Tompkins Bend

Tompkins Bend

Tompkins Bend Vista

A beautiful view of Lake Ouachita from LOViT between the Homestead and Tompkins Bend trailheads.

Description:

Hangover - Tompkins Bend

“Hangover”, a broken oak tree, looms over the Trail

This leg of the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT) is approximately five miles of winding trail from the Tompkins Bend Trailhead parking area to the Joplin Trailhead parking area off Mountain Harbor Rd. While designed for all age groups, expect more elevation and hills than on the trail from Denby Bay to Tompkins Bend. The trail crosses many spring-fed streams, winding past a number of old quartz crystal mines and many unusual rock formations.

Look for Hangover as it looms over the head of hikers and bikers.

An amazing feature is a stand of very large (estimated 300-400 years old) short-leaf pine trees towering over 125 feet above the trail.

A 1.5 mile loop out to Eagle Vista provides a spectacular view of the lake that, during the winter months, is home to several bald eagles. Look for the old natural cattle dip on Spring Creek and note the spring that feeds the creek at Spring Creek Bridge crossing. Here the trail wanders alongside the cool creek flowing over moss-covered stones through a narrow valley lined with hundreds of wood ferns.

Surrounding Area:

The trailhead is near entrance to the Tompkins Bend Campground. Fishing, boating, etc. at Shangri-La Resort.

Length:

5 miles to the Joplin Trailhead. Go east across Shangri-La Rd. from the trailhead. You may also go south about 1.75 miles to the P2 Homestead Trailhead or bypass this trailhead and travel 3 more miles to the P1B Denby Bay Trailhead .

Note on the map that there is a loop possible between the P2 Homestead and P3 Tompkins Bend trailheads by following the Tompkins Bend trail for about .75 miles to a junction. From the junction you may bear right (west) and follow a .25 miles loop back across Shangri-La Rd. to the P2 Homestead Trailhead.

Difficulty:

Moderate with bridged creek crossings.

Amenities:

Water and bathrooms available in the Tompkins Bend campground, about one block from the trailhead; Shangri-La Resort and restaurant is just a bit further down Shangri-La road.

Directions to Trailhead:

Go east from Mount Ida about 9 miles or west from Hot Springs about 25 miles on U.S. Highway 270 to Shangri-La Rd. You can’t miss the Shangri-La Resort sign on 270. Turn north off Highway 270 onto Shangri-La Road and continue to the Tompkins Bend campground entrance. Trailhead parking is on the left.

Accommodations:

Tompkins Bend Campground near the trailhead and Shangri-La Resort a bit further down Shangri-La Rd.

Recent articles about the LOViT Tompkins Bend trail segment:

Photo Hike With Master Gardeners – Apr. 14, 2013

On Sunday, April 14, we had our first Photo Hike on the LOVIt trail in an effort to develop a bank of trail pictures for the Master Gardener 2013 Calendar. We rallied at the parking lot of the Joplin Methodist Church at 1:30 pm. We had an even dozen hardy hikers join us for the 2.8 mile, 2 1/2 hour hike through the hollows and hills of the trail that stretches from Mountain Harbor Road to Shangri-La Road.  The spring bloom is reaching its peak with the smiling faces of the Dogwoods greeting us at every turn.  The wildflowers were blooming where they receive more sunlight, but in the hollows, they were just before bloom.  This portion of the LOViT Trail has many interesting features which we took time investigate and photograph. We broke into two groups – the “Hares” and the “Tortoises” – to accommodate all skill levels of … Click to read the full article

LOViT Marathon – Dec. 8, 2012

A bunch of Traildogs worked the LOViT Marathon this morning. The race is put on yearly by Phil and Bonnie Carr of Shangri-La Resort.  About 70 runners participated this year and enjoyed moderate and overcast weather, perfect for the run. The course begins at the corner of Shangri-La Road and the corner of old Highway 270, proceeds to the Denby Bay Trailhead on the LOViT, and then follows the Trail up to the top of Hickory Nut Mountain, for an out distance of 14+ miles.  The return trip takes the cutoff from the Joplin to Tompkins Bend segment across to the Homestead Trailhead, and then back in, accounting for the remaining 12 miles of the marathon. The ‘Dogs working the various aid stations want to thank Bonnie and Varine Carr for supplying the chili and banana pie.  Very much appreciated! This was a great event, and everyone, runners and Traildogs, … Click to read the full article

Clearing Trees, and The Dreaded Twig Girdler

The fall weather this morning was perfect as Traildogs Robert Cavanaugh and Jerry Shields cleared a dozen trees from across the trail on section three (Joplin to Hickory Nut Mountain) and on the old fire tower spur on top of Hickory Nut Mountain. Most of these trees required chain sawing to remove the blockage. The storms that passed through this area in late August and early September brought down several dead spars that had blocked the third section from being fully utilized by mountain bikers. The trail was covered in several places along the trail by small limbs that had been pruned from the hickory trees by a tiny beetle known as a “twig girdler” (Oncideres cingulata). The twig girdler chews the small limbs like a beaver, then drills a hole in the pruned limb and lays its eggs in the limb. See the attached photo of their work. Seems … Click to read the full article

New Bridge Near Tompkins Bend Trailhead on 1st Trail Segment – April 2012

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  From mid to late April, the Traildogs re-routed a bit of the first leg of the trail near the Tompkins Bend trailhead and replaced a bridge that had been washed away and subsequently damaged by a controlled burn.  The new bridge was constructed further away from the area that is subject to springtime floods. Traildog Robert put an album on our Facebook site documenting the work, and those photos are also captured here. Robert writes:  ”That was such a good day.  Makes me glad to be alive.  Jerry, that was amazing work on measuring and cutting the materials off site.  I am very impressed with the planning and the execution of it.” Enjoy the photos and the new bridge!   … Click to read the full article