Brock Creek

Brock Creek is a 42-mile trail system in the remote southeast corner of the Ozark National Forest, on the Big Piney Ranger District. It is built around two main loops with many interconnecting side trails. The Mountain Man Trail is the singletrack loop, designed mainly for dirt bikes and marked with yellow diamonds. The Jeep Trail is a network of double-track, mostly on old forest roads, marked with orange diamonds and meant for ATVs and side-by-sides, though bikes can ride it too. The forest is oak, hickory and pine, and the trail drops through creek crossings and small waterfalls between valley bottoms and ridge tops. Riders describe the surface as mostly hard-packed dirt with some loose chunk rock. Some connectors cross steep slopes and ask more of the rider, but the system suits all skill levels, with most of it in the middle.

Getting there

The nearest town is Jerusalem, Arkansas, and Russellville is the larger town to the southwest. From Jerusalem, follow County Road 32 north; it is gravel and becomes FR 1305 (Cheyenne Road). There are several access points along it:

• Zing Trailhead, the main one, about 10 miles north of Jerusalem and then about 2 miles along FR 1331 (Charleston Road). It serves both the singletrack and the ATV trails.
• Mountain Man Trailhead, about 10 miles north of Jerusalem, directly on the singletrack.
• Austin Trailhead, at the north end, reached from the top of CR 1 and CR 2.
• Brock Creek Campground and Trailhead, about 6 miles north of Jerusalem, at the south end of the system.

Cell service in this part of the forest is unreliable, so download directions before you leave.

Fees, permits, and rules

The Forest Service lists no fee for the trail system, and camping at the campground is free too. A donation tube at the campground helps pay for parking, trail and toilet upkeep. Machines are limited to 50 inches wide because of the gate and narrow trail. A spark arrestor is required and RiderPlanet lists a 96 dB sound limit. Stay on the marked trails; cross-country travel is not allowed. Street-registered SUVs and Jeeps are not permitted. Arkansas residents must register 3- and 4-wheeled OHVs with the state Department of Revenue. Riders should confirm whether that requirement applies to dirt bikes.

When to ride

The trails are open year-round. The campground has six primitive sites with a picnic table and fire ring each, and a vault toilet. It has no water and no trash service, so bring water and pack out everything you bring in. Gas and a convenience store are a few miles from Jerusalem.