Hiking the Huckleberry Trail at Woolly Hollow State Park (Faulkner County, north of Conway in the foothills of the Ozarks) is a great way to see and explore the entire park. This mildly challenging 3-mile loop showcases the hardwoods and landscape of the area as it circles Lake Bennett, a 40-acre lake built in the 1930s.

The Huckleberry Trail isn’t a complete loop. The trail begins and ends near the same point, but it can easily be connected by walking the road for about a quarter-mile. This not only gives you more views of the lake, but it also takes you by the Woolly Cabin, a one-room family homestead built in 1882.

Getting to the Huckleberry Trailhead at Woolly Hollow

To get to Woolly Hollow, take US Highway 65 north from Conway. After about 10 miles (and after going through Greenbrier), turn right (east) onto state highway 285 and take it for 6 miles. The state park will then be on your left.

To find the main trailhead for the Huckleberry Trail from the visitor center, drive toward the campground and past the pavilion. After roughly 0.2 miles, the trailhead is on your left with a small parking area.

There are also two other trailheads for alternate starting points

The Hike – Trailhead to Springfield Road

From here, you will take the loop clockwise.

As you begin your hike, you pass several trail intersections. The Gold Creek Trail is a short 0.13 spur that exits and returns back into the Huckleberry Trail.

The Cabin Trail also leaves from the Huckleberry Trail and ends at the historic Woolly Cabin. It is 0.6 miles in total.

The Huckleberry Trail begins with a gradual climb. After you pass the trail intersections, it drops down a little into the valley and crosses the creek.

The trail then slowly climbs out of the valley, and (especially during leaf-off) you begin to get glimpses of the campground and lake below. It then hugs the contours of the hillside and heads west into the wilderness.

At mile 1.15, the trail crosses Historic Springfield Road Trail. There are two fences you walk through to separate the hiking trail from the mountain biking trail.

Springfield Road to Woolly Hollow Road Crossing

After you cross the Historic Springfield Road, the trail takes you across a beautiful creek. Then it climbs a little along the hill.

This portion of the trail gives you gorgeous views of the creek below. You can see it get larger, as you approach where it flows into Lake Bennett.

The trail can be a bit confusing in this area because the blazes switch colors from blue to red. Apparently, this loop used to be two different trails.

Around mile 1.5, the creek turns into Lake Bennett, and you begin to get beautiful views of the lake. For the next 0.4 miles, the trail follows the lake high above the shore.

At mile 1.8, there is a lovely bench for you to take a rest and enjoy the wonderful views of the lake and park.

Just a little farther at mile 1.9, there is a short spur trail to another bench and the lakeshore below. This is a great place to take a break.

From there, the trail follows along the ridge for just a short way. Here you get views of the earthen dam of Lake Bennett.

The trail then drops down into the valley below the dam. As it does, it passes a seasonal spillway (making a waterfall) for the lake which is very scenic during wet times.

The trail continues to a different trailhead near the entrance of the park at mile 2.2.

Road Crossing to End

The Huckleberry Trail crosses Woolly Hollow Road and climbs to the top of a ridge.

In this part, the trail continues through the hardwood forest. The trail gets close to the park boundary, and you get views through the trees of meadows from private land which is really pretty.

The woods are nice and open, and toward the top of the ridge, you get more glimpses of the lake.

Around mile 2.6, the trail begins to drop back down into the valley and to the road below.

Walking the Road Back

The Huckleberry Trail officially ends at mile 2.8, where it intersects with the road. From here you walk along the road toward the visitor center.

At mile 3.05 you can see the history of Woolly Cabin. Take the short spur trail for an up close and personal look at it. It’s really neat to be able to see how people lived 150 years ago.

After you’ve explored the cabin, continue along the road – past the pavilion – and back to the trailhead.

Final Notes

Generally, the trail was easy to follow and in good condition.

Most of these photos are from my December 25, 2021 hike.

Woolly Hollow State Park offers many other fun outdoor activities, including fishing, kayaking, and mountain biking.

Photo Gallery

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[A version of this post was originally published on January 13, 2022 in the blog “Right Kind of Lost.”]

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The Bear Cave Trail at Petit Jean State Park (Conway County near Morrilton) is a very short trail—only about a quarter-mile long loop.

But it is more than a short trail. It is a spectacular rock formation area to walk around in and explore. There is a lot to see here.

Getting to Bear Cave Trail at Petit Jean

The Bear Cave Trail is toward the west end of Petit Jean State Park on Petit Jean Mountain.

