Ouachita National Forest Wolf Pen Gap Circuit

Wolf Pen Gap Circuit follows old logging roads and bootlegger trails through the dense hardwood forests of the Ouachita Mountains, crossing the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line multiple times on rutted Forest Service roads. The route climbs over 2,000 feet through seasonal creek crossings and around massive boulder fields left by ancient geological upheaval. Several technical sections require careful line choice through wash-gullies carved by spring runoff, particularly around Holson Creek where the trail drops into a narrow valley lined with 200-year-old oak and hickory.

Difficult rating demands experienced drivers with rock sliders and skid plates — sharp Ouachita sandstone punishes stock undercarriages. Best tackled April through October when creek levels stay manageable. No permits needed on Forest Service land, but GPS essential as trail markers disappear frequently. Dispersed camping allowed throughout, with excellent sites near Holson Valley overlook. This 32-mile loop delivers serious backcountry solitude and challenging technical driving through some of the South’s most pristine mountain forests.