Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Benton, Arkansas

Lake Sylvia to Winona Lake and HWY9

This trail starts at Lake Sylvia State Park where camping, swimming and water/electric sites are available if needed. Its a great place to explore. After leaving Lake Sylvia this route takes you to LAKE WINONA…
Learn more about Lake Sylvia to Winona Lake and HWY9
Total Miles
17.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Muse Mountain Road

Muse Mountain is about 9 miles long in the National Forest. This trail is great to start your off-roading adventure into the Ouachita National Forest. Muse Mountain offers water crossings, camping, mud, and some light…
Learn more about Muse Mountain Road
Total Miles
7.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Winona Scenic Drive

The Winona Auto Tour Scenic Drive is a 26-mile trail located in the Ouachita National Forest. The route travels along with Forest Road #132 between AR Highway 7 north of Jessieville and AR Highway 9…
Learn more about Winona Scenic Drive
Total Miles
15.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Fort Mountain to Flatside Pinnacle

South Fourche Campground is a convenient roadside picnic area and campground located on Scenic Highway 7 Byway. This campground also provides floating access to the South Fourche River. Free dispersed camping. This route takes you…
Learn more about Fort Mountain to Flatside Pinnacle
Total Miles
8.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Old North Fork RD

This trail starts off Hwy 7 and ends at a two-track on the right side of the road. If you want to take the two-track, be prepared for pinstriping. This is a maintained gravel road…
Learn more about Old North Fork RD
Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi / Su

South Forche to Forked Mountain

This route leaves South Forche Campground and leads to Forked Mountain. The campground is free. The campground has set up campsites with vault toilets. There is a water outlet at the campground. Leaving the campground…
Learn more about South Forche to Forked Mountain
Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Ouachita Pinnacle 1952 FT

This trail picks up from Old North Fork Road and takes you to a 1952 ft elevation. This trail has a decent climb and the trail going up the mountain is rough in places. You…
Learn more about Ouachita Pinnacle 1952 FT
Total Miles
8.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Muse Creek and Irons Fork

This trail picks up from North Fork to Gladstone trail. Access from HWY 7 or Hwy 298. This maintained gravel road can be slippery when wet and dusty while dry. The trail ends on Irons…
Learn more about Muse Creek and Irons Fork
Total Miles
7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Pipe Spring

This road leaves Hickory Nut Road at the west end and the east end stops at Crystal Springs Resort entrance. Across the main road is a public boat ramp with restrooms and great views of…
Learn more about Pipe Spring
Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Exit to Tabor Mountain Road

This is a short two-mile trail that ends at Tabor Mountain Road. This exits the gravel road area. This trail picks up from North Fork and Irons Fork Trail. This is a maintained gravel road…
Learn more about Exit to Tabor Mountain Road
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Hickory Nut Mountain

This maintained Gravel road goes up to Hickory Nut Vista Lookout. As you travel to the vista you will pass Hickory Nut Campground on the left side of the road. This is a dispersed campground…
Learn more about Hickory Nut Mountain
Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Big Fir

This maintained gravel road goes to Big Fir Public Use Area. There are two loop campgrounds (primitive with outhouse) and a rough spur trail that goes to another small camping area (primitive) with lake access.…
Learn more about Big Fir
Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Womble Silver

This is a nice forest road that if headed east, will end at Highway 270. This trail ends at a very nice Group sized, dispersed campsite. East Fork Twin Creek runs alongside this road. There…
Learn more about Womble Silver
Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Wildcat Hollow

Running along the north boundary of a section of Ouachita National Forest, south of Highway 28, this gravel road is maintained and contains beautiful scenery. There can be mud during and after rain with a…
Learn more about Wildcat Hollow
Total Miles
7.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Collier Springs

This gravel road leaves a dispersed campsite. This trail passes several dispersed campsites, including Collier Springs, Crystal Scenic Trail, and Twin Creek Crystal Mine. With huge boulders, many rocks, creeks, and diverse terrain, there is…
Learn more about Collier Springs
Total Miles
5.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Mount Zion Cemetery

This track is all gravel that can have areas of mud and water crossings during or after rain. The south end of this track touches Highway 28. Mount Zion Cemetery is at the south end…
Learn more about Mount Zion Cemetery
Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Highway 24 to Campsite C-10 Poison Springs WMA

