← COSTA ADVENTURES · EXPEDITIONS
35.3 miles · six nights · point-to-point · three hikers in the deep Ozark backcountry
Confirmed itinerary for all three of us. Tuesday Oct 6 through Tuesday Oct 13 — fly in, shuttle to the trailhead, hike 35 miles through the best of Section 1, walk out to Cherry Bend, camp one final night at Turner Bend, buffer day in Bentonville, fly home.
Day 1 (Tue Oct 6): Everyone flies into XNA. Pick up rental car. Drive to Cherry Bend, check in at Turner Bend, shuttle to Lake Fort Smith. Camp at Lake Fort Smith (Campsite #9, reserved).
Day 2 (Wed Oct 7): Hike to Dockery's Gap (9 mi).
Day 3 (Thu Oct 8): Hike to White Rock Mountain (8.2 mi).
Day 4 (Fri Oct 9): Hike to Salt Fork Creek (6.5 mi).
Day 5 (Sat Oct 10): Rest day at Salt Fork — explore nearby waterfalls, day trip.
Day 6 (Sun Oct 11): Final push to Cherry Bend (11.3 mi). Camp at Turner Bend.
Day 7 (Mon Oct 12): Buffer day in Bentonville. Hotel night.
Day 8 (Tue Oct 13): Everyone flies home.
Trail map: View on AllTrails
Shared expenses so far. We'll split evenly at the end — track everything here as it gets booked.
| Item | Amount | Paid by | Status | Receipt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle — Turner Bend, Cherry Bend pickup + Lake Fort Smith dropoff | $237.01 | Manuel | Paid | Conf #236642 |
| Campsite — Lake Fort Smith SP, Site #9, 1 night (Oct 6) | $55.32 | Manuel | Paid | Inv #17-00955991 |
| Rental car — XNA pickup/dropoff, Oct 6–13 (8 days) | TBD | Kyquan | Pending | — |
| Turner Bend campsite — Night of Oct 11 (last night) | TBD | TBD | Pending | — |
Per-person split of confirmed costs: ~$97.44 each. Final split once rental + Turner Bend camp is added.
Everyone flies into Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) in Highfill, AR. We need to be at Turner Bend / Cherry Bend by 5:00 PM for the shuttle. Plan to land by noon.
Pick up at XNA rental row (Hertz, Enterprise, National, Avis all on-site). A mid-size SUV works best — we need trunk space for 3 full packs. Kyquan is handling the rental booking.
The plan: Whoever lands first grabs the car and waits at arrivals for the others. Once everyone's in, drive south ~1.5 hr to Cherry Bend. Leave the rental at Cherry Bend, get the shuttle to Lake Fort Smith. When we hike back to Cherry Bend on Day 6, the car is waiting.
Three options along the drive from XNA to Cherry Bend. Last real meal before 5 days of trail food — make it count.
Fayetteville, AR — 30 min from XNA, right off I-49. A Fayetteville institution. Ribs, brisket, pulled pork, Southern sides. Big portions, casual atmosphere, easy parking.
Best if we want a real sit-down meal and have time before heading south.
Ozark, AR — 20 min south of Turner Bend on AR-23. Classic small-town diner. Catfish, chicken-fried steak, burgers, pie. Cash-friendly, quick service.
Best if we're cutting it close on time and want to eat near the shuttle pickup.
At the shuttle pickup — Turner Bend Outfitter has a small store with snacks, drinks, and basic prepared food. Not a sit-down restaurant, but convenient.
Best if we're arriving at 4:30–5:00 PM with no time for a detour. Grab and go.
Tuesday is travel. Wednesday through Sunday are on trail — 4 hiking days plus a rest day at Salt Fork Creek. Monday is a buffer day in Bentonville. Tuesday is fly home. Total hiking: 35.3 miles.
All three hikers land at XNA by noon. First one in grabs the rental car. Rendezvous at arrivals.
Meal stop: Grab lunch/early dinner on the drive south (see dinner options above). We need to be at Cherry Bend / Turner Bend by 5:00 PM for the shuttle.
Shuttle check-in: Turner Bend Outfitter (479-667-3641). Check in between 3–6 PM. Leave the rental car at Cherry Bend. The shuttle drives us ~1 hour northwest to Lake Fort Smith State Park.
Where you sleep: Lake Fort Smith State Park, Campsite #9 (reserved, paid). Check-in 3:00 PM. Bathrooms and water on-site. Set up camp, organize packs, sleep early — we start hiking in the morning.
Start at the visitor center trailhead behind Lake Fort Smith SP. Trail begins along the lake then climbs gently onto the first ridge. Photograph the lake from the high point looking back.
Frog Bayou crossing (mile 3): First major water — a wide creek that's typically easy in October but can run high after rain. Call the park office at (479) 369-2469 before the trip to ask about current passability.
What you walk through: Mixed oak-hickory hardwood, dense canopy. Several small creek crossings. Sandstone bluffs and rocky outcrops on the climb to Richardson Mountain.
Where you sleep: Dispersed camping in the Dockery's Gap area, mile ~9. Look for established sites near small streams. No designated campsite — pick a flat spot, follow Leave No Trace, camp 200+ ft from water.
The signature day of Section 1. Climbs gradually through several hollows to the highest point: White Rock Mountain at 2,260 ft. The mountain has a paved access road, picnic shelters, and four stone cabins built by the CCC in the 1930s.
