Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Arkansas / Ouachita Mountains

Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT)

Ouachita National Forest, Caddo-Womble Ranger District (south shore of Lake Ouachita, near Mountain Pine)

The Lake Ouachita Vista Trail, known as the LOViT, follows the southern shore of Lake Ouachita through the Ouachita Mountains. The Forest Service says it travels up, down, and along mountain slopes through mixed hardwood and pine forest, opening at several places onto spectacular views of the lake. Backpacker calls it a rare piece of backcountry solitude, with near-constant water views.

At about 40 miles end to end, Paria Outdoor Products plans it as a three-day trip, and campgrounds along the shore make it easy to do in sections.

The hike

Backpacker says the trail was completed in 2014 and stretches about 40 miles along the winding southern shore of 40,000-acre Lake Ouachita, from the Watchable Wildlife Area at Denby Bay to the Avery Recreation Area just below Blakely Dam. A Paria Outdoor Products guide calls Lake Ouachita the largest lake in the state and one of the cleanest in the country.

The western end is the classic overnight. Backpacker’s itinerary starts at the Watchable Wildlife trailhead and turns north onto the Eagle Vista spur, a 1.6-mile lollipop loop. It follows the stick of the lollipop 0.6 mile, then heads 0.2 mile east at the loop junction to camp. The next day, it closes the loop and rejoins the Vista Trail at mile 8.5, then continues 8 miles east through hardwoods to the Hickory Nut Mountain trailhead at mile 16.5. Backpacker’s advice for the campsite: set an alarm to watch sunrise color the Ouachita foothills on the lake’s east edge.

For the full trail, Paria Outdoor Products suggests a three-day plan: Denby Bay to Irons Creek, about 11 miles; Irons Creek to Bear Mountain, about 13; and Bear Mountain to the Avery trailhead, about 12. It describes lake views galore on the first day.

AllTrails reviewers describe the trail as very well marked, with steep climbs, great views, and few other people. One January 2026 backpacker found it well maintained and uncrowded. AllTrails lists the Hickory Nut Mountain Campground and Tompkins Bend among the top sights along the way.

Campgrounds are a big part of the LOViT. AllTrails says overnights typically happen at Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds, the Lake Ouachita State Park campgrounds, or dispersed sites in the national forest. A mountain biker quoted by Singletracks says there are seven or eight good campgrounds with shower houses along the trail. Paria Outdoor Products adds that there are some established campsites along the way and that dispersed camping is allowed too.

Compulsive Hiker notes that Lake Ouachita State Park’s 4-mile Caddo Bend Loop, near the visitor center, lost much of its forest canopy to a 2011 tornado. A Singletracks reviewer who rides the area says you may see a hunter or backpacker on the LOViT, but rarely, and describes the trail as raw, often covered in leaves.

The trail is shared. The Forest Service lists hiking and biking, and Singletracks describes the climb up as brutal in places for riders, with steep sections and loose rock near the top.

Backpacker suggests arriving before the dogwoods bloom, and AllTrails lists February through May as the best time to visit.

For another Ouachita Mountains trip, see the Eagle Rock Loop.

Tips

Camping

AllTrails says no permits are required to hike or backpack the trail and that dispersed camping is permitted within the national forest boundaries. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds and Lake Ouachita State Park campgrounds along the route offer developed sites. Paria Outdoor Products notes some established campsites along the trail. Check with the Caddo-Womble Ranger District for current conditions.

Inside Intel: Backpacker’s pick is the campsite on the Eagle Vista spur near the west end, where its writer recommends getting up for sunrise over the Ouachita foothills on the lake’s east edge. For the full traverse, Paria Outdoor Products’ itinerary camps near Irons Creek the first night and Bear Mountain the second.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Sunrise coffee on Eagle Vista:

A lakeside camp on the LOViT is made for an early hot drink. See which camp stoves testers trust.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.