HEAVY RAINS CREATE MUD SLIDES ON OHT AND ACCESS ROADS. We have reports of two sections of the OHT that have literally slide off of the hillside, and one major access road that has been blocked. This is due to a foot of rain that hit the area on March 18th. The more serious mudslide is along the OHT from Falling Water Creek to Richland Creek Campground - the trail actually slide so far down the hillside that it covered up parts of the forest road below. This road is currently closed - access to the Richland Creek Campground area is from the north, via Hwy. 123.

The second section of the OHT that has been damaged by a mudslide is in between mile points 36-37, near where the Rock House is under the bluff just before the trail comes down off the hill and intersects with Hwy. 23 at the Cherry Bend Trailhead. You may have to climb over debris and hunt for the trail in this section - caution is advised for both of these trail sections.

LAKE FT. SMITH STATE PARK IS CLOSED. The western terminus of the Ozark Highlands Trail has been located at Lake Ft. Smith State Park near the town of Mountainburg, Arkansas, just off of U.S. Highway 71.The state park closed on December 31st, 2001 and remains closed. For the time being, the western end of the OHT, or at least the western-most access point, is at Dockerys Gap, which is located at mile point 10.4 along the OHT. There is parking available at this trailhead on Forest Road #1007. You can still hike to the west from this point, down along Jacks Creek and on to the new Lake Ft. Smith, but you will not be able to gain access once you get down there. To get to this trailhead from the town of Mountainburg, take old Hwy. 71 south for 2.6 miles to the top of the hill and TURN LEFT onto county road 348 (paved). This road will turn to gravel road at the community of Locke, where it will also change to FR#1007 - simply continue straight ahead on the road. After about 13.5 miles (from Hwy. 71) you will pass the point where the OHT crosses the road. The Dockerys Gap Trailhead will be just beyond the trail on the right.

The new state park and beginning OHT Trailhead at the visitor center there is scheduled to open "soon," but after many promised dates have come and gone we don't have a clue when this new facility will ever open. Perhaps this year, maybe next, it is possible it will not open until 2020 or later, who knows.

TRAIL RE-ROUTES. There are four new trail reroutes along the OHT that have been constructed this past year or two that you should be aware of. All of them were done to improve the location of the trail, and result in a nicer experience for all!

The FIRST one is at Spirits Creek, mile 24.5 The trail used to cross the creek three times, but now has been rerouted so it remains on the west side of the creek—visiting the base of a nice bluff and waterfall area in the process—and only crosses the creek once.

The SECOND reroute is at mile 37.8. The trail used to run along an old logging road that is now heavily used by four-wheelers, but now bypasses the road and runs along the edge of a bench with some great views, eventually crossing the old road at a right angle.

The THIRD reroute is in Waterfall Hollow at mile 77.6. The trail now crosses a road that it used to run along, and visits not one or two, but three very nice waterfalls before rejoining the original trail (note that construction on this reroute is ongoing, but will be completed soon)

The FOURTH reroute is at Falling Water Creek, mile 139.6. The trail used to follow the county road, but now enters the woods at the far end of the bridge and runs alongside the creek for some great views of the creek before crossing the county road and rejoining the original trail.

PIONEER ROAD CLOSED IN HURRICANE CREEK WILDERNESS. Up until recently, there was a forest service trailhead on forest road #1002/Johnson County Road 5881, and you could make an easy hike along an old pioneer road from that trailhead that would take you about two miles into the wilderness area and connect with the Ozark Highlands Trail at milepoint 111.3 (see page 95 in the OHT Guidebook). This old road crosses private property, and the land owner no longer allows hikers to cross his property. The old road was used as an emergency exit point for folks within the wilderness area, but it is now no longer accessible and you would need to make other plans. The forest service trailhead has been removed.

WATCH OUT FOR FALLING TREES! We are in the middle of a widespread epidemic in the Ozarks - a little beetle called the RED OAK BORER is killing thousands of red oak trees in the Ozark and Mark Twain National Forests in Arkansas and Missouri. As you hike the area trails be aware of dead trees along the way, and watch out for falling limbs and even falling trees as you hike - be especially alert when hiking during stormy weather when winds are strong and can blow trees over. Also when choosing your campsite take some time to look around at the trees and large branches above and do not camp in an area where a falling tree might hit your campsite.

OZONE STORE CLOSED, PELSOR STORE OFTEN CLOSED. For those of you expecting to be able to resupply at the two little grocery stores along the Ozark Highlands Trail please note that the store at Ozone burned down and is not going to be rebuilt. And also that the little store at Pelsor is closed most of the time. What most hikers do is mail a package to themselves at the post office that is located at each of these tiny communities - these post offices are open and will hold your package for you if requested.

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