Charlton
Trail
Ouachita
National Forest (AR)
This
is a
good, four-mile, forest trail that climbs two fairly
steep hills. During leaf-off, it has some nice views. At about the
mid-point,
the trail crosses a forest road, with an 'always-running' spring that
has cold,
clear, safe-to-drink water. Trail is south of Lake
Ouachita; about fifteen miles
west of Hot
Springs.
Planning
Notes:
Trail
can
be run in either direction, or both directions. Charlton
Campground (USFS) is at southern end; Crystal
Springs day use picnic area
(Corps of
Eng) at northern end on Lake Ouachita.
Both with good parking. One way hike
requires either a
key swap or shuttle drives.
Both ends have nice picnic facilities. Used many
times for
annual "Welcome Back" hike. Also makes a good Saturday hike.
Round trip makes a good, local Thursday hike - perhaps as a bonus hike
(in lieu
of overnight) or substitute hike.
Access
Notes:
Charlton
campground: Right off of US 270, west of Hot Springs on US 270 (about ten
miles from
intersection of AR 227 N to Mt Pine. TH is on far side of lake.
Crystal Springs:
Turn North off of 270 on well marked county road, about 2 - 3 miles
east of
Charlton. proceed about 4 miles to Crystal
Springs Rec area. TH is behind group
pavilion.
For
additional info:
Tim ernst: "Arkansas Hiking
Trails" (p. 175)
David and Martha Doty live near this trail and are very familiar with
it.
Recent Hikes :
Jan
14, 2006
Leader: Phil
Simpson
18 Hikers
OMH Saturday
Route:
Crystal Springs to
Charlton
campground
4.2
miles
Difficulty
Rating 3
Scenic Rating 3
Sept
8, 2005
Leader: Martha
Doty
33 Hikers
OMH Special Event
Route:
Crystal Springs to
Charlton
Campground (and vice - versa)
4.0
miles
Difficulty Rating 3
Scenic Rating 3
"Welcome
Back" Hike 2005. Picnic at Charlton end, because Crystal Springs facility closed.
Feb
28, 2004
Leader:
Jim
Gifford 23 Hikers
OMH Saturday
Route:
Crystal Springs to
Charlton (or
vice-versa)
4.1
miles
Difficulty
Rating 3
Scenic
Rating 3
sss: Views down
toward
Charlton.
Glorious day. Spring must be here.
Hiked opposite directions. Charlton lake
was drained; the flood gate wide open.
"Lunch at The Shack" after.
Sept
11,
2003
Leader:
Martha Doty
34 Hikers
OMH
schedule
Route:
Crystal Springs to Charlton
4.1
miles
Difficulty Rating 3
Scenic
Rating 3
Annual "Welcome Back" Hike, followed by pot luck picnic at Crystal
Springs. 34
participants; 8 new members.
Jan
25, 2003
Leader:
Martha Doty
18
Hikers
OMH
Saturday
Route:
Crystal Springs Rec
area to springs and back
4.0
miles
Difficulty
Rating 2
Scenic
Rating 2
Half of us went to springs and back (4.0 miles); others went to
Charlton
campground and back (8 miles).
Feb
21, 2002
Leader: Kris & Billy McMillen
8 Hikers
Trail
Maintenance
Route:
Hiked round
trip, from Charlton; work mostly at
Charlton end of trail
8.0 miles
Difficulty
Rating 4 hours
OMH crew does general clearing and tread repair for Forest
Service after logging crews tore up trail. Martha
Doty (usual
task master) not available.
Sep
7, 2000
Leader: Martha Doty
lots of Hikers
OMH schedule
Route:
Crystal Springs to
Charlton campground
(and vice versa for half crowd).
4.0
miles
Difficulty Rating
3 Scenic Rating 2
Fall
2000
"Welcome Back" Hike. Pot luck at Crystal
Springs
rec area.
