The Ouachita National Forest, shown in green on this map, covers nearly 1.8 million acres in central Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma. It is the largest and oldest national forest in the Southern Region. When first established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, it was named the Arkansas National Forest. President Calvin Coolidge renamed it to Ouachita in 1926. Ouachita (pronounced wash-i-tah) is the French spelling of a Native American word meaning "good hunting ground." The Supervisor's office, which is now located in Hot Springs, was originally in Mena, Arkansas. The Ouachita has 12 Districts: Caddo, Choctaw, Cold Springs, Fourche, Jessieville, Kiamichi, Mena, Oden, Poteau, Tiak, Winona, and Womble.
The Ouachita is primarily a pine-hickory mix. It has over 700 miles of trails for various activities such as hiking, mountain biking, interpretive, equestrian, off-road vehicles, and trails that allow for accessibility. There are 35 developed recreation areas, 7 scenic areas, 43 vistas, 5 float camps, 11 shooting ranges, 2 historical sites, 6 wilderness areas, and 1 National recreation area. Most of the developed recreation areas are open April through September, but some sites are open year-round.