Dirt and gravel road south off Highway 24. This road goes into the Poison Spring WMA. A camping permit is required and is free at Poison Springs WMA website. This road can be slippery when…
Learn more about Highway 24 to Campsite C-10 Poison Springs WMA
Total Miles
8.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

The Arkansas Overland Route - Section 5 - Highway 76 to Highway 278

This trail is a mix of dirt, gravel, and asphalt. This area has some beautiful views and creeks. This is the 5th section of the Arkansas Overlanding Route that starts off HWY 82 (FALCON Bottoms…
Learn more about The Arkansas Overland Route - Section 5 - Highway 76 to Highway 278
Total Miles
6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

The Arkansas Overland Route - Section 4 - Poison Springs WMA and Purifoy Cemetery

This trail is gravel and dirt that can be sloppy during or after rains. There is a small section is pavement before turning to go to Purifoy Cemetery. Some areas you might want to avoid…
Learn more about The Arkansas Overland Route - Section 4 - Poison Springs WMA and Purifoy Cemetery
Total Miles
12
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Country route to White Oak Lake Group Campsite

This is a gravel and dirt road that leads to an awesome group campsite on White Oak Lake. A permit can be found online to camp in this free Poison Springs Forest. There are several…
Learn more about Country route to White Oak Lake Group Campsite
Total Miles
28.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Crystal Park

This is a maintained gravel road that can have some mud when wet and possible water crossings depending on the weather. This trail takes you along beautiful views, creeks, and possible wildlife sightings. This trail…
Learn more about Crystal Park
Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Pond Camp Special

After starting down this gravel road trail, you will quickly find a beautiful pond. This pond has a dam you can fish from and a dirt launch for small boats. There is also a small…
Learn more about Pond Camp Special
Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Talley Mountain

This Trail is a gravel road that can be messy when wet. There can be water crossings along this trail depending on precipitation. Not far up this trail as you travel west, you will see…
Learn more about Talley Mountain
Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Primitive Camp and Shooting Range in Poison Springs WMA

White Oak State Park is a great place to stay while you explore the Poison Springs WMA. If you want full hookups and restrooms while you camp. While at White Oak State Park, ask the…
Learn more about Primitive Camp and Shooting Range in Poison Springs WMA
Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Poison Springs WMA - Campsite C-10 to C-29 and C-54

This dirt and gravel road takes you to dispersed campsites within the Poison Springs WMA area. Camping permits are required and are free at Poison Springs WMA website. Roads can be slick, and water crossing…
Learn more about Poison Springs WMA - Campsite C-10 to C-29 and C-54
Total Miles
5.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Rock Creek

This track is a gravel road that has a few bridge crossings and nice creek views. Some water crossings can be present during rain. Mud may be present after rain and dusty while dry. Watch…
Learn more about Rock Creek
Total Miles
4.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

The Arkansas Overland Route - Section 6 - Highway 278 to Highway 79

This trail is Section 6 of The Arkansas Overlanding Route that starts off HWY 82 (Falcon Bottoms Back Roads) trail. This section contains creeks and awesome views. Parts of this trail can be very messy…
Learn more about The Arkansas Overland Route - Section 6 - Highway 278 to Highway 79
Total Miles
10.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Moss Curves

Starting at a fork in the road, this trail will dead end at an area you can disperse camp. This trail has plenty of curves with awesome views. Watch for wildlife as you travel this…
Learn more about Moss Curves
Total Miles
8.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Walnut Grove

This gravel road has beautiful views and some nice curves. Watch for wildlife as you travel through the tall trees. There are steep drop-offs on the side of the road where you will hear and…
Learn more about Walnut Grove
Total Miles
6.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

The Arkansas Overland Route - Section 8 - To Spoon Bend Camping Area

This is Section 8 of The Arkansas Overland Route that starts off HWY 82 (Falcon Bottoms Back Roads) trail. This section has pavement, dirt, and gravel. This section will lead you to Spoon Bend Access…
Learn more about The Arkansas Overland Route - Section 8 - To Spoon Bend Camping Area
Total Miles
12.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi