Three Peaks of the Ouachitas

Kevlar Ryder John had heard the stories and seen to pics of our January 2012 ride In Search of the Cassatot River, and wanted to make a ride up into the Ouachita Mountains/National Forest. We consulted the maps and decided we'd try to top 3 peaks on an overnite ride to Mena. So we set on on Friday, March 23rd, riding as many country/forest service roads we could muster in the daylight hours. Yeah, I know, I'm a little slow posting the pics.

The first destination was to visit the site of the former Spring Bank Ferry on the Red River near Doddridge, Arkansas. The road down to the Red River:


The little ferry was replaced some time, if my memory is correct, in the 1990's with a bridge. Of course, I never made the trip to ride the ferry before it ceased operation -- that's what a someday I'm gonna ...... attitude will get ya. I did the same thing with the Atchafayla River ferry down in Melville. The old ferry has been retired to some blocks up from the river:


Here's an archive pic of the ferry in use (from: http://www.merchantcircle.com/directory/AR-Doddridge/cityphotos/3):


Then we went in search of the Boggy Creek Monster in Fouke. The local police stopped John after we made a couple of blocks looking for the Monster that we'd driven right past twice, and escorted us to the boogy man:


Then we made a sidetrip to Greenwich Village:


After stopping for lunch in Dierks and topping off with no-ethanol gas in Umpire, we finally see the Ouachita's ahead:


Our first stop in the Mtns was at the Shady Lake dam. It was great to see water flowing over the dam, as the last time I stopped a couple of years ago the lake had been drained:


Looking across the lake from the dock at the campground toward the dam -- where we stopped for a water/rest and gear adjustment break, as the temp has finally risen out of the 50's:


On our Way to Tall Peak we crossed the Saline River -- that feeds Shady Lake -- a couple of times:


Unexpectedly, the gate to the road up Tall Peak was closed, so we pressed on to Eagle Mountain. The summit:


Looking Northwest:


And the Southwest view from Eagle Mtn:


The road up to the summit of Eagle Mountain was quite rough and a challenge for us novices. Here's John on the way down -- after the road smooths out:


We then started our way towards Bee Mountain. I was concerned there'd be too much water from the recent rains to make some of the low water crossing impassable. However, the conditions were just about right with temps in the hi-60's, recent rain to calm the gravel and dampen the dust, with just enough water for several low water crossings:


Bee Mtn is treat, with the remnants of the old lookout tower still standing. There are steps up the last 60+/- feet of elevation:


The Southerly view from the deck:


And the Northerly view, with Mena in the valley and Rich Mountain in the distance:


After a few more calm low water crossings:


We stopped the the old car dealership and gas station in Mena
for a look-see at the collection of classic cars, motorcycles and related paraphernalia:


Per the GPS, the first day was about 238 miles in 12 hours: 7 moving & 5 stopped.
After a good meal at the Branding Iron, we turned in for a good night's sleep at the Sun Country Inn.

We awoke Saturday to a cool 43* morning. After suiting up with almost all of the clothes we had --rain pants make a good windblock layer-- we headed up the Talimena Drive to visit Rich Mountain -- so we'd still have visited our goal of three peaks:


Then decided we'd venture down this road to the valley:


Which turned out to be a very pleasant descent:


Which put on the Hwy near the Oklahoma state line:


We then turned Southeast to find this low water crossing over the Mountain Fork River:


Which apparently was built as a short-term solution when the old iron truss bridge succumbed to high water:


Before being replaced by this modern concrete bridge. Note the debris stuck in the drain along the side of the bridge -- this is 15+ feet above the then current water level:


Nothing would do but for John to check out access for the low water bridge just in case he could ride across, but the approaches had been purposely destroyed. He shouted out for a pic anyway:


We then tracked downstream to again cross the Mountain Fork River on the still-in-use iron truss bridge:


Where I took a picture of myself:


Then traveling to cross the bridge on "old Hwy 71" over Two Mile Creek:


Looking downstream:


Before stopping for a good breakfast at in Hatfield at Vicki's Diner a/k/a Lott's Country Kitchen -- who have a new flag since my last visit:


After topping off our tanks in Cove, we backtracked to try to find the "tunnel" railroad underpass that, after a rain, also functions as a creek crossing:


We then traveled various country roads down pass Vandervort, which progressively grew less maintained:


