Pack Up And Enjoy The Breathtaking River Corridor Trail In Arkansas This Fall
By Carol Ann Carson|Published September 11, 2020
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
The weather is finally starting to feel like fall, which means we’re only a few weeks away from our favorite hiking season. Plan a weekend to backpack the Cossatot’s River Corridor Trail for a gorgeous tour of fall foliage! Or pick a section for a cool getaway while the weather is fair. Let’s explore this riverside adventure and make plans for a return trip:
The Cossatot River is well known for being Arkansas' premier whitewater adventure.
It's a top spot for kayakers that want to take on the Class IV rapids and make a splash! The Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area follows along the river for 12 miles but you don't have to stay on the water to enjoy the area.
For a land-bound adventure take on the trail near here, the River Corridor.
The River Corridor Trail is a 12-mile path that winds through the Ouachita National Forest and along the Cossatot. The trail is certainly rugged but well worth it for the peaceful quiet as well as the views.
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This trail is stunning year-round but we're fans of taking on the challenge during the cooler seasons.
The spring flowers and serene greenery of summer do welcome off-season visitors but the best time to hike the trail is around fall. You'll be greeted with a couple of waterfalls in the forest if you come after a decent rain, too!
The trail is broken up into sections based around the river access areas which makes it easy to map out and plan beforehand. Each section takes around 6-8 hours and the entire trail is about 20 hours long. Trailblazers wanting a quick retreat can start at the park-natural area for a quick out-and-back for the afternoon.
Breaks for backpackers can be taken near the river access points.
The trail's beginning and end are at Highway 246 and Highway 278. Four of the Cossatot's river access areas are connected by the trail for camping logistics. Be sure to plan ahead by researching further! For a GPS-friendly map of the trailhead here.
This trail may not have quite the popularity of the actual Cossatot, but it is a wonderful addition to an adventure at the river!
For more information about the Cossatot read this brochure.
Have you hiked along the River Corridor Trail before? Did you tackle the entire trail or take a segment? Share your adventures with us in the comments! Don’t forget to add your photos to our Facebook group, Arkansas Nature Lovers. You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
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