Arrowhead Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The first part of the trail can be rocky at times, but the 2nd half is typically quite muddy.

Arrowhead trail runs from the Land Trust parking lot off of Monte Sano weaving in and out of Natural Well. Compared to other trails in Monte Sano State Park it is not as rocky most.

The trail starts out with a slight climb and downhill for the first of a mile at the peak of which you are right above a wash out that has destroyed a big chunk of the Natural Well Trail.

There are some rocky points between the start and the first intersection of with Natural Well but nothing too bad. You do cross two small wooden bridges before you reach some cool stone cuts at about a mile in.

From there you cross Natural Well and head south toward the Big Cat Tract on a steady decline. Here just after the 2-mile mark there is a slight jaunt you can take to an old civil war cistern on the Arrowhead: Historic Cistern Trail. This section has a few rocky places but nothing too difficult.

Next up is the Big Cat Creek Tract. Here you dip down to the lowest part of the trail and loop around some nice rock formations before heading back north. The loop back up around Big Cat Creek Tract is a rocky technical part of the trail that can be difficult if you are coming at it from the south. If you are not feeling up to it, there is Big Cat Tract Hill Bypass that you can take to avoid this spot.

From here to the next intersection with Natural Well (at 4.25 miles) is easier. The only thing that may slow you down is mud that can be present during and after periods of heavier rain.

The last part of Arrowhead features two more wooden bridges, the first of which needs a few boards replaced. Those bridges book-end a short, strong incline before heading back down where the trail merges into Natural Well.

Check out this article on the Arrowhead Trail for more info.

Along the trail, you can spot various wildflowers depending on the season. You may also see squirrels, various birds, whitetail deer, snakes, lizard, and I even spotted a turtle on the trail.