Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b)

Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Footbridge on Warren Hollow Trail

The Warren Hollow Trail is a pleasant, mildly challenging wooded trail at Lake Fort Smith State Park (Crawford County, Arkansas).

The trail is just .6 miles long, making for an enjoyable 1.2-mile out-and-back hike.

Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Cool rocky area in the first .1-mile of the hike.

Getting There

Lake Fort Smith State Park is on Shepard Springs Road, right off of Highway 71 in northwest Arkansas . The turn off of the highway is about 7 miles north of Mountainburg, if coming from the south, or about a mile south of Artist Point if coming from the north.

Park at the visitor center. The sign for the trailhead is about 50 yards behind the visitor center, toward the right.

Before starting the trail, you might want to walk over to the nearby lake overlook. It has a great view of the Lake Fort Smith. (Lake Fort Smith serves as a water reservoir for Fort Smith and nearby areas.)

Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Near the beginning of the Warren Hollow Trail

The Hike

There are basically three parts to the hike. The first is a .1-mile scenic wooded walk with a downhill incline.

The next .2 miles connects you to the main wooded part. First there is a short downhill walk along a paved road. Then the “trail” makes a left turn for a crossing over a lake inlet. There are usually some pretty views of the lake to the left on this crossing. This is close to the marina.

The rest of the trail is a scenic uphill wooded walk. There is not a lot of uphill climbing, but there is a 140-foot elevation increase.

Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Warren Hollow Trail, Lake Fort Smith State Park

There is a nice wooden footbridge in the middle of this uphill climb. It’s about 50 feet long and goes over a large stream bed.

At about .1 miles before the top, the trail makes a short crossing over a cabin access road.

Then at the top, the trail reaches a level area by a basketball court and a group cabin. This is where you turn around and head back.

Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
A short part of the trail goes along this road

Final Notes

These photos are all from my October 18, 2015 hike. There was a fair amount of fall foliage on the trail that day.

The trail has yellow-green blazes, is easy to follow, and was in great condition.

I had good AT&T cell coverage on the hike.

Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
View of Lake Fort Smith from Warren Hollow Trail. The marina is in the distance.
Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
The lake crossing part of Warren Hollow Trail. During higher water times, there will be water on both sides.
Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Where trail heads back into the woods after the lake crossing
Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Warren Hollow Trail, shortly after the lake crossing. You can seek the lake through the trees to the left.
Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Footbridge
Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Climbing uphill on the Warren Hollow Trail
Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Warren Hollow Trail, Lake Fort Smith State Park
Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Uphill part with a bit of switchback
Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Warren Hollow Trail

Photo Gallery

Click below for full-screen photo gallery.


Map

Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Lake Fort Smith – Warren Hollow Trail, Contour Map (Click to Enlarge)
Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail – 1 mi (o&b) photo
Approximate elevation profile based on GPS data.

Lake Fort Smith: Warren Hollow Trail

LocationCrawford County, Arkansas
Hike Length/Type1.2 miles (out and back)
DifficultyMildly challenging (2 of 5)
Other Permitted UsagePets on a leash.
Gpx file by MikeLink
Date HikedOctober 18, 2015 (and earlier)
Google Maps Directions LinkGoogle Maps Directions to Lake Fort Smith State Park (Visitor Center)
Official Info479-369-2469 Website Trail Map (pdf)

[Last revised: 8-29-2021.]

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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