Trail Guide

Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area offers over 30 miles of trails across the 12,055 acre area. Trails vary in length, from 1/2 up to 21 miles, and difficulty, from barrier free to strenuous. Hikers of all fitness levels, experience, and interest can find a piece of Hobbs to explore. Discover clues to the story of this place as you journey through Hobbs' celebrated trail system!

Trail Brochure PDF (revised 2009) 

 

Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail:  

Length: 24 miles

Multi-Use: Equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers. No motorized vehicles.

The trail consists of four loops:

  • Little Clifty Creek Loop - 9 miles
  • Dutton Hollow Loop - 3 miles
  • Bashore Ridge Loop - 3 miles
  • War Eagle Loop - 6 miles
  • Connection between Piney Road parking lot and Dutton Hollow or Bashore Ridge loops - 1 mile 'round trip
  • Spur to Visitor Center 2 miles

Time: Length of time varies depending on the number of loops.

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. Elevation gain: 200-300 feet. Users have the option of four trail sections or loops. The trails follows ridge tops and ridge rims, with only a half dozen hills to climb throughout the trail system.

Description: The trail head and parking area are two miles south of State Highway 12 on Townsend Ridge Road.  A secondary parking area is one mile south of State Highway 12 on Piney Road.  

Many of the same plant and animal features found at Pigeon Roost Trail are also on this trail. The theme for the park is not one large mountain or lake or river or forest or historical event or the myriad of plants and animals above and below the ground. It is the sum of all of these. It is diversity--“Hobbs...The Hidden Diversity”.

Much of the Hidden Diversity Trail area has been subjected to a “prescribed burn” or controlled burn.  Native Americans used fire in virgin pine to rid the land of undesirable species so they could farm. The fire, in fact, increased the ecological diversity of plant and animal life in the area. This practice left fewer, but larger trees in the forest with native grasses and wildflowers growing between the trees. Early North American settlers observed this and continued the practice of using fire as a beneficial agent. Hikers and riders should use the Hidden Diversity Trail Guide and map for more detailed information. - (Available at trailhead)

At present, small game and deer hunting are allowed in the area during the appropriate hunting seasons. 

 

 

Historic Van Winkle Trail:  Open

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

Length: 1/2 mile

Time: 1/2 hour  

Difficulty: Barrier-Free

Description: This trail head parking lot, with restrooms, is located approximately 11.5 miles east of Rogers, AR, U.S. Hwy. 12. Access historic area via tunnel under Hwy. 12. Interpretive sign panels describe the historic home and mill sites of the Peter Van Winkle family during and after the Civil War. Also, there is a beautiful stream, spring, and raised garden site. Only some rock foundation stones remain of buildings.    The Van Winkle Mill Site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  Guided tours available.  Call Steve Chyrchel at 479-789-5006


NOTE: There is NO access from this trail or its parking lot to the Hidden Diversity Multi-Use Trail.

 

 

Pigeon Roost Trail: open

Length: up to 8 1/2 miles

Time: Allow up to 8-9 hours total hiking time

Difficulty: Moderate

 

Description: The trailhead parking lot is located on the north side of State Hwy 12, 6/10 of a mile east of War Eagle Road.  Please park vehicles straight ahead off the highway, to the left of the gate.

This trail is a double stacked-loop trail; there is a short loop of approximately 4 miles for day hiking and a longer loop of 8.5 miles for overnight use. Camping is allowed on the longer loop at five designated campsites only. These primitive campsites, with no utilities or restrooms, are located on a ridge overlooking Beaver Lake. They are available on a first-come basis.

The trail is fairly short for an overnight trail, but there are several hills to climb which gives the trail its difficulty rating. From the parking lot, the trail soon becomes straight and ahead sdown the ridgeline. This is an access spur which follows the ridgeline for about 1/2 mile, then drops off the ridge to the west to the bottom of a hollow where it intersects with the loop. At this point, you can go either left or right; however, the hiking is a bit easier if you take the left fork. The trail winds through narrow hollows and up and along rugged ridges. It travels through stands of native pines, hardwoods, and typical Ozark vegetation. During leaf-off, there are several locations which offer great views of the Van Hollow branch of Beaver Lake.

At present, small game and deer hunting is allowed in the area.

Location: 13.5 miles east of Rogers on Hwy. 12

Shaddox Hollow Nature Trail: open

Length: 1 1/2 miles

Time: 1-2 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Description: The trailhead parking lot is located on Hwy. 303, approximately one mile north of the 303/Hwy 12 intersection.  The first 1/2 mile of this loop trail follows a ridgeline, providing an easy hike.  The trail then descends into Shaddox Hollow. The descent is rather steep in places. The trail winds along the creek through stands of hardwoods and native Ozark vegetation. Some interesting limestone bluffs are found along this section. After progressing up the creek, the trail begins the climb back to the trailhead. This climb can be strenuous in places.  For a guided tour call Natalie Casey 479-789-5007

Location: 10 miles east of Rogers on Hwy. 12 (Hwy 12 bisects the park property), then north on 303 1 mile.