Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Hickory Ridge, Arkansas

The Rainey Brake WMA Road, or Lawrence Road 316, is a road through the western side of the Shirley Bay Rainey Brake Wildlife Management Area. The road is a casual gravel ride down to and through the swampy lowlands west of the Black River and the bottoms that surround it. The road is generally flat ...
Learn more about Rainey Brake WMA Road

Thistle Bottoms is a group of Lawrence County Roads (301, 303, 309, and 317) that when joined together give a great context to the low-laying bottoms along the stretch of the Black River that exists between Lake Charles State Park and the Shirley Bay Rainey Brake Wildlife Management Area. When drivi...
Learn more about Thistle Bottoms

The Island Forty Road, is a dirt based road that traverses into the Shelby Wildlife Management Area which is part of the greater Meeman-Shelby State Park. The road is mostly dirt with a few patches of old gravel here and there, there is high potential the road will easily softened when rain or wet c...
Learn more about Island Forty Road

Starts as a hard ground trail entering the woods with shallow puddles and ruts. Ruts are not deep on this trail, so they're manageable. There is a small creek named Wolf Creek. It is shallow and not too soft. The rest of the trail goes deep into the woods through various rolling hills, but none too ...
Learn more about Wolf Creek Trail

This trail is in the Arkabutla Lake Bottoms. This part of the lake does not flood due to the shutdown of the dam. The terrain is fairly flat with some small ruts, but nothing major. The trail does retain some water and makes it swampy in areas, but it's always pretty shallow and passable. Make sure ...
Learn more about Hurricane Creek Trail

The trail starts at the Pleasant Hill Public Use Area. Follow the boat ramp to the end where there's a dirt trail and go south. Follow it around until you see the trail veering to the left. You will enter the woods from there on a good trail and follow it through rolling hills, small ditch crossings...
Learn more about Crawford's Point Trail

This trail begins as a relatively wide and well-maintained road but gradually narrows and becomes bumpier and rockier as you continue. The trail winds through beautiful old-growth forest, passing pockets of private land with cabins and mobile homes. Further along, the landscape shows extensive damag...
Learn more about 1113

This smooth two track trail is used to access a scenic and secluded lakefront picnic area.
Learn more about Plumeria Picnic

This two-track trail leads you from the park to the OHV trails area. Please go slowly near the lake until you are in the woods. At the top, there are some loose softball and football-sized rocks to watch for, but after you get down the hil,l it smooths out. One or two mud holes that are not deep. Th...
Learn more about Ohana Trail

This two-track ridge road starts near the lake and flows across the highest points of the park and ending at the west boundary. Rock gardens are common, as are steep hills with loose rocks. High point views are common when the leaves are down. Several connector trails branch off if you need to loop ...
Learn more about Iwa Ridge

Hayden Road is a maintained trail as of late April 2025, offering a scenic drive through beautiful old-growth forest. The route features relatively steep ascents and descents, with sections that can be bumpy and rocky. Several hiking and biking trails branch off from the main road, inviting further ...
Learn more about Hayden Road

Check in at the office before riding. Currently, this trail holds a lot of water when the lake rises after rain. It will remain closed except in case of emergency or in the summer when lake levels are lower and the mudholes dry up. 5ST does intersect with this trail multiple times and crossing at th...
Learn more about Waterway Trail

This connector from Mana Ridge to Ohana Trail offers access to several singletrack trails. This trail has some mild hills with ruts and loose rocks. It's a great spot to kick up the speed and knock the dirt off. At the east end, there is a closed trail heading to a part of the park that is under con...
Learn more about Kauai Lane

This fun, flowy singletrack connects Ohana Trail up to Mana Ridge. It maintains a smooth and gradual flow across mild slopes and shallow, seasonal water crossings. The eastern terminus of the trail is near a closed section of the park. Continue on Mana Ridge to other trails.
Learn more about Pineapple Express

Use this smooth two-track trail to avoid seasonal mud holes and flooding on Ohana Trail.
Learn more about Nalu Run

This is a fun uphill connector with some loose rocks. Connects you from Kauai Lane to Mana Ridge on a gradual incline. The slope is mild and should not challenge any off-road vehicle. Be aware of dirt bikes, as there is a singletrack crossing on the trail about halfway to the top.
Learn more about Palm's Way

This smooth connector trail includes an easy slope as the trail winds between Mana Ridge and Ohana Trail. Expect a mostly smooth trail with the occasional loose rock. Be on the lookout for dirt bikes, as there is a single-track intersection about halfway through the trail.
Learn more about Hibiscus Hollow

This horseshoe-shaped connector loops from Ohana Trail and back to Ohana Trail, providing a connection to Kane's Spring Trail. It is an easy and smooth loop that should provide no challenge for any OHV unless it is excessively wet and there is a potential for mud.
Learn more about Bamboo Bend

This trail jumps into a lowland area of the park where you'll find seasonal mud and water crossings, but overall is a reprieve from the rocky hillside nearby. There's even a bridge to help keep you out of the mud. Take a deep breath here as the nearby trails start to get serious on the hillside.
Learn more about Honu Crossing

Starts as a hard ground trail entering the woods with shallow puddles and ruts. Ruts are not deep on this trail, so they're manageable. There is a small creek named Wolf Creek. It is shallow and not too soft. The rest of the trail goes deep into the woods through various rolling hills, but none too ...
Learn more about Wolf Creek Trail

This trail is in the Arkabutla Lake Bottoms. This part of the lake does not flood due to the shutdown of the dam. The terrain is fairly flat with some small ruts, but nothing major. The trail does retain some water and makes it swampy in areas, but it's always pretty shallow and passable. Make sure ...
Learn more about Hurricane Creek Trail

The trail starts at the Pleasant Hill Public Use Area. Follow the boat ramp to the end where there's a dirt trail and go south. Follow it around until you see the trail veering to the left. You will enter the woods from there on a good trail and follow it through rolling hills, small ditch crossings...
Learn more about Crawford's Point Trail

This trail begins as a relatively wide and well-maintained road but gradually narrows and becomes bumpier and rockier as you continue. The trail winds through beautiful old-growth forest, passing pockets of private land with cabins and mobile homes. Further along, the landscape shows extensive damag...
Learn more about 1113

Starts as a hard ground trail entering the woods with shallow puddles and ruts. Ruts are not deep on this trail, so they're manageable. There is a small creek named Wolf Creek. It is shallow and not too soft. The rest of the trail goes deep into the woods through various rolling hills, but none too ...
Learn more about Wolf Creek Trail

This trail is in the Arkabutla Lake Bottoms. This part of the lake does not flood due to the shutdown of the dam. The terrain is fairly flat with some small ruts, but nothing major. The trail does retain some water and makes it swampy in areas, but it's always pretty shallow and passable. Make sure ...
Learn more about Hurricane Creek Trail

The trail starts at the Pleasant Hill Public Use Area. Follow the boat ramp to the end where there's a dirt trail and go south. Follow it around until you see the trail veering to the left. You will enter the woods from there on a good trail and follow it through rolling hills, small ditch crossings...
Learn more about Crawford's Point Trail

This trail begins as a relatively wide and well-maintained road but gradually narrows and becomes bumpier and rockier as you continue. The trail winds through beautiful old-growth forest, passing pockets of private land with cabins and mobile homes. Further along, the landscape shows extensive damag...
Learn more about 1113