The best public hiking in southeastern Oklahoma sits along one ridge. The Talimena National Scenic Byway runs 54 miles along the crests of Winding Stair Mountain and Rich Mountain between Talihina, Oklahoma, and Mena, Arkansas, and the Ouachita National Recreation Trail starts at Talimena State Park at the byway's Oklahoma end and runs east through the Ouachita National Forest. Between them they give you a paved ridge-top drive with picnic stops, a long-distance backpacking trail, and a handful of day hikes, with no entrance fee on the Forest Service sections.
For someone buying recreational land here, that matters in a plain way: you do not have to fit everything on your own acres. This guide lays out what is there, what each stop offers, and what to know before you go. It is part of our Oklahoma recreational land guide.
The Talimena National Scenic Byway
What it is. The Forest Service describes a curving drive that winds 54 miles along the spine of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain, with panoramas of the east-west ranges of the Ouachita Mountains, between Mena, Arkansas, and Talihina, Oklahoma. In Oklahoma the route is State Highway 1, and the Forest Service uses "Talimena Scenic Drive" for the same road.
Cost and season. The Forest Service lists the byway as open year-round with no fee. It also lists no potable water along it, so carry your own.
Where it starts. Oklahoma State Parks describes Talimena State Park, on U.S. Highway 271 near Talihina, as the Oklahoma entrance to the drive, and describes the road as known for spring and fall foliage. The park has 10 RV sites with 30-amp electricity and water, seven designated tent sites, a comfort station with showers and a playground, and reservations for RV and tent sites must be made online.
What surrounds it. The Oklahoma portion of the drive runs through the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area, 26,445 acres that the Forest Service says encompasses the Talimena Scenic Drive in Oklahoma, the Talimena Drive Visitor Information Station, Old Military Road, Horsethief Springs, Winding Stair Campground, Cedar Lake Campground, Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp and Pipe Springs.
Stops on the Oklahoma side, west to east
Locations below are the Forest Service's own directions. All were listed as open when read in October 2026.
| Stop | Where | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Talimena State Park | U.S. 271 near Talihina | Camping, showers, trailhead for the Ouachita Trail, ATV and dirt bike entry point to forest lands |
| Old Military Road Day Use | 1 mile east of the U.S. 271 junction on Highway 1 | Historic road, picnic area, interpretive signs; no restrooms |
| Horsethief Springs Day Use | 6 miles west of the U.S. 259 junction on Highway 1 | Historic spring, picnic area, vault toilets, day hiking |
| Winding Stair Campground and Emerald Vista | 2 miles west of the U.S. 259 junction on Highway 1 | 23 campsites, backpacker camp, vault toilets, ridge-top overlook with picnic tables, two short loop trails |
| Kerr Memorial Arboretum | 2 miles east of the U.S. 259 junction on Highway 1 | Interpretive nature complex; open spring through fall, closed in winter |
| Pipe Springs Day Use | 1.5 miles south of the Highway 1 junction on U.S. 259 | Old spring, picnic area, vault toilets |
East of the state line the drive continues over Rich Mountain to Mena. The Forest Service lists Queen Wilhelmina State Park among the attractions on the drive.
Driving it
It is a mountain road: two lanes, curving, with long grades. Three practical notes.
- Fuel and water. Fill up and carry water before leaving Talihina or the U.S. 259 junction area. The Forest Service lists no potable water at the byway stops.
- Winter. The byway is listed as open year-round, but ice is a real hazard on a ridge-top road. Seasonal conditions are covered in weather by season.
- Fall color. Timing varies by year. The state park description of the drive as known for spring and fall foliage is as specific as the official sources get; our fall and winter land guide covers what the season looks like on the ground.
The Ouachita National Recreation Trail
Length. Published figures differ, and it is worth knowing why. The Forest Service describes the trail as the longest in the Ouachita National Forest, spanning 192 miles across the forest's length, from Talimena State Park on Highway 271 near Talihina to the forest's eastern boundary south of Perryville, Arkansas. It adds that another 32 miles on private and other public land continues to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, 15 miles west of Little Rock. That is about 224 miles end to end. Another Forest Service page rounds the full route to 225 miles. You will also see 223 miles quoted elsewhere.
Terrain. Elevations range from 600 to 2,600 feet, through forested mountains, across valleys and near clear streams. Spur trails connect to recreation areas, and the Forest Service notes that numerous road crossings and access points allow point-to-point hikes of various lengths.
