Flatside Wilderness Area

The Basics

Flatside Wilderness Area
Ouachita National Forest
Perry & Saline Counties, AR

Phone: (501) 984-5313 (Jessieville District Office)

Closest Towns: Hot Springs Village, Jessieville, Ola, Perryville

Directions: Flatside Pinnacle Access: From Perryville, head south on AR Hwy9/Hwy 10 for about x miles to FR#132, which is also the Winona Auto Tour Route, and Turn Left. Go approx. 8.3 miles (staying Right at 3.3 miles, then keeping Straight through a 4-way intersection at 4.2 miles), and then Turn Right onto FR#94/CR#53. Follow this road as it turn north for approx. 2.9 miles to the parking area on your Left.

Forked Mountain Access: From the Jessieville Ranger Office, head North on AR Scenic Highway 7 for about 13 miles, just past the South Fourche Campground, and Turn Right onto FR#86/CR#39. Follow this gravel road East for approx. 4.7 miles, then Turn Right onto FR#793, heading South. Go approx. 0.9 miles down this road, crossing the creek twice, and park at the closed gate marking the Wilderness Area boundary. DO NOT block the gate.

Winona Auto Tour Access: The winona Auto Tour, which travels between AR Hwy 7 and AR Hwy 9 along FR#132, skirts the southern boundary of the Flatside Wilderness. Access can be obtained anywhere along this road, but parking is extremely limited. The best access along the southern edge would be from the Ouachita Trail FR#124 Trailhead, just off of the Winona Auto Tour at the Western end of the Wilderness Area.

FR#124 Trailhead Access: From Perryville, head south on AR Hwy9/Hwy 10 for about x miles to FR#132, which is also the Winona Auto Tour Route, and Turn Left. Go approx. 17.6 miles (staying Right at 3.3 miles, Straight at 4.2 miles, Left at 8.3, Straight at 8.7 and 9.7, Right at 9.8, and Straight at 12.3). Turn Right onto FR#124, and the parking area will be on your Right about 0.2 mile.

About Flatside Wilderness Area

Located in the Eastern reaches of the Ouachita National Forest, less than 40 miles from downtown Little Rock, the Flatside Wilderness protects 9,500 acres of some of the most scenic forest and views in the Ouachita Mountains.

The area gets its namesake from Flatside Pinnacle, a 1,550-ft rock outcrop located just outside the wilderness area's Northeast boundary, which offers one of the best sunset views in the enitre state. Views to the West from Flatside Pinnacle span all the way across the Wilderness Area to 1,350-ft Forked Mountain, as well as views of White Oak Mountain along the southern boundary. White Oak Mountain sits at 1,650-ft, the highest point in the Flatside Wilderness.

Spanning across the enitre Ouachita National Forest, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail passes through the Flatside Wilderness Area. The trail travels from the Flatside Pinnacle on the eastern end to White Oak Mountain on the southwestern end, and provides access deep into the interior of the wilderness. Skirting the southern boundary, the Winona Auto Tour also provides scenic views and a look into the heart of this Wilderness Area, and can even provide additional access into the area.

During wet weather, the Flatside Wilderness offers many scenic small streams and waterfalls just waiting to be explored. Two of these waterfalls include Forked Mountain Falls and Twist Cascade, both located in the shadows of Forked Mountain.

Features

Forked Mountain | Forked Mountain Falls | Twist Cascade

What's Nearby


Parks & Nature
Bear Creek Horse Camp
Lake Sylvia Recreation Area
South Fourche Campground

Trails
Bear Creek Equestrian Trails
Lake Sylvia Trails

Camping
Lake Sylvia Campground

Lodging

Local Eateries

Gear & Supplies

Other Attractions
Brown Creek Cascade
Chinquapin Mountain Walk-In Turkey Area
Deckard Mountain Walk-In Turkey Hunting Area
Iron Springs Picnic Area

Towns & Cities