Full Trail Guide: 5741 to Pine Ridge Road – Ozark National Forest [March 2025]
- Trisha Moore
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
If you’re looking for an easy, scenic trail in the Ozark National Forest that still feels like an adventure, this one is a solid choice.
In March 2025, we ran Forest Road 5741 to Pine Ridge Road to Big Piney Creek Road, starting right off Hwy 123. The full drive took us about 30 minutes — and that included stopping to check out several dispersed campsites along the way. (Our YouTube video is sped up 2x so you can see the entire trail without committing to the full half hour.)
🗺️ Trail Stats
Trail Name: Forest Road 5741 → Pine Ridge Road → Big Piney Creek Road
Location: Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
Nearest Highway Access: Hwy 123
Date Run: March 2025
Time to Complete: ~30 minutes (with stops)
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Gravel forest road, mild elevation changes
Water Crossings: None if run as down-and-back
Rocky Obstacles: None if run as down-and-back
Camping: Multiple dispersed campsites along the route
Best For: Scenic drive, beginner-friendly off-roading, campsite scouting, connector route
Trail Overview
This trail is mostly smooth gravel with gentle terrain, making it stock-friendly in dry conditions. It’s perfect if you want beautiful Ozark forest views without technical obstacles or creek crossings.
One of the best features of this route is how flexible it is.
If you’re heading toward Car Wash Falls, but don’t want to:
Cross Big Piney Creek
Navigate rocky creek-bed sections
You can use this trail as a down-and-back connector and completely avoid those challenges.
If you’re in the mood for a little more adventure, you can continue the opposite direction where the terrain becomes rockier and you’ll find scenic pull-offs near the creek.
Campsites + Scenic Spots
We were pleasantly surprised by how many dispersed camping spots line this trail. Several are tucked into the trees and would make great quiet basecamps.
And near the end? There’s a fun little bridge crossing that adds just enough personality to make the drive memorable.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t a wild, white-knuckle trail — and that’s exactly why we like it. It’s the kind of drive where you can explore safely, enjoy the forest, scout campsites, and still feel like you went on a real adventure.
For detailed info, watch our YouTube video!
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