Hiking in the Ouachlta mountains of Arkansas

 We had reservations to stay in Big Bend National Park during spring break for hiking and exploring with Erin and her girls. But as the trip got closer , the idea of occupying three children for eleven hours or so in the car seemed too daunting so we decided to head north to hike in the Ouachita Mountains in southwest Arkansas (about 6 hours drive time).  The Ouachita Mountains are similar in elevation and vegetation to the Ozarks which are farther north. There were plenty of hiking trails and for the most part we had the trails to ourselves.

Stopped at Arkansas Visitor Center to get a map... "Are we almost there?"

 

 

This is our tiny (400 Sq ft) cabin. Cora couldn't say cabin, instead she called it the "cabinet"... What a funny accidental play of words that was.

 

Lucy and Grace got the front loft

 

Erin and Cora had the back loft

Cora loved the "cabinet"

 

Clouds were covering the mountains

for most of the trip

 

Loving the outdoors!

 

Trail break

Trail Break

Erin and the girls

 

Sisters...

 

 

Grace recently declared that she was going to be a photographer when she grows up and so I put the camera in her hands for awhile and she came up with these shots (What do you think?)