Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (“LOViT”)

The Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (“LOViT”) is an unsurfaced hiking and mountain biking trail winding along the southern shore of Arkansas’ Lake Ouachita. Being developed by volunteers in cooperation with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Forest Service, plans call for the trail to extend 35 to 40 miles along the shore, connecting private resorts and public campgrounds including Ouachita Shores Resort, Shangri-La Resort, Mountain Harbor Resort, Crystal Springs Resort, and Brady Mountain Resort, before finally reaching Blakely Mountain Dam near Hot Springs, AR. Parking is provided at each trailhead.

Currently, the trail rises 900 feet from the Denby trailhead to the top of Hickory Nut Mountain and then on to Little Bear Creek at the foot of Big Bear Mountain, with construction currently in progress to extend the trail from Little Bear Creek, across Big Bear Mountain, to Brady Mountain Resort. Hikers and bikers travel up, down, and along mountain slopes through mixed hardwood and pine forests opening up at several places to breathtaking views of the Lake Ouachita. Beautiful displays of wildflowers and tumbling waterfalls await during spring and summer months.

See the The Big Picture for an overview of the entire trail.

Eagle Vista spur on the Tompkins Bend to Joplin trail segment provides a glorious opportunity to view the Bald Eagles in the winter. Along the trail, pits left by quartz and silver speculators, an old cattle dip, the remains of a moonshiner’s still, and waterfalls are evidence of the area’s colorful history. And, as on the entire trail, strategically placed benches allow hikers and bikers to take a break and enjoy the view.

The Watchable Wildlife, ADA-accessible trail is now completed and was dedicated in a small ceremony on Oct. 7, 2011.

For more information about Lake Ouachita and the Trail, visit these links:

 

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