Athens-Big Fork Trail
~2 days · 9 mi · easy · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Athens-Big Fork Trail is known for
A 9-mile point-to-point trail through the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas, traversing steep ridges and hardwood hollows between Athens and the Big Fork area of the Ouachita River watershed. The trail is a component of the Eagle Rock Loop and shares tread with that longer circuit; hikers can combine it with other Ouachita NF trails for multi-day trips. The route crosses several creeks and climbs through typical Ouachita sandstone ridge terrain.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 3,629 ft to 5,866 ft over 9 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 4.1 mi · 47%
- Downhill 4.4 mi · 50%
- Flat 0.3 mi · 3%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Athens-Big Fork Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Athens-Big Fork Trail scores 24/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Athens-Big Fork Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the Athens-Big Fork Trail in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 9 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Athens-Big Fork Trail?
The Athens-Big Fork Trail climbs roughly 2,464 ft total — about 274 ft per mile, topping out near 1,824 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.