Backpacking Eagle Rock Loop Part 1 - 2020

Backpacking Eagle Rock Loop, Arkansas
On October 1st, 2020, we drove 8 hours to Arkansas to complete a 2.5 day backpacking trip on the Eagle Rock Loop Trail. This loop consists of 3 trails, the Athens Big Fork Trail, Viles Branch Trail, and the Little Missouri Trail. All information related to this loop indicates it is a 26.7 mile loop; however, we have now completed this loop twice and used 2 different GPS trackers, and they have both clocked it at almost exactly 30 miles.
This video includes our adventure for Day 1. On Day 1 we started at the Little Missouri/Athens Big Fork trail and traveled CC completing all 6 peaks on day one. We finished the Athens Big Ford trail and camped about 1.5 or 2 miles into the Viles Branch Trail on night 1 giving us a total of 10.3 miles for day 1 with over 2500’ of elevation gain and approximately 2900’ of elevation loss (according to our gps watches).
This first leg of the loop is challenging with the ascents and descents, but, achievable for almost anyone. Trash was minimal for most of this section; however, there were a few campsites with excessive trash left behind from previous campers. The trail is easy to follow for this section with only one blowdown that I can recall.
Temperatures were amazing and the fall colors were just beginning to pop. The next couple of weeks should be really beautiful!!
Stay tuned for day 2 and day 3!!
Thanks for watching!!