Getting Oriented
The Big Piney district sits in the Boston Mountains, the highest part of the Ozarks, spanning Madison and Johnson counties. Mill Creek Trail is reached from Combs on the north side of the range and from Cass on the south side, both connected by Arkansas 23, known locally as the Pig Trail Scenic Byway. The terrain is steep and rocky, with hardwood forest, rock outcrops, and clear mountain streams.
Trail Overview
Mill Creek is one of four connected OHV systems the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest maintains in this part of the district, along with Brock Creek, Huckleberry Mountain, and Moccasin Gap. Combined, the four carry more than 120 miles of designated trail. Brock Creek runs about 37 miles across two major loops in the Big Piney district, reached from the Austin, Mountain Man, and Zing trailheads. Huckleberry Mountain, established in 1989 as a horse trail, now carries 37.3 miles open to multiple uses. Moccasin Gap runs four loop trails and has a local reputation as one of the state's better horse trails; a current Forest Service alert flags flood damage on parts of the system and recommends riders check conditions before crossing into it.
Mill Creek's own trail surface is gravel or unsurfaced rock, rough and rocky throughout. The main trail connects to inside loops so a rider can shorten or extend a trip without leaving the system. The Forest Service rates the difficulty from easy to very difficult and doesn't publish a separate mileage figure for Mill Creek on its own.
Points of Interest
- Rock outcrops and mountain streams along the main loop, the terrain features the Forest Service calls out in its own trail description.
- The inside-loop network, which lets riders build a shorter route without leaving the system.
- Forest roads connecting to the wider four-system network, for riders planning a longer trip across Brock Creek, Huckleberry Mountain, and Moccasin Gap.
Where to Camp
No camping is allowed at the Mill Creek trailhead itself. White Rock Mountain Recreation Area, about 8 miles west, rents three stone cabins and a stone lodge the Civilian Conservation Corps built in the 1930s. Wolf Pen Recreation Area, about 14 miles east on the Mulberry River, has 6 primitive camping units and room for small trailers, with river access for fishing and canoeing. Aux Arc Campground sits on Ozark Lake near the town of Ozark, along the Arkansas 23 approach from the south.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- A $3 per-vehicle day-use pass is required. Cell service is limited in parts of the district, so buy the pass through the Recreation.gov app before arrival.
- State laws on helmets, spark arresters, and mufflers are enforced on the trail.
- ATVs aren't allowed in the district's developed campgrounds.
- Only a vault toilet is on site at the trailhead; there's no potable water.
- The rock and gravel surface gets slicker after rain. Adjust speed and tire pressure to match conditions.
- Questions go to the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest Supervisor's Office at (501) 802-0287, or the Big Piney district office at (479) 284-3150 for trail-specific updates.
Fuel and Water
No potable water is available at the Mill Creek trailhead. Combs and Cass are both small unincorporated communities without full services. Fayetteville, about 24 miles northwest of Combs, and Ozark, about 15 miles south of Cass on Arkansas 23, are the closest towns with gas stations and groceries.
Nearby
The Pig Trail Scenic Byway (Arkansas 23) runs past Cass between Ozark and Highway 16 at Brashears, crossing the Mulberry River along the way. White Rock Mountain, about 8 miles from the trailhead, has a scenic overlook and rents cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The forest's three other connected OHV systems, Brock Creek, Huckleberry Mountain, and Moccasin Gap, are reachable by forest road for riders planning a multi-day trip across the network.