The Rim Trail: 2-mile loop around the summit with multiple west-facing overlooks down into the Mulberry River valley. Sunset from here is the trip's visual peak. Plan to arrive mid-afternoon to do the rim walk.
Where you sleep: (1) White Rock cabins if available ($60–80/night, Recreation.gov) — fireplace, shelter, hot meal spot. (2) Backcountry camp on the OHT a half-mile east of the junction. Sunrise from the rim is worth the early alarm.
Leave the ridgetop views behind and drop 1,200 ft into the Salt Fork Creek drainage. The trail threads through dense hemlock hollows — the sound of water builds as you descend. This is the most remote stretch on Section 1.
What you walk through: Mixed hardwood-to-hemlock transition. Creek crossings increase as you descend. Watch for a 30-foot waterfall on Spirits Creek near the end of the day.
Where you sleep: Salt Fork Creek — dispersed camp right where Salt Fork and Spirits Creek converge. Unlimited filtered water, deep shade, no cell service. True backcountry. We'll be here two nights.
Rest day in the deepest hollow on Section 1. No pack, no agenda. Explore the Spirits Creek waterfall, wade in the creek, filter fresh water, wash off trail dust, sit by the falls. This is what we came for.
Waterfall day trip: Follow Spirits Creek upstream to the 30-foot falls. Scramble the mossy bluffs. Photograph the hemlock canopy. Light day hike with no pack — just water and snacks.
Camp life: Dry out gear, repair anything, eat well, rest legs for the 11.3-mile push to Cherry Bend tomorrow. Filter and top off all water before bed — the ridge ahead is dry.
The longest and hardest day. Climb out of the Spirits Creek drainage (steep first mile), traverse a long ridge, descend toward Hwy 23. Start early.
Water plan: Fill all bottles at Spirits Creek before leaving camp — the ridge ahead has limited water. Carry 3+ liters.
What you walk through: Sustained ridge walking with periodic views west. Mixed pine-oak. Some wind exposure on the high sections. Final 2 miles descend through hardwood toward Hwy 23.
Finish: Cherry Bend Trailhead on Hwy 23. The rental car is waiting where we left it on Day 1.
Where you sleep: Drive back to Turner Bend (right nearby on Hwy 23). Camp for the night. Hot food from the store, debrief around the fire, clean up for the flight tomorrow.
Break camp at Turner Bend (near Cherry Bend). Drive north toward Bentonville. We have the whole day free — no trail, no timeline. Everyone flies out tomorrow.
Things to do in Bentonville: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (free, world-class), the Bentonville Square, mountain bike the Slaughter Pen trails, or just decompress with good food. Try The Preacher's Son for a celebratory dinner.
Where you sleep: Hotel near XNA — Hilton Garden Inn or 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville. Hot shower, real bed, laundry.
Manuel's flight is at 11:52 AM — no need to rush. Grab breakfast, drop the rental at XNA (on-site, ~10 min walk to terminal), and fly home via Houston.
Before the airport: Breakfast at The Hive at 21c or any Bentonville coffee spot. Return rental car. Done.
Day 5 is a confirmed rest day at the most remote camp on Section 1. Here's why we picked it and what to explore.
Water: Salt Fork Creek and Spirits Creek converge right at camp. Unlimited filtered water, no carrying needed.
Remoteness: Most remote point on Section 1. No road access, no cell service, no other facilities. True backcountry.
Shade: Dense hemlock canopy holds cover even in October. The coolest, most sheltered camp on the trail.
Waterfall: 30-foot falls on Spirits Creek, reachable as a light day trip from camp. Mossy bluffs, deep-forest immersion.
Already booked and paid. Here's what we need to know for Day 1.
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Pickup: Cherry Bend (we drive the rental here, leave it)
Dropoff: Lake Fort Smith State Park
Check-in window: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Turner Bend store
Cost: $237.01 (paid, Visa ...9285)
Store phone: 479-667-3641
Action item: Call Turner Bend to move estimated arrival to 5:00 PM (currently set for 3:00 PM). This gives us time for lunch on the drive down. Max they'll do is 5:00 PM.
Ranked by likelihood and severity for our October 6–12 window.
Hollows have abundant water but ridge sections between hollows can be dry in early October. Days 3 and 6 have long ridge stretches. Carry 3+ liters off every creek crossing. Treat with Sawyer Squeeze or chlorine dioxide tabs.
Mile 3 on Day 2. Wide creek, usually easy in October, but can run high after heavy rain. Call Lake Fort Smith SP at (479) 369-2469 within 48 hours of the trip.
Early October is still active season for ticks and chiggers in the Ozarks. Permethrin-treat clothes and gaiters 48+ hours before the trip. DEET or picaridin on exposed skin. Tick checks at every camp.
The OHT is blazed (white) but some sections have faded blazes. Download the Gaia GPS trail layer in advance. Buy the OHTA waterproof map for Section 1 ($15). Carry a compass.
Our dates (Oct 6–13) are before modern firearms deer opener (typically Nov 14). Bear archery is open, but archery hunters are scarce on the OHT. Low risk, but wearing a blaze orange hat is good practice.
Not exhaustive — focused on what's specific to Arkansas in early October on this trail. Mid-October temps: highs 65–75°F, lows 45–55°F.
What's done, what's pending, and who owns each item.
Every link you'll want when planning, packing, or hitting the trail.