The Ozark Highlands Trail Association (OHTA) is a private, nonprofit volunteer organization that was organized in 1981 to build, maintain and enjoy the Ozark Highlands Trail. Since that time thousands of our volunteers from twenty states have contributed over 350,000 hours of work to this trail project. Our members are all ages, come from different parts of the country, and have many backgrounds and interests.

The Ozark Highlands Trail is a 165-mile footpath that winds its way through the Boston Mountains from Lake Ft. Smith State Park to the Buffalo River. It is one of the most scenic hiking trails in the United States. Construction of the trail was begun in 1977 by the U.S. Forest Service, but soon funding disappeared and OHTA volunteers took up the torch. The main section of the trail was completed in 1989, and it was dedicated as a National Recreation Trail. Work on the trail continues - we are upgrading the bad spots, creating loop trails and spurs, have an ongoing maintenance program that covers the entire trail, and continue to coordinate the efforts to extend the trail all the way to St. Louis, Missouri - creating a trail system of nearly 1,000 miles! We just completed construction of a new 31.6-mile section in the Sylamore Ranger District of the Ozark National Forest.

OHTA is an outings club too - we try to have a least as many "fun" hikes as we do work trips. These casual trips will take you to some of the most scenic spots in the Ozarks, as well as other regional natural areas. We are also an educational organization, with emphasis on teaching low impact camping and hiking techniques, and helping to ease those who are new to the sport of hiking into the backcountry. Beginners welcome!

We have monthly meetings, a monthly newsletter, and an expanding program of work trips, dayhikes, overnight backpack trips, and car camp weekends. If this sounds like the group for you, fill out the form below and mail it in. For more information, contact Tim Ernst at 870-861-5536. OHTA is proud to be an affiliate of the American Hiking Society. Anyone who uses the Ozark Highlands Trail needs to support and be a member of OHTA. PRINT and then fill out the application below and send it in to (checks only - we do not accept credit cards):

Ozark Highlands Trail Association • HC 33, Box 50-A • Pettigrew, AR 72752 • 870-861-5536

Name ___________________________________________

Address ________________________________________

City _______________________________________ State ________ Zip ______________________

Phone ______________________________

___ Individual or Family/$20

___ Trail Friend /$30

___ Contributing /$50

___ Supporting /$100

___ Life /$300

Membership is good for a full year.
OHTA is recognized as a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization by the IRS

This site is courtesy of ArkansasUSA