Cost and upkeep. No fee. The Forest Service states that the trail is maintained by a nonprofit group, Friends of the Ouachita Trail.
Uses. The Forest Service lists hiking, backpacking, day hikes and mountain biking for the trail overall. Uses vary by segment: on the Boardstand and Old Military Road loop, for example, the Forest Service states that the Ouachita Trail section is closed to horses and motorcycles. Riders should read horses and trail riding for the separate equestrian system.
The first miles in Oklahoma. From the western trailhead at Talimena State Park the trail climbs onto Winding Stair Mountain and follows the same ridge system as the byway. The Forest Service places Winding Stair Campground at mile post 23.7 on the trail, reached by a short spur blazed in white. A backpacker's camp about 300 feet west of the main campground is open year-round with five tent pads, a table, fire ring, lantern poles and a pit toilet, at $3 a night; single campsites are $8 and double sites $14.
That geography gives an easy way to sample the trail without a multi-day trip: park at a byway stop where the trail is close to the road, walk out as far as you like, and walk back.
Day hikes in the same area
| Hike | Length | Start | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain-top Trail | 1-mile loop and 2-mile loop | Winding Stair Campground | Beside Emerald Vista |
| Billy Creek Trail | About 7.5 miles as a loop | Billy Creek Recreation Area, off Highway 63 west of Big Cedar | Climbs the south face of Winding Stair Mountain to the byway; connects to the Ouachita Trail; year-round day hiking |
| Cedar Lake Trail | About 3 miles | Cedar Lake Recreation Area, south of Heavener | Circles the 86-acre lake; good for birds |
| Old Pine Trail | Short interpretive loop | Cedar Lake day use area | Interpretive signs on local wildlife |
| Old Military Road, Boardstand and Ouachita Trail loop | About 23 miles combined | Old Military picnic ground or Holson Valley Road | Through Holson Valley and the Indian Nations National Scenic and Wildlife Area; a long day or an overnight |
Lengths and descriptions are from the Forest Service pages for each trail. Billy Creek Recreation Area has no fee, vault toilets and no drinking water. Cedar Lake charges $5 per vehicle for day use.
For bigger, quieter country, two federally designated wilderness areas sit along the same ridges: the Upper Kiamichi River Wilderness, 10,819 acres of steep, heavily forested ridges reached from Forest Road 6032 north of Big Cedar, and the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness, with 5,149 acres in Oklahoma and 8,430 in Arkansas, reached from County Road 1040 north of Page. The Forest Service lists backpacking for both and requires no permit for Black Fork.
Farther afield, Lake Wister State Park has a 6.4-mile hiking trail and a self-guided nature trail, and Beavers Bend State Park has the 26-mile David Boren hiking trail. See exploring Broken Bow for that end of the region.
Before you go
Hunting seasons. The national forest is hunted, and several of these trails cross wildlife management areas. Oklahoma's 2026-27 dates, from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: deer archery October 1 to January 15, deer muzzleloader October 24 to November 1, deer gun November 21 to December 6, and the holiday antlerless deer gun season December 18 to 31. Hunter-orange rules bind hunters, but a hiker in the woods during firearms seasons should wear orange too. The rules for hunters are in hunting the Ouachita National Forest and bordering land.
Bears. The Ouachita National Forest carries a "Be Bear Aware" alert for its Arkansas and Oklahoma lands. Keep food secured at trailheads and camps. See black bear in Southeastern Oklahoma.
Fire. The forest's alerts page posts the current fire danger rating and links to the Oklahoma county burn ban map. A campfire is illegal under a burn ban on public land as well as private; see burn bans, wildfire and prescribed burns.
Heat, ticks and snakes. The Oklahoma Climatological Survey puts the southeast at about 85 days a year at 90 degrees or higher, with heat index values of 105 or more over 40 times a year in the far southeast. Spring and fall are the comfortable seasons. Field hazards are covered in snakes, ticks and field safety.
Closures. The forest posts closures for logging, road work and facilities on its alerts page. Call the ranger district before a long drive: Oklahoma Ranger District (North) in Hodgen at (918) 653-2991, or (South) in Broken Bow at (580) 494-6402.
What this means if you are buying land
Public land next door changes how much private land you need. A five- or ten-acre tract gives you a private camp, a place for a cabin and a place to keep your gear. The ridge, the long trail and tens of thousands of acres of national forest supply the miles. That is the main argument for buying in the Talihina and Le Flore County area, and it is covered from the county angle in our Le Flore County land guide and from the mountain-range angle in the Kiamichi Mountains land guide.
