OMH Trail Data / History

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Lee Gregory
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1 Caddo Bend Trail Lake Ouachita State Park This four-mile loop trail is on a peninsula in Lake Ouachita State Park. It offers forest hiking with views of Lake Ouachita and a lookout platform at the far end of peninsula. This is a good spot for eagle sightings, in the winter. The trail was destroyed by a tornado in the spring of 2011 and completely rebuilt in The new trail offers spectacular views of Lake Ouachita in the open areas where tree cover was removed. The one part of the original trail saved was the tip of the peninsula and the lookout platform. The trail starts and stops at a trailhead near the park Visitor's Center. It has a couple of short, steep spots, and some areas of rough footing, but otherwise is not particulalry difficult. Planning notes: 1. This trail is close to home from both Village and Hot Springs. It takes about hours to get around. 2. There are several picnic tables near trail head for after hike events such as lunch; we have used this hike for the fall "Welcome Back" hike several times. 3. Works well as an eight-mile hike by doing loop in both directions. Good for a local (in lieu of overnight) or summer training hike. 4. Parking at trail head has room for about ten cars. Additional parking behind Visitor's Center. Bathrooms in VC. Access Notes: 1. As you enter the state park, turn left at the Stop sign just across from Visitor's Center. Trailhead is at end of road about 1/4 mile ahead. Trail goes either way from tailhead parking. For additional info: Trail maps and information at state park Visitor's Center. Tim Ernst: Arkansas Hiking Trails; p. 153 Recent Hikes: Jan 1, 2014 Leader: Hikers LOSP "First Day" event Trailhead clockwise to spur near ranger's home; return miles Difficulty Rating 2 Scenic Rating 3 Over 65 people showed up for this state park event, part of the national "First Day" program to get people out on the trails on New Year's Day. OMH provided hike leaders for one mile, 3-mile, and 4-mile hikes (Jim Gifford, Glenn Wortham, and Anita Moore). Bonfire after hikes, with coffee, tea, fruit, snacks. Participants encouraged to burn their problems and bad habits (written on sheet of paper and tossed into fire) and to write their resolutions on paper table cloths. sss: Views of lake Oct 10, 2013 Leader: Phil Simpson 7 Hikers OMH Thursday / local in lieu of overnight Double Loop (full loop twice; reverse direction for second loop) 8.4 miles Difficulty Rating 2 Scenic Rating 2 It was a moderate hike, with clean trails. Damage from recent tornado was still apparent. I had planned to take the hikers to West Mountain. However, the National Park trails were closed due to a federal government shutdown. Sept 6, 2012 Leader: Anita Moore 48 (+ 7 more for OMH Special Event New Trail clockwise from trailhead 4.0 miles Difficulty Rating 2 Scenic Rating 3 Annual "Welcome Back" hike, highlighting a renewed partnership with LOSP. Susan Adkns very helpful and had park set up a big tent for us in the picnic area. VERY hot/humid day (105 or more). Good picnic, with, as usual, way too much food. First trip on rebuilt trails for many in the group. Anita led 31 'fast' hikers counterclockwise; Mike M led 17 slower hikers clockwise. We all arrived at lookout platform at same time. Most were almost done in by the heat. This was as close to dehydration as many have come. sss: New Lake Vistas from areas opened by tornado; Lokout platform at tip of peninsula 8/29/2014 p. 1

3 Sept 27, 2011 Leader: Glenn Wortham, Trail Boss Hikers Trail Maintenance / OMH Various work areas, across the peninsula. Trail is gone. We were helping restore the area after last springs tornado. 2 miles Difficulty Rating x Scenic Rating 3 This was a special work day to help James Wilborne at the state park. Caddo Bend trail was obliterated by last spring's tornadoes. Erosion control was today's mission. We will build a new trail later. Task was mostly spreading grass seed and building water bars/dams on areas where loggers had cleared away down trees. sss: views of lake from newly opened clear areas Oct 2, 2010 Leader: Jackie Dawson Hikers OMH Thursday Counter-clockwise (reverse) Loop No report received sss: lake views Sept. 10, 2009 Leader: Glenn Wortham 43 (includes five OMH Special Event Counter-clockwise loop (and vice-versa for other group) "Welcome Back Hike", bad forecast did not dampen turn-out and we hiked about half the hike in the rain. We were all pretty wet by the end of the hike. Glenn split the group and did counter-direction loops; Jim led 'rabbits" counter-clockwise. Took our pot-luck picnic inside the Visitor's Center at Lake Ouachita State Park. "Reunion" hike to start the club's 25th season. Several 'old-timers' showed up. Unveiled our fancy new OMH Banner. sss: Fog on lake from lookout platform Jan 31, 2009 Leader: Jackie Dawson 20 Hikers OMH Saturday Clockwise around loop Beautiful winter day - this is the day we wanted Thursday (Forked Mt). Good crowd had a delightful time. Mike M and Jim took a side trip down service road to an old picnic area, then bushwhacked to catch the group at lookout platform. sss: Lookout paltform at end of peninsula Jan 5, 2008 Leader: Jeannie Eichler 12 Hikers OMH Saturday Clockwise loop Twelve humans and one dog enjoyed the trip, in spite of being a little wet, as it drizzled most of hike Great lake views; Lookout platform had been damaged by downed tree, but still usable. Nine of twelve went to Home Plate after hike for lunch. Jeannie's rookie outing as Hike leader. sss: views of lake, particularly at observation deck. Sept 6, 2007 Leader: Loretta Melancon 53 Hikers OMH Special Event Split group; each group did full loop in opposite directions. Annual "Welcome Back" Hike draws huge crowd, in spite of threatening weather and very high humidity 2 Loretta led the turtles counter-clockwise; Jim led the rabbits clock-wise. Four hikers dropped early out due to heat/humidity. Hike followed by traditional "pot luck" picnic. sss: views of lake, particularly at observation deck.

