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Womble
36 reviews
4.81 of 5
Can't believe this wasn't the first trail entered for Arkansas!
The Womble Trail stretches over 37 miles from Northfork lake to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail at Lake Ouachita. This trail is considered to be one of the best single track trails in this area. Short segments of the trail meander along bluffs of the Ouachita River providing breathtaking views. The Womble Trail is the
venue for the Womble Mountain Bike Race.
Surrounding Areas
Visitors can use the short spur trails to access three float camps located along the south shore of the Ouachita River. Rocky Shoals Float Camp (O.3-mile spur), Fulton Branch Float Camp (0.3-mile spur) and River Bluff Float Camp 1.6-mile spur). The Float Camps offer fire rings, picnic tables and vault toilets at no charge. Less than one hour to Hot Springs, Arkansas.
This single track trail provides opportunities for riders of all skill levels. There are a multitude of options for out and back rides or setting up of shuttles, or utilizing adjacent Highways and county roads for return loops.
There are several climbs that any intermediate rider will have no problem staying on the bike. Lots of undulating trail on mostly groomed single track with occasional technical sections and creek crossings. Be extra cautious near the bluff areas. It is a long fall.
Some areas are wet and muddy during rainy season. (Especially East of Highway 298 for about 3 miles).
37 miles of groomed single track, over some of the most scenic areas in the state. Travel time one way is 5-10 hours Marked with white triangles.
Local Canoe Rental operations will provide shuttles for a small fee.
Directions: There are four trailhead parking areas. Round Top Trail on Forest Road D75A, Highway 27 south of the bridge crossing Lake Ouachita, North Fork Lake and Highway298 trail intersection. The Trail is also
accessible from the three float camps and adjacent forest roads.
Summary: I consider the Womble my home trail as it passes only a few miles from my home. I ussually leave my drive way and head North on 27 and ride either direction depending on my mood. If I want a better work out I go north if I want a fun relaxing ride I go south from the village. I know this isnt the Rockies,Sierras, or the Alaska Range but it is home and I love it very much. It is a lot of fun and I would recommend that anyone that loves mountain biking giv it a try if only once. I mean if you dont like it can you think of worse ways to spend a day or two then on your bike in the beutiful Ouachita Mountains.
Recommended Route: Norfork to ORT.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Ouachita Recreation Trail, Viles Branch, Cedar Glades, Earthquake Ridge
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Summary: I have been binking for 20 years, am from Colorado and travel a ton, so I have ridden alot of places and alot of trails. There is a reason why this is an IMBA Classic ride. You can ride this either direction, I chose South to North. I started at the North Fork Trailhead and ended where the trail crosses county road 59, so I didn't complete the whole trail. One poster said pleasantly down hill in both direction: I think he meant that your going to get about the same ups and downs in either direction. There are only a few vistas for looking out over the Ozarks, but your riding...not site seeing. This is beginer to intermediate trail, but the experts will have a blast as well. Pleanty of ways out if you get done riding the trail, as no section is incredibly long. Lots of stream crossings for cooling off, rocks tree roots etc. No hill is to steep, but after 10-15 miles of riding, I would blame you if you walked a couple of them. I have good stamina, but am not fast and I completed my 19.5 miles in around 6 hours, and had plenty of daylight to finish the ride. This is a shuttle ride, or have one of the local "float" outfitters help you out. I got lucky and had a friend drop me off, then pick me up when I called him. Oh yeah, Sprint cell phone service I was on digital roam, and I didn't get any Cingular service out there. I put a 4 in difficulty, because if the trail is to easy for you, then shift and ride faster.
Recommended Route: I read all I could about this trail to figure out which is the best direction to ride. It seems both direction are fine.
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Summary: This guy below me is freaking clueless... Womble is a great trail that's not extremely technical besides some narrow bench cut sections.. its beauty, fast flowing sections, and primo single track for miles upon miles is what makes it so great.. Anyone who likes to ride and makes it to the trailhead will prove that guy below me wrong...
keep in mind Womble during hunting season is like vietnam in my opinion..
Other recommended trails in the same area: This is the one...
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Summary: Not sure what all the noise is about. This trail was OK, not great. It rolls gently forever through the woods. Some parts are fast. We came across one mildly technical stream crossing with some very large rocks piled up. The section near the highway 27 trailhead was a bit of a climb to get started but not that big a deal. Shortly thereafter the trail became narrow with some minor exposure but it was perfectly ridable. Some guy at a bike shop in Russelville compared this to Porcupine Rim in Moab. I don't think so. If you want to ride endless mildly boring single track for a few hours then this trail is for you. I would consider riding a fixed single speed on this trail just to make it more interesting. Many locals seemed to rave about this trail. I say come west, ride the 4 corner states. It is called "mountain" biking after all, not "forrest" biking.
Summary: First time to ride this trail (july 28 2006). I notice in some reviews that people ride from Rocky Shoals to 27. That is all uphill. You would be riding up the "mountain". There is a nice downhill at the VERY end. We rode from rocky shoals to 27 the first day. DO NOT ride the spur. There are a lot of fallen trees on the trail. You spend most of your time carrying your bike. The second day, we rode from Story to hwy 27. With the exception of the beginning and a part in the middle, this section we rode is all down or smooth rolling. Very fun parts on this section. If you want to camp for free, stay at the River Bluff float camp. It has the best view and you can swim in the river. Rocky Shoals is almost under the highway. Terrible place to camp. I recommend to have a shuttle system. We had a truck and an SUV so that it was easier to pick where we wanted to ride and where to start riding. Overall excellent trail. Did not see any other riders out there. Trail was in excellent shape. A fallen tree here or there from a winter ice storm they had. Great views and beautiful area. Did not get to ride down to the North Fork Lake because a local told us that was the worst part of the trail. We drove from Dallas TX and we will definately return to ride this beauty.
I gave aerobic a 5 because we rode uphill the first day.
I gave technical a 3 because of the Bluffs you can fall off of (and I almost did!! lol) Nothing extremely technical
Recommended Route: You will need a shuttle for this...
Start where the trail is in Story. Ride south to 27 then take a small break. Then ride from 27 towards the Rocky Shoals camp. There will be a few steep uphills but it pays off once you get to the top. For those of you that want to ride uphill the whole time, do the opposite. I read in one review before I went to the Womble that the trail is magically downhill both ways. That is totally false. HAVE FUN!!!
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