Attractions and Places To See in Montgomery County - Top 8

The Little Missouri River runs 147 miles through the Ouachita Mountains in southwest Arkansas. This cold, rocky mountain stream is known for its clear waters, deep pools, and narrow wooded canyons. Through its upper stretches, it drops over 1,000 feet, creating beautiful waterfalls, chutes, and fast rapids like the Class IV Winding Stair Rapid before it joins the Ouachita River. Designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1992, the Little Missouri is a popular spot for its stunning views and great swimming holes.

This section of the trail runs through a mix of pine and hardwood forest, and drops fast (if you’re heading north from Winding Stairs) into a beautiful rocky gorge, where the river slices through novaculite, forming fantastic, deep, clear pools perfect for cooling off on a hot day. The trail follows the river upstream with multiple crossings and steady elevation, before reaching the Athens-Big Fork junction in about 3.5 miles. Along the way, keep an eye out for deer, songbirds, and, if you’re here in the spring, you’ll see plenty of beautiful wildflowers, especially in open stretches.

This section of the trail winds through several mountains, which is one of the best features of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail (ONRT). There are a few steep climbs, but the surrounding trees and intoxicating smell of the forest makes it worth the trek. It's a fantastic and challenging stretch through natural beauty that makes spending time in the Ouachita National Forest so special.

The Ouachita National Forest, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 and initially named the Arkansas National Forest, covers an impressive 1.8 million acres in central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. It is the oldest and largest National Forest in the Southern Region. The forest features a diverse mix of pine and hickory trees with over 700 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. There are multiple developed recreation areas, scenic vistas, shooting ranges, historical sites, wilderness areas, and one national recreation area within the forest. Most of the developed recreation areas are open from April to September, although some sites remain accessible year-round. The Ouachita National Forest is breathtaking in every season, providing expansive views of mountains that stretch for miles.

The Brushy Trail Complex combines Brushy Mountain, Mountain Top, Rockhouse, and Brushy Creek Trails, which, along with the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, offer a variety of fantastic loop-trail hiking options spanning from 3 to 12 miles. This area is picturesque, with flowing streams, waterfalls, unique geological formations, and peaceful woodlands. Entrance to the day use area and dispersed camping is free—just be sure you camp at least 100 feet away from any trail. Brushy Creek is a reliable water source for thru hikers exploring the ONRT, making it an excellent spot to spend the night during a long journey.

The largest lake in Arkansas. It is a pristine lake with very little shoreline development. It is surrounded by the 1.8 million acre Ouachita National Forest.

The Womble Trail is one of three IMBA Epic Trails in the area. The trail offers sensational overlooks onto the Ouachita River. Keep in mind that the trail can be ridden in one direction only. Ouachita Haven offers shuttle services. Just book your ticket here: https://www.ouachitahaven.com/shuttles.