Eagle Rock Loop Vetrans I need answers

**hammocksonlyplease** · 05-16-2012, 22:18

Ok, my brother (Netmonster) and I are planning a trip to Eagle Rock Loop, for June 8 through the 11th, or 12th. My concern is that I will be getting there in my little Scion XB!!! We want to park at the winding stairs lot but I am not so sure that my little toaster can handle the road into that lot. It is about a mile off of the paved county road from what I have seen on the maps. I want to know if any others have gotten to this lot in something other than a 4x4 truck. My car sits pretty low and It has a big round exhaust!!! ( I know I hate the thing as well but I bought it when gas skyrocketed to almost 4 bucks 3 years ago). Also, we would like to know from any that have done this whether you could share any nice little hidden gems they may have gps coordinates for ( like how to get to the window!!!!). It will be our first time leaving Texas to hike so we are excited and want to make the most of our little adventure ( will be nice to see some bigger mountains). Thanks in advance and we will be taking lots of pics and notes to share with you guys when we return!!!!

Also would any of you know how to get to the reported hot spring around 5 miles south of Croked Creek ( my brothers late submission, lol)?

**UncleMJM** · 05-16-2012, 22:36

If they don't catch this thread, PM ^Shane^ or Smokehouse, I bet they'll know.

**hammocksonlyplease** · 05-17-2012, 00:02

thanks I will do just that

**more** · 05-17-2012, 08:09

just dont go there when it is snowing and you should be fine. We went there one weekend in February driving a Toyota Prius and it snowed. A lot. We started at Winding Stairs and were going counterclockwise, and when we got to the Little Missouri crossing we decided to bail. The water was too high and it was too cold to risk getting soaked. So we walked back to Winding Stairs to go home early. When we arrived there was enough snow on the road that the Prius couldnt climb the hill out of there on the way back toward Albert Pike, not wihout a lack of trying though. This car had a ridiculous circuit in it that detected when the wheels were spinning and would cut off power if it did. So here we were trying to climb this big hill, barely making it, and then the whole car goes dead on purpose. Very disappointing. We got towed out of the the next day by some kids driving through there from Texas, and I traded in the hybrid for a 4x4 shortly after getting back home.

**Inertia** · 05-17-2012, 08:23

The road is good and the trailhead is about two miles from the (still cloed) campground. You should have no difficulty as it is hard packed .

**Inertia** · 05-17-2012, 08:41

about the hot springs on eagle rock loop-

http://www.backpackingarkansas.com/v...it=hot+springs

**hammocksonlyplease** · 05-17-2012, 10:59

Originally Posted by Inertia

The road is good and the trail-head is about two miles from the (still cloed) campground. You should have no difficulty as it is hard packed .

Thanks Inertia, and I assume that the trail head you are referring to is Albert pike right? I definitely do not want to park where overnight is not allowed since I will be there 3 or 4 days, and I am sure the Forest Patrol would not leave my car with just a ticket lol!!!

**Inertia** · 05-17-2012, 23:54

Last October I was told not to park at Albert Pike trailhead because the park is still closed becaue of the flood. As you enter the campground there will be a bridge on the left that crosses the lm river, take that and directly in front of you will be a gravel road (fm106) going up the mountain. Follow that road for two miles to the winding stair trailhead.That is where I put in.
Caddo Ranger office, 912 Smokey Bear Lane, Glenwood,Ar.71943,
(870) 356-4186

**nothermark** · 05-18-2012, 05:59

I assume you know enough to drive the humps, not the ruts, in cars like that. ;-)

**SmokeHouse** · 05-18-2012, 07:41

Looks like most of your questions have been answered.

last year I went with Shane and his group. This is Shanes Hike plan and it worked out well because you start in the middle of Athens and hike 4 mountains while you are fresh instead of hiking Athens all in one day. Keep your pack light, we had 1/2 the group blow their knees out and didn't finish.

Friday, Sept 30 - Hike ~11 miles

Drive on 106 past winding stairs to Blaylock Creek Trailhead (drive is 3-4 miles???). Begin
hiking @ Blaylock Creek TH on Athens-Big Fork Trail (N34.38193 W93.96241)
hiking north to the trail junction with Little Missouri Trail (N34.43343
W93.97373). Hike South on Little Missouri Trail past the Little Missouri
Falls. Campsite is just past "double river crossing" about 1.5 miles below
the falls (campsite near N34.40691 W93.90839). Plentiful water along entire
hike route.

Saturday, Oct 1 - Hike ~10 miles

Continue on the Little Missouri Trail, hiking through the Albert Pike
Recreation Area (N34.37523 W93.87794) and around to the Winding Stair area
(N34.35018 W93.90931). Plentiful water along entire hike route.

Sunday, Oct 2 - Hike ~6 miles

Hike the Little Missouri Trail to its end at the Viles Branch Trail
(N34.34791 W93.92067). Hike west on the Viles Branch Trail to the junction
with the Athens-Big Fork Trail (N34.35485 W93.97532). Hike north on the
Athens Big-Fork Trail back to the vehicles parked at the Blaylock Creek
Trailhead (N34.38193 W93.96241). Plentiful water along entire hike route.

If u have any more questions, signon to www.backpackingarkansas.com we have alot of ERL trail workers on their.
A few pic's of our trip and what ERL looks like, water was very low... https://picasaweb.google.com/1041111.../October22011#