We started our trip to Arkansas on a Friday Morning. Me, my wife, and my good friend Walt. For this trip I was driving my 1996 Z71, (known to most readers of ORC as Project Z-71), and Walt was driving his modified 1996 Jeep Cherokee. Being as that we were comming from Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, we expected the drive to take about 4 hours. Wolf Pen Gap is near Mena, Arkansas. We left around 7:00am. At 1:00pm, we still were not there! We discovered along the way that most of the roads in Arkansas that aren't an interstat highway are only 45mph roads!! It wound up taking us about 5 1/2 hours to get there.

Now, before I go any further, let me tell you about my phone call to the National Forest Service. I called and asked them a few weeks before the trip what the best JEEP and OFF-ROAD Vehicle trails were in the Ouchita National Forest. They told me Wolf Pen Gap. I then said, "Isn't that a bunch of ATV (4Wheeler) trails?" She said, "Yes, but Jeeps, and Trucks do them all the time. I've taken my Forest Service Truck down them. Its a full-size Chevy." So after hearing that, I was ready to go. I figured my 35" tires would make this one easy!




Well, we were there, at the trail head, it was raining and were soaked. There was a big sign that said "4x4's and ATV's only past this point." So we locked in the four-wheel-drive, and headed down the trail. It was great for about the first mile, then well.... have you ever tried puting a camel through the eye of a needle? Try driving a full-size extended cab z71 with a 6" lift and 35" tires down an ATV trail. I've got news for you though... IT CAN BE DONE! Now, Walt, with his Cherokee with 3" lift and 32" tires had no problem. He made it all look easy. Unfortunately, I can not show you how bad it was, because the pictures of the area did not turn out (What ever happened to my Kodak moment!!)!

The trails consisted of over 40 miles of winding trails. Most only about 4 1/2 feet wide. These trails run through the mountains too, so on one side you sometimes have 100 ft straight down, while on the other side its 100 ft stright up! After doing about 1/3 of the trails, we decided my Z-71 was just way too big to do the rest, even though Walt's Jeep was a perfect fit... Besides the rain was driving us nuts!




That night we camped at a place called Shadey Lake. It was 32 miles away from Wolf Pen Gap's trail head, and it was in the middle of nowhere. The closest town was Athen's with a population of 82 people! Click on the pictures to the right and you'll see just how awesome it was. Interestingly enough, with the rain, we found getting to our camp site more difficult than the trails we had jsut driven. It was 32 miles of dirt (MUDDY) roads.

I started out in two-wheel-drive until we started our ascent up the first mountain, and my rear decided to go one way, while the cab went the other. I radioed Walt on the CB and advised him to lock them in. He said back to me "I'm doing fine." Then about 5 seconds later I hear "Wooah! Locking them in!" It was actually quite an exciting drive!

The campsite had two creatures that kept bugging us. Especially at night, so if you camp there, enjoy. They are: Coons, and Skunks! The skunk just wanted our dinner. We gave it to him! Who am I to argue with a stinky little guy like that anyway? Actually, he had gotten into our left overs. The coons bothered us at night. Continually getting in the bed of my truck. Where I had coolers, water bottles, gas cans, etc. One nice thing about Shady Lake, is that you can fish there without a liscence, so bring your poles!




On our way out, we ran into the Forest Ranger and asked him about any other trails in the area. His exact words were "If you see a dirt road, and it doesn't say KEEP OUT, then its free game. Just don't carve any new ones." So on the way out we took a route that led us to the little stream. The water was cold, but it was crystal clear. Probably from natural springs.

To get to the Wolf Pen Gap area, (Jeeps recommended...) drive your favorite route to Mena, AR. From Mena, take Hwy 8 east to State Road 375. Take 375 South about 8 miles to the trail head. You will find maps, and emergency numbers there. Make sure you take them with you. Enjoy your trip!