Arkansas · Hiking

Athens-Bigfork South

Athens-Bigfork SouthPhoto: azoeart, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.9 mi
round trip
920 ft
climb
1,510 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Athens-Bigfork South open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Ouachita National Forest. It doesn't name Athens-Bigfork South, so check the source for the area it covers (5 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Ouachita National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Athens-Bigfork South is an easy out-and-back hike in the Caddo Ranger District of Arkansas's Ouachita National Forest, about 2.9 miles long with a total elevation gain of 920 feet. The trail starts at roughly 1,147 feet and reaches a high point of 1,510 feet, so it is a short route with a steady climb, and the steepest stretch comes about 0.34 miles in, where the grade reaches about 26%. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically October and April, when typical averages from a nearby weather station run around 69°F for the high and 52°F for the low in October and 69°F for the high and 50°F for the low in April. That station sits about 310 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up high run cooler. The station also records no snow days from January through December, and July is the warmest month with typical highs near 87°F. The trail is not accessible. Viles Branch Horse Trail, a mountain biking route, lies just 0.1 mile away. Viles Branch and Shady Lake campground are both about 2.9 miles off. Valuable Forest is about 3 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Athens-Bigfork South

    Best months: March–June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      47° / 32°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      53° / 35°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      61° / 42°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      69° / 50°

      9 wet

    5. May

      74° / 59°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 66°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      87° / 69°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      86° / 69°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      79° / 62°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      69° / 52°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      58° / 42°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      50° / 34°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Fk 1 Sse, AR, 7.5 mi away at 1,200 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Viles Branch Horse TrailPhoto: azoeart, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Viles Branch Horse Trail

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