Castle Bluff Camp
Campground
Campground · 10 mi from the trail
Arkansas · Hiking · Near Jasper
Trail of the Ancients
- 1.7 mi
- round trip
- 543 ft
- climb
- 2,284 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Nov
- best months
Is Trail of the Ancients open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. It doesn't name Trail of the Ancients, so check the source for the area it covers (9 listed).
Ozark Highlands Trail Access During ARDOT Hwy 123 Big Piney Creek Bridge Reconstruction
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Wildfire Risk Increases in Arkansas and Oklahoma
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Spring Lake Recreation Area Closed For Rest of 2026 Season
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Lake Wedington Recreation Area Water Line Project
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
Morgan Mtn Rd Partially Closed for Road Repair
Agency closure covering Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Trail of the Ancients is an easy out-and-back hike in Arkansas's Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, within the Buffalo Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail's natural surface and short length make it a straightforward outing. The route is about 1.7 miles long, with a total climb of 543 feet, and the high point reaches 2,284 feet. The trail is open year-round, and the most comfortable months tend to be spring and fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Kingston put May highs around 72°F and October highs near 67°F, with lows in the 50s. The trail is suitable for biking, and horses are not allowed. For more time on foot, Azalea Falls Trail and Zeester Trail both lie about 0.3 miles away, and South Bench Trail is about 0.6 miles off. Paddlers can find Big Piney Creek roughly 10 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after The Lodge
Restaurant
On your way back · 17 miIf it rains Tim Ernst Canvas Gallery
Gallery
On your way back · 18 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in JasperLocal outfitters
- Kings River Outfitters34 mi away
- Float Eureka41 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Mar–Nov
Best time to visit Trail of the Ancients
Best months: March–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.
Jan
43° / 25°
Feb
48° / 28°
Mar
57° / 35°
Apr
66° / 44°
May
72° / 54°
Jun
81° / 62°
Jul
85° / 66°
Aug
85° / 65°
Sep
78° / 59°
Oct
67° / 48°
Nov
55° / 37°
Dec
46° / 28°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Kingston 2s, AR, 11.9 mi away at 2,145 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Tony Webster — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Buffalo Creek Trail
~4 min drive
9.67-mile out-and-back hike in Arkansas with 480 ft gain.
Photo: Dameon Hudson, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Glory Hole
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Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Whitaker Point
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DEER TOWER TRAIL
~28 min drive
22.84-mile out-and-back hike in Arkansas with 4,351 ft elevation gain/loss
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Azalea Falls Trail
Next door
6.90-mile out-and-back hike at Azalea Falls Trail in Arkansas with 925 ft elevation gain
Photo: Marcus O. Bst, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Alum Cove Trail
~26 min drive
0.93-mile loop in Arkansas with 560 ft gain and 710 ft loss.
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South Bench Trail
Next door
3.79-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 339 ft gain.
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Ozark Highlands Trail
~29 min drive
132-mile point-to-point Ozark trail through mountains and valleys.
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Fire Tower Trail
~3 min drive
7.48-mile out-and-back hike in Arkansas with 1,002 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: SlapTheWorld, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Indian Creek Oht Spur
~26 min drive
0.49-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 64 ft gain.
