Ouachita Trail Beginners Backpacking Trip Register

Date and Time:
Fri, Oct 30, 2026; 4:00 PM (Central) - Sun, Nov 1, 2026 12:00 PM (Central)

Add to Calendar Ouachita Trail Beginners Backpacking Trip

Beginners Backpacking trip on the Ouachita Trail

Webinar URL:

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Organized By: Dallas Group

Note: This outing is full.
Please contact Jim Robarge at robargeDSC@gmail.com
to be placed on the waiting list

Dallas Group, Lone Star Chapter

Hikes the Ouachita Trail
October 30 – November 1 , 2026

Trip Coordinator: Jim Robarge robargeDSC@gmail.com 972-505-9567

Trip Overview: The Ouachita Trail runs 223 miles from eastern Oklahoma to Little Rock Arkansas. We will be hiking 7 miles of the trail from Winding Stair Trailhead to Big Cedar Trail head. The trip will start Friday night, October 30^th at the hiker camp adjacent to the Winding Stair Trailhead. Alternatively, you can arrive at the trailhead by 9 AM on Saturday. The trip will end Sunday noon, November 1^st back at the vehicles at the trailhead. If the weather is incompatible with a successful hike, the trip will be canceled.

Registration procedure:
Read the entire description. Complete the RSVP (on this page) and the Participation Agreement. Please have each participant complete a separate RSVP

Friday, October 30^th: Our rendezvous point is Winding Stair Trailhead along Scenic Route 1 (34.714802, -94.67882). Make sure to enter the trailhead parking lot and not the campground. The trailhead entrance is a few hundred feet west of the campground entrance. Caution – Google maps can get confused about the location. It is recommended that you verify the location using the GPS coordinates. The hiker camp is a short distance beyond the latrine along the trail. There is a $4 per person camping fee that each camper is responsible to pay. The Winding Stair Trailhead is 3 ¾ hours from downtown Dallas. Arrival in time to set-up prior to sunset is recommended.

Saturday, October 31^th: We’ll hike leisurely about four and a half miles southeast during Saturday, stopping for lunch along the trail. Camp for the night will be near Red Springs.

Sunday, November 1^st: The hike today is a short two and a half miles downhill (mostly). We will cross the Big Cedar Creek just prior to the end of the hike. This is typically a wet crossing, so bring your water shoes. There will be a car at the trailhead to transport the drivers back to the Winding Stair Trailhead.

Arrival: From Talihina, OK take 2^nd street (Route 1) North for 8 miles. Turn right to stay on route 1. The trailhead is 18.5 miles along route 1 from the turn. (34.714802, -94.67882)

Return: The hike will end at the return to the vehicles at the trailhead on Sunday morning. The trip begins and ends at the trailhead. Participants are responsible for their own travel to the trailhead and back home (or wherever you journey leads you).

Level of Difficulty: This is intended to be a relatively easy trip but with a moderate hill climb. Participants should be in relatively good shape and able to hike 7 miles. We will keep the pace for everyone comfortable. But there will be two climbs on Saturday. One of 600 feet the other of 400 feet, so be prepared for some exertion. FYI – From White Rock Creek to the top of Flag Pole Hill in Dallas is about 90 feet of elevation change.

Water: There is no water at the trailhead. Make sure to have water for Friday night in addition to 3 liters of water available when we start the hike. There will be water at Red Springs for Saturday night and Sunday.

Weather: Rain is ALWAYS a possibility; don’t forget your rain gear.

Trip Guidelines:
Wilderness ethics and common courtesy are expected of all participants. Trash and toilet paper must be packed out. Bring zip-lock bags for that purpose. Human waste may be buried. Plan to cook on a stove, as campfires are not allowed on Dallas Sierra Club trips in wilderness areas, absent extraordinary circumstances. Pets, radios, firearms and smoking are not allowed, for both safety and consideration of others.

Gear: Each person is responsible for bringing and carrying his or her own equipment and food. You’re encouraged to contact your trip leader before departure to resolve any questions about gear. Leaders may refuse to allow backpackers with inadequate or inappropriate gear to join the hike, leaving them at the trailhead. Veteran backpackers typically aim for loaded packs of 25 pounds or less for this type of trip, including at least two liters of water. It takes experience to balance having the essentials and keeping your pack light. The following list identifies essential gear:

Clothing: Lightweight, versatile layers are key to comfort, given the range of possible
temperatures. Bring multiple layers suitable for April weather, including rain pants and a rain shell. Synthetics are vastly preferable to cotton, as wet cotton is both heavy and chilly. You’ll need field-tested boots or trail shoes. Expect and prepare for your feet to get wet (i.e., bring extra socks), gloves and a hat and sunscreen for UV protection.

Equipment: Tent and ground cloth; stove and fuel; cookware; sleeping bag; ground pad; backpack with hip belt; water containers and water treatment tablets or filter; headlamp; compass; trowel, toilet paper and zip-lock bags for used toilet paper; garbage bag; personal health and first-aid items (including moleskin for possible blisters). Bring parachute cord and a stuff-sack so you can bear-bag your food, trash and toiletries.

Food: Pack enough food for two breakfasts (Saturday & Sunday), a no-cook lunch (Saturday), two dinners (Friday & Saturday) and snacks. If you are arriving Saturday morning, you only need one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner.

Experience and Conditioning: Although no overnight backpacking experience is required for this trip, some knowledge of the basics of backpacking is expected. The Dallas Sierra Club Backpacking 101 class is an excellent preparation. You should feel comfortable hiking 7 miles with 20 – 25 pounds on your back. The trip leader reserves the right to determine whether a particular trip is suitable for a prospective participant, based on experience, health, equipment or other factors.

Bears: Although bear encounters are uncommon, hang smellable items in a bear bag nightly
and follow these guidelines:

Bring food without strong aromas.
Don’t store food or trash in your tent. Keep your camp clean.
Prepare meals away from your sleeping area.
Disperse cooking water over a wide area, away from camp.
Pack out all leftover food, waste cooking oils or grease and trash. Don’t bury food or trash.
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Carpools: Carpooling is encouraged. It will reduce your trip expenses, offer companionship, reduce tailhead congestion and is good for the environment. Note that Sierra Club leaders will not assign participants to a carpool. Assignment exposes the Club and its leaders to an unacceptable liability risk. The Sierra Club will, on your request, provide information about rides offered and rides wanted, but does not guarantee riders or rides. It is smart to agree before committing to a carpool how travel expenses to and from home will be shared. Two possible expense sharing methods are:

Riders (excluding the vehicle owner) to split fuel expenses
All vehicle occupants (including the owner) to split fuel expenses and an allowance of ten to twenty cents per mile for vehicle wear and maintenance.

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