six locations in the Forest, comprising 65000 acrekm2|0, have been designated as wilderness areas. Ouachita is the French spelling of the Indian word Washita which means good hunting grounds. The forest was known as Arkansas National Forest on its establishment on December18, 1907; the name was changed to Ouachita National Forest on April29, 1926.Ouachita National Forest Rich in history, the rugged and scenic Ouachita Mountains were first explored in 1541 by Hernando deSotos party of Spaniards . French explorers followed, flavoring the region with names like Fourche La Fave River.The area including the forest nearly became a 165000 acrekm2| National Park during the 1920s but a last-minute veto by President Calvin Coolidge ended the effort.The Forest contains extensive woodlands of stunted Northern Red Oak, White Oak , Post Oak, and Blackjack Oak at elevations over 2500 ft|m and on steep, dry slopes.ref name = OldGrowthEastAR> These woodlands, of little commercial value, were never logged and the extent of old growth forest within them may total nearly 800000 acrekm2.ref name = OldGrowthEastAR/> There are also old-growth woodlands of Eastern Redcedar, Gum Bumelia, Winged Elm, and Yaupon along some streams.ref name = OldGrowthEastAR/>Two wilderness areas are found in the forest, protecting the sections of the forest that have had the least amount of human intervention. The 13139 acrekm21 Black Fork Mountain Wilderness is located in both Arkansas and Oklahoma and contains significant old-growth forests.ref name = OldGrowthEastAR/> The 9754 acrekm21 Upper Kiamichi River Wilderness is located solely in Oklahoma.The forest contains a number of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. The most extensive hiking trail is the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, which traverses 223 mi|km across the region. This is a well-maintained backpacking, hiking trail with overnight shelters in several portions of the trail. Mountain biking is also allowed for some sections of the trail. In the Oklahoma section of the forest the 26445 acrekm20 Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area and six other designated areas offer visitors a full range of activities with more than 150campsites, a 90 acreha| lake, and an equestrian camp. The Talimena Scenic Drive, which is Highway 1 in Oklahoma and Highway88 in Arkansas, is a National Scenic Byway which meanders through the forest providing amazing vistas and excellent photo opportunities. The Scenic Drive passes through old-growth oak woodlands on Winding Stair and Rich Mountains.ref name = OldGrowthEastAR/>Canoeing and fishing are popular activities on the Mountain Fork River, Caddo River, Little Missouri River , and Ouachita River within the bounds of the forest. The Cossatot River, said to be the most difficult whitewater river between the Smoky and Rocky Mountains, also passes through the forest.Rockhound s frequent a belt several miles wide containing concentrations of quartz crystals. Visitors and rock collectors are free to pick up loose crystals within the belt for personal use and may dig for quartz with the permission of the district ranger.Forest headquarters are located in Hot Springs, Arkansas.