Backpacking crew moving through a forested mountain trail
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Oklahoma · United States

Old Military Road Trail

A historic forest route linking today’s hikers with an earlier path through the terrain.
Route map
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Forested terrain from Bill’s Oklahoma and Arkansas trail archive.Last reviewed August 2026

Field orientation

Know the route. Read the terrain.

The Old Military Road follows part of an 1832 route through the western Ouachitas. Combined with the Boardstand Trail and a segment of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, it forms a demanding loop through Holson Valley, hardwood forest, and the Winding Stair Mountain country.

BEFORE YOU GO

Water can be scarce on the ridges. Cache or carry water as appropriate and verify which sections permit motorized or equestrian use.

Verify current conditions

Closures, permits, weather, water, access, and regulations can change. Use the official land-manager source before every trip.

Lesson from the terrain

History does not simplify navigation.

A known corridor can still require careful route finding. Familiar labels and inherited maps never replace present-tense awareness.

Related field tool · Map vs. TerrainExplore The Map vs. the Terrain

Prepare beyond the route

Build the rest of the trip

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