Until this road found its way to a (apparently) no longer active quarry:


Well, there was the remnant of a county road heading Easterly towards a low water crossing of the Cossatot River, but we soon found the road blocked by an 8 foot tall mound of dirt with just enough room to ride around the side. But we shortly found ourselves on the inside of a locked gate. Well, we're both on KLX250S's, so we find a way to the other side.
John, then asked: Does this qualify us as real adventure riders?:


We then try to find our way to the planned low water crossing on the Cossatot River. Now, I've been concerned to whole way that the water on Cassatot may be too high to cross -- as one of the larger rivers, it continues to rise a couple days after the uphill creeks go down, sorta like the Guadalupe & Llano Rivers down in the Hill Country. I was sure excited when we reached this passable crossing:


Over a beautiful rock-strewn stream:


That I soon realized was not the Cassatot, but rather Flat Creek. Over the next hill we came upon the Cossatot, and yes, the water was over knee deep and about 240 feet across:


Which was a great opportunity for kayakers:


But seeing whereas I could barely stand against the current in 10 inches of water, and remembering that Cossatot means skull crusher in French, we deciding we'd have to take the long way around, adding over an hour to our return ride.

Southeast of Umpire we again cross the Saline River before it makes its way to Dierks Lake:


We later stop for gas and refreshments in Nashville, were John has an opportunity to visit with his father for a few minutes while I work up a route incorporating more county roads thru Hope to Bois d'Arc Lake where, guess what, state highway maintenance ends at the lake. Really?:


By which time we're quite behind our plan to return to the the Shreveport area before dark. But we continue to travel some interesting county roads as much as we can, pressing on until arriving home about an hour after dark, after riding close to 550 miles. Now I'm telling ya, the last 60 miles were pretty tough on the legs and the ...um... bottom. But it was a very nice ride, indeed, with no

Thanks for taking us along on your trip. I love all those "flowing" rivers. That little Kawasaki seems to be a good choice in rides. I guess you were you the navigator and you did well at it. See you soon at the TURD event at Lake Sam Rayburn. HB

Nice report, Lee. Yes, you ARE an adventure rider! Did'ya practice the salute?

Nice report! I would enjoy that trip! I've been all around the major landmarks mentioned but never exploring! what I have missed.

Nice report. Looks like you had a great time exploring.

hardybaker said:

... I guess you were you the navigator and you did well at it....

Click to expand...

Well, I don't know quite how good, but I did quickly recover from 4 or 5 wrong turns along the way. But then again, I just realized I don't have a single photo with me in the pic. Maybe I wasn't there after all??

Enjoyed the pics and report Lee!

LOVE the mention of the old Melville ferry! I grew up in Morganza, just a few miles up LA 10 from there and remember it well. My mother was terrified of that thing.

I traveled within 15 miles of the Mellville Ferry twice+ a year for 20 years and never bothered to go out-of-the-way to ride it: ... one of these days I'm gonna.... Well, in Feb.2011 I set out on the sidecar rig to ride the Mellville Ferry -- which ceased operations in Jan.2011. Drats!

The little Red River ferry mentioned above looked pretty scary too. I understand the approaches had to be changed depending on water level & sandbars.

Back in the '70s the Melville ferry was no more than a tugboat and a barge that could carry 3 or 4 cars. The barge was lashed to the side of the tugboat. The boat came forward into the landing area, unloaded, and then took new cars on. They would un-lash the tugboat so it could swing around, "catch" the barge, re-lash and then proceed to the other side. That's why my mom lived in total fear of it.

I know about the woulda, coulda, shoulda. I rode the New Roads-St. Francisville ferry across the Mississippi millions of times as a kid. I knew they were going to close it when the new Audubon Bridge opened, but figured I still had time to ride it once more for old time's sake. No such luck.

Very nice! Thanks for taking us along.

Looks like a really great trip!

Thanks for posting . Great ride.

Awesome report Great ride These are the trips that form memories that last forever...

If you go up the mountain from Shady Lake, you will come to Bard Springs.. No running water, no electric, no people... we camp up there regularly and I have been going up there since was a teenager.. Lots of fire trails to ride. Up the other side of the ridge is Little Missouri Falls which is awesome. And then there is Albert Pike. There isn't much left of it since the flood, Summer of 2010..

Beautiful area, I absolutely love it up there...