4 Sept 7, 2006 Leader: Rex Greer 50! Hikers OMH Special Event Split group; each group did full loop in opposite directions. Annual "Welcome Back" Hike draws huge crowd, including at least ten first time hikers. Beautiful day. Hike followed by traditional "pot luck" picnic, but this year the club paid for fried chicken. sss: views of lake, particularly at observation deck. Apr 22, 2006 Leader: Glen & Nancy McFarlane 16 Hikers OMH Saturday Clockwise loop; 4.0 miles Difficulty Rating 2 Scenic Rating 3 Club's first hike on this trail since the 2006 re-routes and new bridge. The lake is full of water again (first time in almost a year); trail in great shape. sss: Lookout platform at end of peninsula Dec 17, 2005 Leader: Phil Simpson 21 Hikers OMH Saturday Split group went opposite directions around the loop Phil's "rookie" day as hike leader. Good job. Group split with Marv leading half of them and Phil leading half. Jan 8, 2005 Leader: Guy Yates 35 Hikers OMH Saturday Loop trail 4.2 miles Difficulty Rating 3 Scenic Rating 4 Big crowd; good time; completed in 2.5 hours. sss: Views; particularly from lookout at head of peninsula Sept 9, 2004 Leader: Charline Knight 47 Hikers OMH Special Event loop 4.0 miles Difficulty Rating 3 Scenic Rating 4 Annual "Welcome Back" hike; drew over 40 people, many of them new. 15 new members joined during this event. sss: view from lookout Jul 1, 2004 Leader: Jim Gifford 14 Hikers OMH bonus Double Loop (Clockwise back to trailhead; then reverse for second loop) 8.4 miles Difficulty Rating 2 Scenic Rating 2 Summer training hike; weather threatened, but never bothered. Worked well as an eight-mile hike. Jun 3, 2004 Leader: Jim Gifford 7 Hikers OMH Thursday Counter-clockwise (reverse) Loop Beautiful day (after storm). Did a lot of trail clearing to pick up debris This hike replaced an OT "make up day". No make-up needed or desired. sss: lake views

5 Apr 3, 2004 Leader: Glen & Nancy McFarlane 30 Hikers OMH Saturday Clockwise loop Dogwoods, Iris in bloom sss: Lake views as trees started to leaf out. Nov 15, 2003 Leader: Maria McClead 7 Hikers OMH Saturday Counterclockwise loop / Saturday Hikers hike in the rain Light rain scared away most of crowd. Drizzle most of way; we hiked in ponchos, but did not get very wet. temp low 50s. Sep 19, 2002 Leader: Martha Doty, Task Master 8 Hikers Trail Maintenance / OMH General trail maintenance around loop 4.1 miles Difficulty Rating 5 hours Trail maintenance in the rain. Five hours to complete the 4 mile loop. Marina gave Martha and Jim free coffee after because we looked like drowned rats when we were finished. Sep 5, 2002 Leader: Martha Doty 25 Hikers OMH Special Event Clockwise from trailhead Traditional end of summer "Welcome Back" Hike with pot luck brunch. Good crowd; even Hank Deutsch showed up (resulting in Village Voice article). Feb 16, 2002 Leader: Maria McClead? Hikers OMH Saturday Loop trail "Eagle watch" hike, but no Eagles seen. Hike followed by weenie roast in state park. Nov 24, 2001 Leader:? Hikers OMH Saturday Loop trail 8/29/2014 p. 4

OMH Trail Data / History

OMH Trail Data / History Lake Sylvia Loop Ouachita National Forest (AR) This is a five-mile loop with several variations for Saturday hikes. The basic loop starts at Lake Sylvia campground and goes south to meet the Ouachita Trail