Ouatchita Trail Hike for Experienced Backpackers Register

Date and Time:
Thu, Nov 12, 2026; 10:00 AM (Central) - Sun, Nov 15, 2026  3:00 PM  (Central)

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11/12/2026 10:00 AM 11/15/2026 3:00 PM America/Chicago
Ouatchita Trail Hike for Experienced Backpackers

Do you want to experience the beauty of the Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas mountains? If you are an experienced backpacker and want to kick start your 2026 backpacking season, join us for a long weekend hike along the Ouachita Trail. This hike will include mountain climbs and river crossings with camping in a National Wilderness area.

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Organized By: Dallas Group

Dallas Group, Lone Star Chapter

Hikes the Ouachita Trail
Nov 12 – 15, 2026
Trip Coordinator: Jim Robarge 972-505-9567
robargeDSC@gmail.com


Ouachita Trail
Trip Overview: The Ouachita Trail runs 223 miles from eastern Oklahoma to Little Rock Arkansas.  We will be hiking 27 miles of the trail from Winding Stair Trailhead to Queen Wilhelmina State Park.  The hike is meant for experienced backpackers who want a long weekend hiking the beauty of the Ouachita Trail.  The section we will travel passes through one of the two National Wilderness Areas along the trail.  We will also have four climbs of 500 – 700 feet and cross the Kiamichi River seven times.

The trip will start Thursday at 11:00 AM, Nov 12th at the Winding Stair Trailhead. The hike will end Sunday noon, April 5th, at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.  Transportation back to the Winding Stair TH is available.  If the weather is incompatible with a successful hike, the trip will be canceled.

Thursday, Nov 12th:  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.  Arrive by 11:00 AM.  The Winding Stair Trailhead is 3 ¾ hours from downtown Dallas. We will hike 4.2 miles from Winding Stair to Red Springs Camp on Thursday.

Friday, Nov 13th:  We will hike down to Big Cedar Creek and across the foot of Wilton Mountain to Pashubbe.  Then there will be a climb to the saddle on Wilton Mountain where will camp (dry camp).  We will hike 7.8 miles on Friday.

Saturday, Nov 14th:  Starting Wilton Mountain, we will hike down to the Kiamichi River.  The trail then follows the Kiamichi crossing it seven times before heading up the mountain to the state line.  We will stay at a hikers shelter Saturday night (dry camp).  We will hike 10.8 miles on Saturday.

Sunday, Nov 15th:  We will hike 4.8 miles to Queen Wilhelmina State Park.  A car will be available to take drivers back to the Winding Stair Trailhead if you so choose.  You may arrange other transportation also.

Arrival: From Talihina, OK take 2nd 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 arrival to Queen Wilhemina State Park on Sunday morning. Participants are responsible for their own travel to the trailhead on Thursday and back home on Sunday (or wherever you journey leads you).

Registration: Complete the RSVP on this page.  Each participant must complete a form.  You will be requested to also complete medical information and sign the Participant Agreement.  After registering you will be contacted with details of the outing.

Level of Difficulty: This is intended to be a trip for experienced backpackers in good condition.  This hike includes several mountain climbs, river crossings and significant mileage. 

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 (hopefully) be water at Red Springs for Saturday night and Sunday morning.  We will collect water on Friday and Saturday during the day to carry to our dry camps.

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 November 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 three breakfasts, three or four no-cook lunches, three dinners and snacks

Experience and Conditioning: Overnight backpacking experience is required for this trip.  You should feel comfortable hiking 10 miles up mountains and across streams 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.
Fauna: Although many of the insects and small critters will be less active in November.  You should still be prepared with bug spray and boots for protection.

Carpools: Carpooling is encouraged. It will reduce your trip expenses, offer companionship, reduce trailhead 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 riders 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.

Level: Strenuous

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