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. This means that access to the OHT in that area is no longer be possible. The city of Ft. Smith is going to enlarge the dam at Lake Ft. Smith, raising the level of the lake by 87 feet, which will flood most of the first six miles of the OHT, and also all of the Evan's Point Loop Trail.
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 Lake Shepherd Springs, but you will not be able to gain access once you get down there. Actually, this part of the trail probably won't be used much for the time being, so it would be a great place to hike into to in order to get away from others!
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 city of Ft. Smith is building a brand new state park (scheduled to open in 2006), which will be located on the western side of the new lake, near where the Lake Shepherd Springs dam is right now (construction has begun). The OHT will once again begin at the park, and that will be the official starting point. We are hopeful that this will happen even before the state park is completed. The City of Ft. Smith is in charge of all this, and will be responsible for building the new trail. Currently there is no trail connection between Artist Point and the OHT.
Please check back to this page for current information.
Thank you, and happy trails!