The Ouachita Project

Riding the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas and Oklahoma

02/11/08

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The Wolf Pen Gap Trail Complex is a very popular off-road / trail riding area located about 8 miles southeast of Mena, AR.  It  has been described by some as a “Don’t Miss” riding area.  It contains 35 miles of loop trails ranging in difficulty from easy to most difficult.

Rider Comments: 

"If in the area, Wolf Pen gap is a Don't miss.  If you go to Albert pike recreational area, there are some good dual sport areas that will take you into Wolf pen gap the back way." - xr650rdriver

“Wolf Pen Gap is a very well laid out trail system. It varies from very easy to medium difficulty with the trails being marked with the difficulty ratings. You can ride just about anything on the easier trails as they are open to ATV's as well. There are maps located at the trail heads. As mentioned, you can get to the trails from Albert Pike via dirt roads. The area is pretty popular with the ATV's so the camp grounds can get pretty packed during nice weather. Gas and restaurants are within 10 miles.

"I'd say that you could pretty much ride all of WPG on a KLR if you're a decent rider. A GS probably could as well, but I'd say you would have to be an above average rider to do it. Keep in mind I'm going by what I've seen guys put KLR's through in Clayton. Of course the trails are set up so you can do alternate parts and still come out at the same place. I think what earns the harder level ratings are steep, rocky hill climbs. While Bear Creek's full of those, WPG only had a couple that I came across and they were fairly easy for me on the WR 450. A lot of WPG is pretty wide open.  Enough so that a truck could get through it. Of course, add rain and all that gets thrown out the door.” – Hood Ornament

"This area is pretty well marked and I would think anyone on a DS would be able to ride the easy trails." - johnwesley

"Right on for the trail difficulty rating. The easy trails are set up for jeep type vehicles and could be done with the bigger dual sports. A KLR could do most all the trails, the steep rocky ones are a little more difficult but certainly do-able." - xr650rdriver

Directions:  Wolf Pen Gap has four trailheads - north, south, east, & west.  To get to the west trailhead (closest trailhead to Mena, AR) from Mena, AR take State Highway 8 east for 1 mile to Arkansas 375, then south 8 miles to the west trailhead near County Road 277.

Downloadable Information - to download maps, right click on file, select "save target as" or "save link as" and save to your computer's hard drive.

Forest Service Wolf Pen Trail Complex Map & data sheet

Wolf Pen Trail Complex Map dated July 25, 2007

GPS Routes - to download GPS routes, right click on file, select "save target as" or "save link as" and save to your computer's hard drive.

Wolf Pen Gap Ride

This site was last updated 02/11/08