- Managed by
- USDA Forest Service
- Where
- Ouachita National Forest, near Mena, Arkansas
- Vehicles
- Off-road vehicles on designated routes. Tracked vehicles are prohibited by Forest Order. For which vehicle classes and widths are allowed, check the Forest Service page and map.
- Permit / fee
- The Forest Service page says no permit and no fee are required (a fee was proposed in 2023; check current status).
- Season
- Seasonal: typically opens the first Friday of March through October 31, plus two holiday periods, all subject to weather.
What the official page says
- A Forest Order prohibits riding after sundown or before sunrise, and riding when the system is closed seasonally, for maintenance, or for wet weather.
- The trail system can close when heavy rain occurs or is predicted. The Mena-Oden Ranger District has current status.
- Camping only in designated campsites. No horses. No potable water.
- The Forest Service recommends helmets.
Before you go
- Check weather and recent rain: creeks and wet-weather closures are the big Ozark variables. See seasons and weather.
- Pack recovery basics and know how to use them. See recovery gear.
- Know your state's machine registration and road rules. See state laws.
Where this comes from
- USDA Forest Service: Wolf Pen Gap (Ouachita NF)
- USDA Forest Service: Forest Order, Wolf Pen Gap
- USDA Forest Service: Ouachita NF, off-highway vehicles
- USDA Forest Service: Ouachita NF FAQs (OHV riding)
Last reviewed 2026-10-19. General information only: the official site and posted rules always come first.