Arkansas · Hiking

Shady Lake

3.1 mi
loop
434 ft
climb
1,327 ft
high point
Loop
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Shady Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Shady Lake is a 3.1-mile loop hike in the Caddo Ranger District of Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. The trail rises from about 1,191 feet to a high point of 1,327 feet, with a total elevation gain of 434 feet. The route is rated moderate, and the steepest stretch comes around mile 2.3, where the grade reaches 17 percent. The hike starts at the Shady Lake trailhead, and the surrounding forest is managed by the Forest Service. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs near 69°F and May highs around 74°F, while July and August climb into the mid-80s. Several other trails sit within a few miles. Valuable Forest is just 0.1 mile away, and C.Creek - Tall Peak is 0.3 mile off. The Athens-Bigfork South trail is about 3 miles away, and paddlers can find Harris Creek roughly 4.9 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 Shady Lake

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

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Athens-Bigfork SouthPhoto: azoeart, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Athens-Bigfork South

~5 min drive

2.92-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 605 ft elevation gain

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

Viles Branch Horse Trail

~12 min drive

3.40-mile out-and-back horse trail in Arkansas with 658 ft gain.

Caney CreekPhoto: thigpen.robert, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Caney Creek

~15 min drive

19.20-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 1,308 ft gain.

HIKE

Viles Branch

~9 min drive

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

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

Wolf Pen Gap 6 East

~11 min drive

6.62-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 368 ft of elevation gain.

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

Wolf Pen Gap 8

~15 min drive

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

HIKE

C.Creek - Tall Peak

Next door

1.98-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 1,572 ft elevation gain.

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

Wolf Pen Gap 624

~12 min drive

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

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

Wolf Pen Gap 6 West

~16 min drive

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

HIKE

Little Missouri North

~9 min drive

6.40-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 631 ft gain and 760 ft loss.