Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail – 1 mi

Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
Benefield West Loop Trail, Mount Magazine State Park

The Benefield West Loop Trail at Mount Magazine State Park is a pleasant and easy .9-mile wooded loop with little elevation change. There is a pond on the west end of the loop.

Mount Magazine is the highest mountain in Arkansas. It is near Paris in Logan County and is surrounded by the Magazine District of the Ozark National Forest.

Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
Benefield West Loop Trail, Mount Magazine State Park
Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
On the initial part of the loop, close to the trailhead.

Getting to the Benefield Picnic Area

To get to Mount Magazine State Park, you can take Highway 309 south from Paris. 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.

The Benefield West Loop starts at the Benefield picnic area at the southeast area of the park. The trailhead is near the restrooms. (It is the same trailhead as for Bear Hollow Trail.)

Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
Benefield West Loop Trail, Mount Magazine State Park.
Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
At this junction, there is a spur to the right which connects to the Bear Hollow Trail just west of Inspiration Point.

The Hike

This is an easy well marked hike that is just under a mile. Start at the trailhead near the restrooms. The first part of the hike is basically just a walk on a dirt road. At about .1 miles, you would turn right and go downhill for the Bear Hollow Trail or Benefield East Loop. Stay straight to continue on this loop.

At close to .2 miles, there is a right spur to a different part of the Bear Hollow Trail. This spur joins that trail a little to the west of Inspiration Point. But for this hike, continue straight.

At around .5 miles, the trail reaches the first crossing of Highway 309. On the other side of the highway, the trail goes uphill slightly as it approaches a small pond, presumably made by earlier settlers.

At the pond (about .6 miles), you would turn right for the Mossback Ridge Trail. Take a left to continue on this loop.

Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
This is a pretty easy trail to walk.

There are no vista views on this trail but during leaf-off there are places on the trail where you can see some of the valleys in the distance through the trees. This is one of those areas.

At about .7, you reach the highway again, near the entrance for the Benefield Picnic Area. Cross the highway, and walk up the road back to where you started at the picnic area.

Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
Benefield West Loop Trail.
Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
The pond at the west end of the loop.

Final Notes

Elevation change: About 50 feet.

Trail condition: The trail was well marked and in very good condition when I hiked it on November 26, 2021. These photos are from that hike.

AT&T Cell coverage: About 50%.

Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
For the last part of the loop, you cross the highway again and walk up the road back to Benefield Picnic Area.

Click below for full-screen photo gallery.

Map

Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
Mount Magazine West Benefield Loop Trail Contour Map. (Click to enlarge.)
Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail - 1 mi photo
Elevation profile based on gps data.

Mount Magazine: Benefield West Loop Trail

LocationMount Magazine State Park, Logan County, Arkansas
Length/Type.9 mile loop
DifficultyEasy (1 of 5).
Gpx file by MikeLink
Date HikedNov 26, 2021 (and earlier)
DirectionsGoogle Maps Directions to Benefield Picnic Area
Official Info (Links)501-321-5202 Website Park Trail Map (pdf)

Last revised: 1-7-2022.

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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