If coming from Little Rock, head west on I-40. Take Exit 108 in Morrilton and head south on Highway 9/113. After about 5 miles, take a right at Oppelo onto Highway 154 heading west. Highway 154 (Petit Jean Mountain Road) will take you into the park.

If heading from the west, take Exit 81 on I-40 at Russellville. Head south on Arkansas Avenue (Highway 27) to Dardanelle. Then turn left on Highway 22. After a mile it turns into Highway 7 (heading south). After another mile, take a left onto Highway 155 (south). After 8 miles, Highway 155 ends. Take a left (east) on Highway 154. It will take you to Petit Jean.

The Bear Cave Trailhead is on Highway 154, about a mile west of Mather Lodge. It is near the Seven Hollows Trailhead. Watch for the signs.

There is parking here.

The Trail

As you start down the trail, you will immediately come across several huge stones with pathways cut through them. There are several small walkways here through the large rocks. A couple lead to dead ends, and a couple find their way through to the other side.

The main pathway through is the “Eye of the Needle” – a very narrow passageway through the stones that is just amazing to hike through. You should not have to climb up any rock ledges here, so if the road ahead looks challenging at all, you’re not in the Eye of the Needle.

Once you get to the other side of the passageway through the rocks, there are three options. One path goes to the right and makes a short climb to the top of the large boulders you just walked through.

This one is definitely worth checking out. It eventually curves back around to the parking lot.

The pathway to the left curves down to the Bear Cave. It is really more of a small indentation into the stone.

This area has a series of wood ties that at one point would have made for a stairway down, but erosion has taken its toll, so this path is more of a mess than a trail.

This little spur loops around the cave and back up to the parking lot as well.

At the turn, there is also a trail that goes straight. There are two large boulders to the left as you start out on this trail. At that point, the trail blazes also turn from green (indicating the Bear Cave Trail) to white (indicating the 12-mile long Boy Scout Trail).

If you see the white blazes, and only want to do the Bear Cave area, then turn around and head back the way you came.

This is a really fun area. We enjoyed exploring just about every nook.

Plan to spend some time here, as it is a natural playground that is well worth the time to explore.

Final Notes

There is some limited incline on the trail. The elevation change is about 50 feet.

For footwear, I recommend at least a sturdy pair of tennis shoes.

While at Petit Jean, you may want to check out Cedar Falls Trail, Seven Hollows Trail, or Cedar Creek Trail.

These photos are from our July 1, 2013 visit to the trail.

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[A version of this post was originally published on December 30, 2013 in the blog “Exploring Northwest Arkansas.”]

Last revised: 9-19-2019.

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Seven Hollows Trail at Petit Jean State Park (Conway County near Morrilton) is a first-rate hike that features a natural bridge, a grotto waterfall, an a lot of unique views with diverse plant life ranging from ferns to cacti.

The trail takes its name from the seven small streams that run through the area, all of which have carved their own hollows.

The official trail length is 4.5 miles. (Mike’s gps calculation puts it closer to 4.1 miles.) The short spur to the grotto (with seasonal waterfall) adds .2 miles.

It is a loop trail that follows through four of the seven hollows and along ridges between the hollows. Bluff lines, tumbling water (in spring), and interesting plant life are abundant.

It is a vigorous hike with an elevation change of about 360 feet. Most of the climbing is on the second half of the loop.

This is a great hike with a lot to observe, and every part of the hike is scenic.

Getting to Seven Hollows Trail

The Seven Hollows Trail is toward the west end of Petit Jean State Park on Petit Jean Mountain.

To get there from Little Rock, head west on I-40. Take Exit 108 in Morrilton and head south on Highway 9/113. After about 5 miles, take a right at Oppelo onto Highway 154 heading west. Highway 154 (Petit Jean Mountain Road) will take you into the park.

If heading from the west, take Exit 81 on I-40 at Russellville. Head south on Arkansas Avenue (Highway 27) to Dardanelle. Then turn left on Highway 22. After a mile it turns into Highway 7 (heading south). After another mile, take a left onto Highway 155 (south). After 8 miles, Highway 155 ends. Take a left (east) on Highway 154. It will take you to Petit Jean.

The trailhead for Seven Hollows is on Highway 154, one mile west of Mather Lodge. Watch for the signs.

There is a large parking lot here.

The Hike

There is clear signage at the trailhead. The trail is blazed light blue. (Part of the trail overlaps with the Boy Scout Trail, with white blazes. So follow the blue blazes.)

The trail starts with an initial spur. The loop begins at about .1 miles. We will make a left turn to take the loop clockwise.

The trail heads downhill for a stretch on a sandy surface.

