Pinnacle Mountain Hike

It had been a few weeks since my last hike and I was getting an itch to return to the woods and be on a trail. My last hike as you may recall did not end so well resulting in a premature exit from the AT, followed by 3 days laying around in misery. If you want to know about that story check out my post Bill and Tim’s Excellent Adventure Continues.

Short Hike in the Little Rock Arkansas

The hike I chose was a short 2 mile drive from my campground (Maumelle Park) to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Pinnacle Mountain is a unique feature that can be seen rising abruptly on the western horizon of the Arkansas River valley. From a distance it reminded me of a pile of rocks or boulder that some lonesome giant or more likely God had purposefully stacked there as He was carving the river through the Ozarks. Because of this and the potential views I could garner from the top I determined this would be a hike not to miss.

How do I access the summit?

There are two trailheads that will lead you to the top. The closest is the East Summit Trailhead. The second, is the West Summit Trailhead which is located in the park but you must first drive through the park, exit and then re-enter at parking/picnic area. Per the Alltrails app the East Summit Trail was listed as hard so of course I chose the West Summit Trail, because it was rated moderate. The stats of both trails are very similar regarding length and elevation gain so I am not real sure if either one would really be more difficult than the other.

The trail starts at the parking area. As you begin the trail you will pass through a small covered bridge which clearly marks the beginning of the West Summit Trail.

After crossing the covered foot bridge the trail immediately begins to climb via rock steps. I was not thrilled that I had such a steep climb out of the gate but I knew I needed the excersise and it was only .75 to the top. I could do this! The condition of the trail told me this was a popular trail. It was wide, worn and full of steps that someone had meticulously put in placed to reduce erosion and help us hikers from slipping.

The first half of the trail went real well. I was a little out of breath due to a lack of hiking and a gradual uphill but I was feeling good. The trail wandered through in a typical forest setting except the trees in this forest seemed be spread out and shorter then I was accustomed to and just assumed this was due to the abundance rocks and poor soil conditions.

I did not get my first view until the midpoint of the ascent. It was a nice view that overlooked the valley and the adjacent Ouachita Mountains. Although not the most rewarding it was a good tease for what waited at the top.

After stopping to take in the first view, the trail the conditions took dramatic change. No longer was it a steady and gradual climb but instead it became a nearly vertical path to the sky. To make things worse, the dirt path and steps instantly turned into a boulder field and the only path I had to follow was Yellow Blazes painted on the boulders. Due to the verticality and uneven steps needed to navigate the boulders the trail became very physically demanding. Luckily, this was near the top and only lasted a quarter mile at the most.

Once on top the views were as expected… Amazing. The top of the mountain was exposed rock and provided an unhindered 360 degree view. To the west was Maumelle Lake, to the north and east was the Arkansas River and to the south were additional mountain peaks. It had it all and it was awesome!

After spending about 30 minutes of soaking it in I started my hike down. I had considered going down the East Summit trail and connecting with the Base Trail but decided to just return the way I came. In general, I prefer a loop trail. After all why walk the same path twice when you don’t have to, but I was glad I didn’t “loop” because the downward trail provided a completely different perspective from the views going up. It reminded me (AGAIN) of the importance of taking your eyes off the path and looking around, especially behind you.

I quickly made it to the bottom, had a bottle of water and then set off to explore other parts of this park. It is a nice park and has lots of alternative options if you are not in the mood to have a strenuous hike.

The Pinnacle Mountain Trail is only 1.25 miles and considered short by most standards. Therefore you don’t need to invest a lot of time to enjoy some stunning scenery. However, if you are looking for a way to LOSE TRACK OF TIME… it provides ample opportunities to do just that. If you are on the western side of Little Rock take time to visit Pinnacle Mountain State Park it well worth your time.

~ Slow-LEE hiking