Ozark Highlands Trail
The Ozark Highlands Trail is a long-distance hiking route through the remote Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas, traversing the Ozark National Forest and wilderness areas such as Hurricane Creek. Th...
Legacy import — verify before navigating
- Length
- 270 mi
- Thru-hike
- —
- Elev. gain
- —
- States
- 1
About the route
The Ozark Highlands Trail is a long-distance hiking route through the remote Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas, traversing the Ozark National Forest and wilderness areas such as Hurricane Creek. The completed footpath runs about 218 miles from Lake Fort Smith east to the Buffalo National River; planned extensions (via the Ozark Trail network) would expand the system further.
Termini
Terminus A
Lake Fort Smith State Park (western terminus)
35.7228, -93.5081
Terminus B
Woolum Ford, Buffalo National River (eastern terminus)
35.9719, -92.8862
Verified waypoints
21 total · filter on the map aboveCategories you've hidden on the map are collapsed here too.
Route markers3
Buffalo National River · Trailhead
Park visitor area on or near the route.
Imported route
Lake Fort Smith State Park (Western Terminus) · Trailhead
Western terminus at Lake Fort Smith State Park, AR.
Source ↗ From the official trail guide
Woolum Ford (Eastern Terminus) · Trailhead
Eastern terminus at Woolum Ford on the Buffalo National River.
Source ↗ From the official trail guide
Water & camping18
Ozark National Forest Fairview Recreation Area · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Haw Creek Falls Camping · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Wolf Pen Recreation Area Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Twin Creeks RV Park · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Byrd's Adventure Center · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Shores Lake · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Serenity Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Ozone Recreation Area Camping · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Woolum Dispersed Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
OHT Primitive Site · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Turner Bend Outfitter · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Redding Campground · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Buffalo National River Woolum · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Mt Hersey Camping - Buffalo National River · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Mulberry Mountain Lodging & Events · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
OHT Backcountry Primitive Site · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
Wolf Pen Recreation Area · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
White Rock Mountain Recreation Area · Campsite
Verified campground near the route.
Imported route
What we don't yet have
We deliberately do not display water sources, resupply towns, shuttle services, or trail-side businesses on this page. Those change every season and an out-of-date pin can be a safety issue, especially on the high-desert and alpine sections of long trails. Use the trail association's published guide, FarOut, or Guthook for that level of detail; verify with rangers before relying on any cached source.
Official sources
Last verified by us: 2026-05-14
Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Reconfirm alerts, permits, and closures with the agency before you go.
Best seasons
States traversed
Editor's note
Currently walkable 270 mi; planned full build-out 320 mi. OSM parent relation not available.