History.
Mr. Arthur P.Cowley or rather known as The father of the Ouachita trail was a public officer of the Ouachita National Forest. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1954 with a degree in forestry and began working for the US Forest Service. He later developed forest plans in Ouachita and assisted in planning and coordinating the construction of the first phase of the trail from 1965 to 1979. It certified by the National Recreation trails program in 1978. The Ouachita now maintained by a non-profit group and friends of Ouachita Trail.
There are unique mountains that run to east-west and north-south with the most impressive geological features. There are also bright and electric valleys, outcroppings, high-pinched ridges with panoramic views, and picturesque rock.
Talimena scenic byway is 51 miles with parallel portions between Talihina, Oklahoma, and Mena the trail crests winding stars and rich mountains opens and shows the forested mountains and sweeping valleys. The trail consists of geologic formations, the Mississippian Stanley Shale, and the Pennsylvanian Jack fork Sandstone.