At about .5, the trail comes along the first small stream and a bluff line comes in view across the way. (There is signage at every half mile. For the most part, I am going by the designated mileages.)

From here to Mile Marker 1, there are several small cave-like areas on the opposite side of the stream.

During this stretch, the trail crosses back and forth across the creek several times, but the crossings are pretty easy to do without getting wet.

This part of the trail, along with several other areas, goes through a bit of a pine forest, so the smell of pine is in the air.

A little way after Mile Marker 1, the trail goes uphill a bit–a little further from the creek.

At about 1.3, the trail passes by a natural bridge (a large arch). It is on the left, slightly off the trail. (Watch for it.)

The natural bridge is a spectacular sight. This seemed to be the place of choice for people to stop and take a break. This is one of many highlights on the trail.

At about  1.5, the trail heads back downhill again, crosses the creek for the last time, and runs along the bluff on the opposite side of the creek that you have no doubt been admiring for the past mile. The bluff is smaller here though.

Then at 1.7, the bluff ends, and the trail turns sharply right and heads back up the bluff you were just walking beside. The trail is now leaving the first hollow.

The trail here heads uphill through a glade area. The glade has a completely different type of plant life and wildflowers. It also has spectacular rock formations and views of the hollow you just left.

There are several of these glade areas on the hike where instead of walking on dirt, the trail goes across the tops of rocks. These really are neat areas.

If you look closely, you may notice collared lizards in the area. They are cute and fast.

There are also great views from atop the bluff.

At about 2 miles, the trail bends to the left, down the hill, back up the hill, and then down the hill again.

At 2.1, the trail passes a small stream with a short steep incline ahead. At this point, the spur to the grotto is on the right. (There is a sign.) Take the spur to the grotto.

The spur trail heads along the base of the bluff line. There are a couple of boulders you have to scramble across.

At about .1 miles, you enter the grotto area. It features a huge bluff overhang on the right, a bluff line on the left, and a seasonal waterfall that flows into a pool of water. (Check out this post with video Mike took of the waterfall during the wet season.)

On my early July hike, there was no water flowing, just a stagnant pool of water, but it was easy to imagine how beautiful this would be in high water. Even without the waterfall, it was peaceful and a cool respite on the hike.

Take a right when you get back to the main trail. The trail then heads up a steep rock and turns to the right and back up another glade on the top of the bluff line that was to your left as you hiked back to the grotto.

This is another great glade area with cacti and more wildflowers.

The trail bends then to the left and back into the woods, and then turns to the right and back down the hill into another hollow and then up another glade area. It crosses another stream, climbs back up another glade, and then back down into another hollow.

At about 2.9, the trail runs over a 50-foot long rock slab, goes up the hill, and then back down into the next hollow.

At Mile Marker 3, the trail is back down in another hollow.

The next mile of trail is probably my favorite. The trail is pretty level for a while following the stream, and then it runs through a hollow with huge bluffs (the tallest so far) on both sides.

As with the first hollow, there are a lot of interesting rock formations and small cave areas along this route.

The trail then crosses the creek a couple of times and then continues along a bluff overhang.

At 3.8, another trail comes in from the left through a hollow and joins the trail. This is the Boy Scout Trail that runs through the entire park. It is blazed white, so stay straight on the blue-blazed trail.

Shortly after passing the Boy Scout Trail junction, the trail continues uphill again, past another interesting rock formation and more spectacular views.

At Mile Marker 4, you are still headed a bit uphill through a wooded area. At about 4.2, the trail is back to the initial spur. Stay straight.

The parking lot is about .1 miles ahead.

Final Notes

This is a well-traveled trail, and it is not difficult to follow.

We did the hike in early July and loved it, but I suspect that the trail is even prettier in the spring when the water is flowing, and during leaf-off when there would be more expansive views of the bluffs.

I rate the difficulty as strenuous (4 of 5).

For footwear, I recommend hiking boots, although I wore trail shoes.  The trail is pretty rocky, and there are a lot of ups and downs. You will be thankful for the extra support

Tim Ernst profiles this trail in Arkansas Hiking Trails. There is also an official trail brochure here.

These photos are all from my July 1, 2013 hike.

[While at Petit Jean State Park, you might want to also check out Cedar Falls Trail, Cedar Creek Trail, and Bear Cave Trail.]

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Map

[A version of this post was originally published on January 2, 2014 in the blog “Exploring Northwest Arkansas.”]

[Last revised: 9-21-2019]

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One of my favorite day hikes around Hot Springs is the Hunt’s Loop Trail in the Ouachita National Forest (north Garland County/south Perry County).

