Rock garden on Winding Stair Mountain, Ouachita Trail The starting 2.4-mile Ouachita Trail segment from Talimena State Park to the Potato Hill Vista (mile point 0.0 to 2.4) has some nice scenic areas and quite a bit of climbing. The net elevation change is about 850 feet.
I like rocky areas and hills. As with much of Winding Stair Mountain, quite a bit of the trail is rocky, something that I think makes the trail more interesting.
West-facing view, climbing up Winding Stair Mountain Check out this post for my full profile of this segment.
These are some additional photos I took on my September 12, 2015 hike.
Uphill climb between Military Road Trail junction and Potato Hill Vista spur Panoramic view from the Potato Hill Vista. (Take the .1-mile spur to get to the vista.) Uphill area prior to the Military Road Trail junction In the relatively level area around mile point 1.4. Hillside stretch in the higher elevation part of this segment Potato Hill Vista Spur Ouachita Trail, near the Potato Hill Vista Spur A junction on the Ouachita Trail with Choctaw Nation Trail (formerly Indian Nation Trail). Ouachita Trail Military Road junction where Ouachita Trail turns right Ouachita Trail, near the Military Road Trail junction Ouachita Trail between Talimena State Park and the Military Road Trail Junction Ouachita Trail, not far from Talimena State Park Photo Gallery Click below for full-screen photo gallery of these and more pics from my September 12, 2015 hike.
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail: 01(A) β Talimena State Park to Potato Hill Vista Spur
Ouachita Trail around .9, prior to the Military Road Trail junction.
Hillside a little ways up from the Military Road Trail junction.
This is in the fairly level area around 1.5.
Another shot in the more level area around 1.5.
In the higher elevation area near 2.0.
Boulder field not far from the Potato Hill Vista
South-facing view from the Potato Hill Vista on the Talimena Scenic Drive (Highway 1)
Panoramic shot from the Potato Hill Vista. Just take the .1-mile spur to get to the Vista.
This is the spur from the OT over to the Potato Hill Vista.
In the final climbing area, not far from the boulder fields.
In the uphill climbing area past the Military Road Trail junction.
A short road trace section, uphill from the Military Road Trail junction.
Junction of the Military Road Trail. The Ouachita Trail continue on to the right.
Ouachita Trail β hilly area prior to the Military Road Trail junction.
The beginning and western end of the Ouachita Trail, Talimena State Park.
Last revised: 3-23-2020.