Arkansas · Hiking

Caney Creek

Caney CreekPhoto: thigpen.robert, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
19.2 mi
round trip
1,953 ft
climb
1,560 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Caney Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Ouachita National Forest. It doesn't name Caney Creek, 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.

Caney Creek is a hard hike of about 19 miles in the Mena Ranger District of Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is natural-surfaced and shaped as an out-and-back, with the high point at about 1,560 feet and the low at about 945 feet. The climb is steep right from the start, with the steepest stretch at about 0.34 miles in, and the total gain and loss for the round trip are each about 1,950 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 69°F with lows near 52°F, and April is similar at about 69°F by day and 50°F at night. The station sits about 360 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the higher ground run a little cooler. The Cossatot River, a canoeing route, is about 1.4 miles away. Wolf Pen Gap 1 and Wolf Pen Gap 6 West are both within about 5 miles. Shady Lake campground is about 8.6 miles off.

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 Caney Creek

    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, 10.2 mi away at 1,200 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Wolf Pen Gap 6 WestPhoto: thigpen.robert, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wolf Pen Gap 6 West

~9 min drive

7.9-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 560 ft gain.

Wolf Pen Gap 624Photo: thigpen.robert, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wolf Pen Gap 624

~10 min drive

1.48-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 188 ft gain.

Rich MountainPhoto: SlapTheWorld, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Rich Mountain

~34 min drive

15.88-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 1,162 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Viles Branch

~23 min drive

46.6-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 1,749 ft elevation gain.

Wolf Pen Gap 8Photo: thigpen.robert, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wolf Pen Gap 8

~9 min drive

3.33-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 471 ft gain.

Wolf Pen Gap 826Photo: thigpen.robert, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wolf Pen Gap 826

~10 min drive

Wolf Pen Gap 826 is a 1.16-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 210 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Wolf Pen Gap 1

~8 min drive

9-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 749 ft elevation gain.

Wolf Pen Gap 8Photo: thigpen.robert, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wolf Pen Gap 8

~10 min drive

9.38-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 603 ft elevation gain.

Wolf Pen Gap 614Photo: thigpen.robert, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wolf Pen Gap 614

~10 min drive

1.88-mile loop trail in Arkansas with 478 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Wolf Pen Gap 2

~10 min drive

3.12-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 363 ft elevation gain.