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The local talk of the town in Mena is a new mountain bike trail system. But since the 1980s, the Wolf Pen Gap ATV trail system through the forest and hardwood pines has been a significant draw to the area for locals and tourists.
In 1991, the U.S. Forestry system opened the converted logging paths as the first trail system for all-terrain vehicles in the Ouachita Mountains. Since then, more than 42 miles of trails in various skill levels carve wide swaths through the Ouachita National Forest as an interconnected trail system. As a result, Mena is now a prime all-terrain vehicle riding destination in Arkansas and the perfect place for families to unplug and recharge in nature. The all-terrain vehicle riding community is estimated to bring $58 million annually to Arkansas tourism.
Photo used with permission from Arkansas Parks and Tourism.
Many visitors to the Wolf Pen Gap ATV Trails are families from Texas, Louisiana and Missouri, seeking a place to connect with nature and make family memories. In addition to vistas and overlooks, one feature that draws visitors is the two-footed oak tree. No one knows how it developed, but it is two fully rooted trees that have grown together and form one big tree that you can drive your all-terrain vehicle through.
Recreational and camping areas of the Ouachita National Forest do not allow all-terrain vehicle vehicles. Still, ATVs can be used on county roads and the gravel and unsurfaced roads in the trail system. In addition, four trailheads offer access to the converted logging trails, and many of the all-terrain vehicle trails are also suitable for mountain bikes and strenuous hiking.
Features accessed from the Wolf Pen Gap trail system
- Gap Creek – a spring-fed creek that is an upland tributary to the Caddo River.
- Bard Camp Creek – secluded swimming hole, easily accessed by foot
- 2-footed tree oak – picture-perfect moment under two trees that have grown together sideways to form one tree overhead
- Abandoned mine shaft – carved into the side of a mountain and hidden deep in the woods
- Little Missouri Falls – a beautiful, secluded waterfall, easily accessed from a short walking trail off the main road
- Cossatot Falls – The “skull crusher” heart of Cossatot River State Park swimming hole and kayak park
- Tall Peak Trail – moderately challenging hike from Shady Lake with a panoramic view of the Ouachita Mountain Valley
Photo used with permission from Arkansas Parks and Tourism.
Like Wolfpen ATV Campground, cabins and campsites cater to the all-terrain vehicle riders and rent exclusively to these visitors, offering ride-in and-out amenities and wash and storage stations. However, Jimmy Cunningham, former Mena mayor and campground owner, says this area’s unique feature is the access to trails. In most places, you must trailer your vehicles to the trailhead. “Here, you can walk out of your cabin, get on your vehicle and take off!”
Wolf Pen Gap and the Ouachita National Forest camping areas are not the only things you can do in Mena. As a Main Street Arkansas Partner community, leaders are developing an infrastructure of play and support for tourists.
After a full summer schedule, several in-person events have returned to the fall, offering many reasons to visit Polk county.
- Rich Mountain Rendezvous | September 15-18 | a mountain man weekend benefitting CASA of the Ouachitas
- Ouachita Bigfoot Festival | September 23-24
- Ouachita Mountains Jeep Jam | October 1
- Wheel A’Mena | October 8 | bicycle tour of the Ouachita Mountains and Talimena Scenic Drive
- Brandon Davis Concert | October 15
- Solar Eclipse Festival | April 2024 | Mena will be a hub for the center of totality in Arkansas for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
With much of the trail system buried in the Ouachita National Forest, I suggest printing a map before leaving for your trip or checking in with Arkansas Visitor Centers or the Ranger Station for printed maps. The cellphone service is limited in most areas, so it’s a great place to travel and unplug!
Resources for navigating the trail system:
- Mena – Oden Ranger Station Official Wolf Pen Gap ATV Trail Map
- Geo-references Trail Map
- AllTrails.com
- Avenza official map or download app before arrival
- VisitMena.com
- VisitOuachitas.com
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