Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b)

Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Will Apple’s Road Trail, near the trailhead.

Will Apple’s Road Trail at Mount Magazine State Park, named for a Mount Magazine farmer, is one of the easier trails there. It is a former road that was a main route the early settlers during the 1800’s. It was one of the first roads to reach the crest.

The trail is still basically a dirt road, making it easy walking. It is a pretty gradual slope.

It connects the visitor center to the horse camp, and runs about 1.6 miles. The elevation change is just about 200 feet.

Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Trailhead near the Visitor Center.

Getting to Will Apple’s Road Trailhead

The trailhead is well marked and is on the east side (right side) of the Visitor Center.

To get to Mount Magazine State Park, you can take Highway 309 south from Paris in Logan County. Highway 309 goes through downtown Paris. Follow the signs from downtown.

The park is about 17 miles from Paris.

If you’re coming from the south, head north on Highway 309 from Havana for about 10 miles.

Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Most of the trail is a gradual slope.

The Trail

Don’t expect to see any vista views during leaf-on, but there probably are some pretty views to the north through the trees during leaf-off.

During warmer months, you will probably see wildflowers and butterflies.

Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Will Apple’s Road Trail, Mount Magazine State Park

A highlight of the trail is the remains of the Buckman Pool, built in the 1920’s. There is a sign for the spur (.1 miles) down to the pool.

Unfortunately, the spur was rather overgrown when I last visited. The pool area was interesting. It looked like a stone lined pond.

Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
The spur to the remains of the Buckman swimming pool from the 1920s.
Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Buckman pool remains.
Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Buckman pool remains.

Final Notes

When I last visited the trail on July 23, 2016, it was well maintained and easy to follow. I had AT&T cell signal about 60% of the time.

These photos are from that hike.

Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Will Apple’s Road Trail, Mount Magazine State Park
Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Mount Magazine Horse Camp.
Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Will Apple’s Road Trail.
Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Controlled burns are periodically done at Mount Magazine to reduce fire risk and to allow more variety of plant life. This partially cleared area was likely the result of a controlled burn.
Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Will Apple’s Road Trail.
Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Will Apple’s Road Trail, Mount Magazine State Park
Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Near the trailhead by the Visitor Center.

Photo Gallery

Click below for full-screen photo gallery.

Map

Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Contour Map. (Click to Enlarge.) Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail.
Mount Magazine: Will Apple’s Road Trail – 3 mi (o&b) photo
Approximate elevation profile based on gps data.

Mount Magazine: Will Apple's Road Trail

LocationMount Magazine State Park, Logan County, Arkansas
Length/Type3 miles out and back (1.5 mi. each way)
DifficultyMildly challenging (2 of 5)
Other permitted usage.Pets on a leash.
Gpx file by MikeLink
Date HikedJuly 23, 2016 (and earlier).
DirectionsGoogle Maps Directions to Visitor Center Trailhead
Official Info (Links)501-321-5202 Website Park Trail Map (pdf)

Last revised: 8-15-2021.

By Mike Newman

Mike Newman, editor and creator of Arklahoma Hiker, likes to day hike and walk outdoors in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

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