OHT: Section 3—Cherry Bend/Hwy 23 to Lick Branch

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Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Historical Significance · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

• Ozark Highlands Trail (OHT)

Check with the Forest service for fall hunting season & wear orange!
Free camping along the trail (Please practice LNT!)

Following the official naming, segment number three starts out at the cherry bend trailhead. Not accessible from the trail, Roy Senyard Falls and Murry Falls can be heard. There is no marked trail to them and it's very steep terrain.

The trail winds up the 2,380 foot Hare Mountain where there is a historical homestead and surprisingly a well that usually has water. I can't imagine farming here or living off of game, but apparently someone did. In fact, many of the flat mountain / hilltops were homesteaded in this area! There are some nice views from the bluffs atop Hare Mountain and you'll appreciate that as you cool off and catch a breath from the climb. Due south, across the Arkansas river, you can see Mount Magazine in the distance; the tallest peak in Arkansas at 2753ft.

Dropping down, the trail passes several small & mid-sized waterfalls between miles 44 & 46. The trail is intersected in this area by a spur trail (marked with blue blazes) that will take you to Spy Rock lookout and Redding campground.

Just before the end of this segment, the trail passes through the Marinoni Scenic Area around mile 52 where it follows Briar Branch through a small canyon area filled with ferns, wild azalea, a natural rock bridge, waterfalls, and small pools. There is a reason this is a named scenic area!

Fall colors on this trail are astounding. Best time is mid to late November. Ferns, Azaleas, white oak, black gum, sweet gum elms, oaks, black jacks, and beeches among many others.

Deer, squirrels, birds (notably eagles, hawks, and owls), black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and even wolves are present along the entire trail