Let me also make a few comments about the Eagle Rock Loop Trail which is also in the Ouachita National Forest, in case any fellow Texans might be interested in hiking it.
This trail is both beautiful and challenging. Probably the best place to start is the Albert Pike Rec Area where there are warm showers available, pre and post hike. To me the highlight of the trail is the Little Missouri River. Hiking beside it, crossing over it (2 wet crossings) and camping next to it is so serene. The best season, I think, is the early spring with the redbuds and dogwoods in bloom and the river levels are a little higher.
The challenge comes from the series of 6 or 8 mountains one crosses. Each one is only 300 - 400 foot elevation gain but there are few if any switchbacks on the way up or down. However, there are some nice vistas at the top.
