Arkansas · Hiking

Wolf Pen Gap 1

9.0 mi
round trip
1,349 ft
climb
1,352 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Wolf Pen Gap 1 open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Ouachita National Forest. It doesn't name Wolf Pen Gap 1, 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.

Wolf Pen Gap 1 is a 9-mile out-and-back hike in the Mena Ranger District of Arkansas's Ouachita National Forest. The trail is a natural-surface route that starts and ends at the Gap Creek Trailhead, with the high point at 1,352 feet and the low at 1,084 feet. The climb is hardest at the start, where the trail reaches a 12% grade about half a mile from the trailhead, and the total elevation gain is 515 feet for the round trip. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 69°F in April and October, with lows near 50°F. Summer highs there reach the mid-80s. Several other Wolf Pen Gap trails sit within a short distance, including Wolf Pen Gap 6 West at 0.6 miles and Wolf Pen Gap 8 at 1.1 miles. For a change of pace, the Cossatot River offers canoeing about 5 miles away, and Shady Lake campground is roughly 10 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 Wolf Pen Gap 1

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

Wolf Pen Gap 8

~2 min drive

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

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

Wolf Pen Gap 614

~6 min drive

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

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

Caney Creek

~8 min drive

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

~3 min drive

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

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

Wolf Pen Gap 826

~6 min drive

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

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

Rich Mountain

~30 min drive

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

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

Viles Branch Horse Trail

~26 min drive

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

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

Wolf Pen Gap 6 East

~6 min drive

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

HIKE

Wolf Pen Gap 2

~4 min drive

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