One of my favorite day hikes around Hot Springs is the Hunt’s Loop Trail in the Ouachita National Forest. The 4.3-mile-hike takes you straight up Short Mountain to a gorgeous vista and then through some of the most beautiful woods along the ridge of the mountain before returning to the narrow valley of the Middle Fork of the Saline River.
Hunt’s Loop Trail is located off of Highway 7 just north of Jessieville in southwest Arkansas. It is rated easy to difficult, but really the only difficult part is at first when you make the climb up to Short Mountain. A map of the trail and the forest service description of the trail can be viewed by clicking here.



A fun swimming hole at Iron Springs Recreation Area.
I have hiked Hunt’s Loop numerous times, and usually begin my hike at the Iron Springs Recreation Area. The area is open to picnicking with tables and vault toilets. It is a very nice area, even if you are just looking for a picnic and do not hike the trail. The Middle Fork of the the Saline River is dammed, which makes for a lovely swimming hole in the summer.
The trailhead is not hard to find. Simply follow the large and gorgeous bridge over the river. Now the Middle Fork of the Saline River does have a closer resemblance to a creek, however believe me, further south, out of the mountains, and with all forks combined, it looks more like a river.



The Middle Fork of the Saline River.



The trail to left at Iron Springs Recreation Area, you cross the spring.



The trail to the left from the bridge. Look for the white marker. A sign will tell you which way to go, but the trail is hard to see in the woods.
I love the hike to the top of the mountain, especially in the leaf-off season. Because of the narrow valley, the mountains on the other side are very close and you can see how rugged the area is.
At the Short Mountain Vista, there is a plaque giving you information about the area. The view, which looks to the south, is amazing, and is better in the leaf-off season.



The view from Short Mountain Vista.
Once I went when the weather was gloomy and gray. The higher I hiked the more foggy it got. The thick fog on this section of the trail was magical and more than worth the climb to see it.
The trail turns back north and heads towards the OT. Before meeting up with the OT, Hunt’s Loop takes you through a stand of Pines and on a dry, windy day the evergreens sing to you as you hike.
Hunt’s Loop Trail is marked with white blazes and the trail, except for the beginning, is easy to follow. The OT is marked with blue blazes and the 1.1-mile shared section of the trail is marked with both colors.
This shared section with the OT was the first time I had hiked on any part of the OT. One day I will hike the whole thing.
The trail intersection is clearly marked with a sign, and Hunt’s Loop portion goes to the right back toward Highway 7.
In this section there is an old pond of some sort that at one time someone stalked with koi, large ornamental gold fish, I guess as a joke. The koi have died or been taken elsewhere, but if you are quiet you might see frogs or turtles on the bank. I am not the most quiet, and have not seen them, but have heard them jump into the water as I walk up.



The bridge that cross the Middle Fork of the Saline River toward the Highway 7 trailhead of the Ouachita Trail.



Highway 7 can be seen from the trail
I love this trail for many reasons, but one thing that I find exceptional is how different the sections are. You start off in the steep assent to Short Mountain, and then through open woods, and then along the mountain stream. I like each section equally, and it would be tough to pick a favorite.



Lagena and I at Iron Springs Recreation Area.