Sawmill Road to Rich Mountain Fire Tower — Ouachita High Divide Via Fourche Mountain Ridge
CCC fire tower and Ouachita ridge views into Oklahoma.
Start off Highway 270 west of Mena on FR 31 and you’re immediately climbing into the Ouachita National Forest’s sandstone-and-shale spine. Fourche Mountain Road grinds up exposed ridge with drop-offs on both flanks before connecting to the Rich Mountain corridor near the state line. The Rich Mountain Fire Tower — a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps structure at 2,681 feet — is the high point and the reward. On a clear day you can see well into Oklahoma’s Kiamichi country from the cab. The road surface switches between maintained gravel and raw red-clay two-track, and the clay sections turn into axle-deep slip-and-slide after any significant rain.
High-clearance 4WD is the honest minimum here, especially on the Fourche Mountain approach and any wet-season visit. The Ouachita gets real rain — this isn’t desert Southwest where you can read the sky; afternoon thunderstorms roll through without much warning from May through September. Best dry-season window is October through early December when the hardwoods turn and the clay has had time to bake. No permit required, dispersed camping allowed on national forest land. Fuel in Mena before you leave — it’s the last reliable stop. Cell service is spotty at ridge crests and gone in the hollows. This is genuine Southern Highlands backcountry, not a polished park road.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 34 mi / 54.7 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2681 ft |
| Best season | October-December |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Mena, AR |
| Land manager | Ouachita National Forest, Mena-Polk County Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Ouachita National Forest Ouachita National Forest main page |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or does it need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner will get through fine under normal conditions. The mixed dirt and gravel surface along Fourche Mountain Ridge has some rocky sections and eroded spots, but nothing that demands a lift — just don't attempt it in a crossover or 2WD truck.
When does this trail get sketchy or close due to weather?
Winter ice and snow on the ridge make it genuinely dangerous — the high-clearance dirt sections turn greasy fast and there's no easy bailout. Best window is October through December before hard freezes hit; spring can be muddy and soft after rain.
Do you need a permit to run this trail or camp along it?
No permit required for driving the route or dispersed camping on Ouachita National Forest land. Standard dispersed camping rules apply — 14-day limit, camp 150 feet from water and roads. No fee to access.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect there?
The roughest stretch is the exposed ridgeline running west toward Rich Mountain — narrow shelf road with drop-offs, loose rock, and limited room to turn around if you meet someone coming the other way. It's not technical rock crawling, but one bad line in wet conditions and you're in the trees.
How far is the nearest gas from the trailhead, and is there water on the route?
Mena is the closest town and your last reliable gas stop — fuel up there before heading out, as there's nothing along the 34-mile route. There's no reliable potable water on the trail, so carry everything you need for the day.
Trail track
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