About the Area

The Ouachita National Forest covers nearly 1.8 million acres in central Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma.  It is the oldest and largest National Forest in the Southern Region.  When first established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, it was named the Arkansas National Forest.  President Calvin Coolidge renamed it to Ouachita in 1926.  Ouachita (pronounced wash-i-tah) is the French spelling of a Native American word meaning "good hunting ground."   The Supervisor's office, which is now located in Hot Springs, was originally in Mena, Arkansas.  The Ouachita has 5 District Clusters:

• Caddo Womble
• Jessieville Winona Fourche
• Mena Oden
• Oklahoma
• Poteau Cold Springs

The Ouachita is primarily a pine-hickory mix.  It has over 700 miles of trails for various activities such as hiking, mountain biking, interpretive, equestrian, off-road vehicles, and trails that allow for accessibility.  There are multiple developed recreation areas, scenic areas, vistas, shooting ranges,  historical sites, wilderness areas, and one National recreation area.  Most of the developed recreation areas are open April through September, but some sites are open year-round. Contact one of the Forest Service offices for more information regarding open seasons and fees.