Two cautions. Do not assume a tract borders public land because it is near it; boundaries are a survey question, and tracts that touch national forest have their own access and hunting considerations. And do not take our word for drive times from a particular tract to a particular trailhead; ask us for the location and check the route yourself. Current tracts are on recreational land for sale in Oklahoma.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Talimena Scenic Drive?
The Forest Service describes the Talimena National Scenic Byway as a 54-mile drive along the crests of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain between Mena, Arkansas, and Talihina, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma portion follows State Highway 1. It is listed as open year-round with no fee, and there is no potable water at the Forest Service stops, so carry your own.
Where does the Ouachita Trail start in Oklahoma?
The western end of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail is at Talimena State Park on U.S. Highway 271 near Talihina. From there it runs east across the Ouachita National Forest and on to Pinnacle Mountain State Park near Little Rock, Arkansas. The state park has campsites, showers and trailhead parking, and its RV and tent sites require online reservations.
How long is the Ouachita National Recreation Trail?
The Forest Service gives 192 miles within the Ouachita National Forest plus another 32 miles on private and other public land to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, about 224 miles in all. One Forest Service page rounds that to 225 miles, and 223 miles is also widely quoted. Elevations range from 600 to 2,600 feet.
Is there a fee to hike the Ouachita Trail or drive the byway?
No fee is listed for either. Some developed sites along the way charge: Winding Stair Campground is $8 a night for a single site and $3 for the backpacker's camp, and Cedar Lake Recreation Area charges $5 per vehicle for day use. Fees were read on Forest Service pages in October 2026 and can change.
What are good short hikes near the Talimena byway?
The Mountain-top Trail at Winding Stair Campground has a one-mile loop and a two-mile loop next to the Emerald Vista overlook. Billy Creek Trail is about 7.5 miles as a loop up the south face of Winding Stair Mountain. The Cedar Lake Trail circles the 86-acre lake in about three miles and suits families.
Can you hike the Talimena area during deer season?
Yes, the trails stay open, but the forest is actively hunted. Oklahoma's 2026-27 deer gun season runs November 21 to December 6 and muzzleloader season October 24 to November 1. Wear hunter orange, keep dogs close, and stay on marked trails. Spring and early fall before October avoid most firearms seasons.
Sources
- USDA Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest — Talimena National Scenic Byway — 54 miles, endpoints, open year-round, no fee, no potable water (accessed October 2026).
- USDA Forest Service — Ouachita National Recreation Trail — 192 miles in the forest plus 32 miles to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, termini, elevations, maintenance by Friends of the Ouachita Trail, uses.
- USDA Forest Service — Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area — 26,445 acres and what it encompasses; Highway 1 as the Talimena Scenic Drive.
- USDA Forest Service — Winding Stair Campground — campsites, fees, backpacker camp, Emerald Vista, Mountain-top Trail, trail mile post 23.7.
- USDA Forest Service — Billy Creek Recreation Area and Billy Creek Trail — trail length, facilities, the 225-mile figure.
- USDA Forest Service — Cedar Lake Recreation Area and Cedar Lake/Old Pine Trails — lake size, perimeter trail, day-use fee.
- USDA Forest Service — Boardstand/Military Road Trail — 23-mile loop; Ouachita Trail section closed to horses and motorcycles.
- USDA Forest Service — Horsethief Springs Day Use, Old Military Road Day Use, Pipe Springs Day Use and Kerr Memorial Arboretum — locations, facilities and seasons.
- USDA Forest Service — Upper Kiamichi River Wilderness and Black Fork Mountain Wilderness — acreage and access.
- USDA Forest Service — Indian Nations National Scenic and Wildlife Area — 41,051 acres.
- USDA Forest Service — Ouachita National Forest alerts — fire danger, bear awareness alert, closures.
- Oklahoma State Parks — Talimena State Park — entrance to the drive, foliage, campsites, reservations.
- Oklahoma State Parks — Lake Wister State Park — 6.4-mile hiking trail.
- Oklahoma State Parks — Beavers Bend State Park — 26-mile David Boren hiking trail.
- ODWC — Hunting Seasons — 2026-27 deer season dates (accessed October 2026).
- ODWC — Big Game Regulations — hunter orange requirements.
- Oklahoma Climatological Survey — Oklahoma Climate — days at or above 90 degrees and heat index frequency in the southeast.
Part of the Oklahoma Recreational Land Guide. Looking for a tract? See recreational land for sale in Oklahoma.