The 4.3-mile-hike takes you straight up Short Mountain to a gorgeous vista and then through some of the most beautiful woods along the ridge of the mountain before returning to the narrow valley of the Middle Fork of the Saline River.

It is a moderate trail overall. The only difficult part is at the beginning (going clockwise) up Short Mountain. The elevation change is about 500 feet.

Getting to the Iron Springs Trailhead

Hunt’s Loop Trail is off of Highway 7, just north of Jessieville.

You can access the trail from two trailheads on Highway 7 that are located about 1.5 miles apart. There is a trailhead at Iron Springs Recreation Area, and there is a Ouachita Trail (OT) Highway 7 trailhead. (About a mile of the trail overlaps with Section 7 of the OT.)

I have hiked Hunt’s Loop numerous times and usually begin at the Iron Springs Recreation Area. It is a day-use area with picnic tables  and vault toilets. It is a very nice area.

The Middle Fork of the Saline River is dammed which makes for a lovely swimming hole in the summer.

Iron Springs Recreation Area is on Highway 7, about 4 miles north of Jessieville.

Hiking Hunt’s Loop Trail

The trailhead is not hard to find. Simply follow the large and gorgeous bridge over the river. The Middle Fork of the Saline River does resemble a creek, but further south, out of the mountains and with all forks combined, it looks more like a river.

Once you cross the bridge, you are at the loop. Here you can turn right and follow the river toward the Ouachita Trail Highway 7 trailhead. I usually go left (clockwise) and head up Short Mountain, to knock the steep climb out of the way first. (For a more steady climb, go to the right.)

Going left, the trail may be hard to spot. You actually have to kind of walk around the rail of the bridge and over the Iron Spring. There is a sign that can point you in the right direction.

The first half-mile is steep but built well with switchbacks, but once you get to the Short Mountain Vista, it is nearly all downhill from there. There are a few places later on that are short climbs, but nothing terribly difficult.

If you pay close attention to the trees in the Ouachita Mountains, you notice that along ridge lines they tend to be shorter. So when making climbs like this one, when the trees began to shrink in size, you can tell when you are getting close to the top.

I love the hike to the top of Short Mountain, especially in the leaf-off season. Because of the narrow valley, the mountains on the other side are very close, and you can see how rugged the area is.

At the Short Mountain Vista (about .6 miles), there is a plaque with information about the area. The view, which faces south, is amazing, and it is better during leaf-off.

From the vista, the Hunt’s Loop Trail follows the ridge of Short Mountain, an elevation of 1,372 feet. I love this portion of the trail because you feel as if you are walking along the spine of a dinosaur from the rocky terrain.

Once I went when the weather was gloomy and gray. The higher I hiked, the more foggy it got. The thick fog on this section of the trail was magical, and it was well worth the climb to see it.

At around 1 mile, the trail turns north and heads towards the OT junction. Before meeting up with the OT, Hunt’s Loop takes you through a stand of pines, and on a dry, windy day the evergreens sing to you as you hike.

Hunt’s Loop Trail is marked with white blazes, and the trail (except for the beginning) is easy to follow. The OT is marked with blue blazes. The 1.1-mile shared section of the trail is marked with both colors.

(This was the first part of the OT that I hiked. One day I will hike the whole thing.)

The intersection is clearly marked with a sign. Turn right to stay on Hunt’s Loop Trail (toward Highway 7).

In this section, there is an old pond. At one time, someone had stocked it with koi, large ornamental goldfish, I guess as a joke. The koi have died or been taken elsewhere, but if you are quiet, you might see frogs or turtles on the bank. I am not the most quiet and have not seen them, but I have heard them jump into the water as I approach.

At around 2.9, the trail goes by the Highway 7 trailhead of the OT. At about 3.1, the Ouachita Trail splits off to the left to cross the highway. Stay on the right to continue on the Hunt’s Loop Trail. It continues to follow Highway 7 back toward Iron Springs Recreation Area.

One thing that is not ideal in this last stretch is how close the trail is to the highway and the noise of the vehicles going by. But the scenery of the stream flowing nearby helps make up for the highway noise.

Final Notes

I love this trail for many reasons, but one thing that I find exceptional is how varied the trail is. You start off in the steep ascent to Short Mountain, then go through open woods, and then follow along the mountain stream. It would be tough to pick a favorite part.

These photos are all from my March 6, 2016 hike (except for the 2 foggy ones from a 2014 hike).

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[A version of this post was originally published on March 30, 2016 in the blog “Right Kind of Lost.”]

Last revised: 6-7-2021.

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