Arkansas · Hiking

Wildcat Mtn. Trail

7.0 mi
round trip
1,184 ft
climb
1,094 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Wildcat Mtn. Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Ouachita National Forest. It doesn't name Wildcat Mtn. Trail, 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.

Wildcat Mtn. Trail is a 7-mile out-and-back hike in the Winona Ranger District of Arkansas's Ouachita National Forest. The trail is rated hard, and the climb totals about 1,184 feet of gain and loss for the round trip, with a high point of 1,094 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.9 miles in, with a grade of 18%. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 71°F in April and 73°F in October, with summer highs near 89°F. That station sits about 400 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the mountain run cooler. The trip takes about three hours. The trail starts on Forest Service land, and several other hikes sit within two miles, including Wildlife Loop, Trees of the Forest and Lake Sylvia Loop. Paddlers can find the North Fork Saline River about 4 miles away.

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

    Best time to visit Wildcat Mtn. Trail

    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

      49° / 29°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      54° / 32°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      62° / 40°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      71° / 48°

      10 wet

    5. May

      78° / 58°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      85° / 66°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 70°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 69°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      83° / 62°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      73° / 50°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      61° / 39°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      51° / 32°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Alum Fk, AR, 3.5 mi away at 698 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Wildlife LoopPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Wildlife Loop

~2 min drive

1.00-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 149 ft elevation gain.

Hunts LoopPhoto: SlapTheWorld, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Hunts Loop

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Peak TrailPhoto: Eric Friedebach, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Peak Trail

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WILDCAT MTN. TRAIL

~4 min drive

6.98-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 945 ft gain and 1,188 ft max elevation.

Trees of the ForestPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Trees of the Forest

~3 min drive

0.72-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 25 ft of elevation gain.

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BEAR CREEK EQUESTRIAN TRAIL

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Sunset Trail

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Lake Sylvia LoopPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Lake Sylvia Loop

~3 min drive

1.40-mile out-and-back trail at Lake Sylvia with 353 ft gain

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Bear Creek - East Loop

~35 min drive

9.80-mile loop trail in Arkansas with 1,006 ft elevation gain.

Chinquapin LoopPhoto: ChattOconeeNF, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Chinquapin Loop

~3 min drive

0.53-mile loop trail in Arkansas with 43 ft of elevation gain.