Ozark-St. Francis National Forest · Arkansas

Alum Cove Trail

0.9 mi of trail, end to end · imported loose material surface · trail No. 2201 · trail class 2 · typical grade 12-20% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking

Begins at the forest's mile 0, 35.8601, -93.2330 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins

Alum Cove Natural Bridge Recreation Area the Forest Service's write-up

season Open Year-round to

Outstanding among the many natural features of the Ozark Natural Forest is the huge stone arch that forms a natural bridge at Alum Cove National Recreation Trail. The natural arch is all that remains of what was a quartz sandstone cave. The arch is 130 feet long and 20 feet wide. The weathering process of wind, rain and ice formed the opening between the arch and the rock overhang.

The Alum Cove Natural Bridge Recreation Area and trail is designed primarily for visitors to be close to nature.

Exercise caution while hiking along the bluff line. Early settlers reportedly used this arch to move their wagons and livestock across the streambed during wet weather. Water and wind also shaped other interesting rock formations along the bluff line across the cove, including the cave (or "rooms" as they are often called) or overhangs. Native Americans used these rock overhangs for shelter while on extended hunting trips. At one time, free-roaming goats inhabited the caves, giving the formations the local name, "goat houses."

No trash services available. Pack it in, pack it out.

Link to news release

Alum Cove Natural Bridge Geological Area Guide

Restrictions Camping not permitted.

This hike on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest

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About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.