Sunset Trail

Sunset Trail is a 9.2-mile, point-to-point hike from West Mountain Summit to Gulpha Gorge Campground, linking the West Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Stonebridge Road sections. The section distances are 2.8, 2.6, and 3.8 miles; the park also rounds the through route to about 10 miles one way. This route does not return to its start. The longer 13–17-mile figures describe optional loops that add other park trails, not this corridor. Budget about five to seven hours for the traverse, including stops. It suits hikers who want a long ridge walk with a distinct finish, not a quick overlook stroll.

Start at West Mountain Summit and finish at Gulpha Gorge Campground. They are separate access points, so arrange a pickup or leave a vehicle at each end before you set out. Parking is identified at both ends of the three road-separated sections, which also makes a shorter section hike possible. The line crosses public roads between sections; it is not a continuous backcountry trailhead-to-trailhead path.

The 2.8-mile West Mountain section leaves the summit access and traverses the ridge to Blacksnake Road. Music Mountain, marked at 1,405 feet, is the high point on this end of the route. Openings look south over the park toward Lake Hamilton. Stay north of the communication towers and follow the blazes where smaller paths branch away.

From Blacksnake Road, the trail follows Sugarloaf Mountain’s ridge for 2.6 miles to Cedar Glades Road. A marked 0.2-mile spur leads to Balanced Rock, an Arkansas Novaculite outcrop with a broad vista; the spur is a worthwhile detour, but it is not included in the 9.2-mile through distance. Near Cedar Glades, expect a short, very steep and rocky stretch.

The final 3.8 miles start at Cedar Glades Road and end at Gulpha Gorge Campground. The trail passes Ricks Pond and land once part of the Fordyce family estate. Between Stonebridge Road and the campground, it crosses Highway 7, so take care around traffic. Ricks Pond is a good place to pause for aquatic wildlife, though no particular species are confirmed for this route.

Orange blazes matter on this hike. False spurs can leave park land for private property, especially around old roadbeds and the power line near Cedar Glades. Near the water tank, keep north of it. At Ricks Pond, do not follow private trails beyond the bridges or climb the stone structures. The Fordyce Peaks spur leaves park property and is unmaintained beyond the boundary; it is not part of Sunset Trail.

The tread is dirt and gravel with uneven footing, and the route rises and falls across several ridges. It is not ADA accessible. A short steep pitch near Cedar Glades is the roughest named section, but the distance and junctions are the bigger commitment. No trail-side drinking-water or food stop was confirmed, so carry what you need for the full traverse. Dogs are allowed on leash. The trail is open year-round but closed nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Balanced Rock is more than a viewpoint: its pale Arkansas Novaculite is a distinctive local rock outcrop on the Sugarloaf ridge. On the Stonebridge section, the trail crosses former Fordyce estate land, while Ricks Pond adds a quieter lowland pause between the ridges and the campground finish. For a photo, include the rock and some of the ridge beyond it so the outcrop reads in its landscape.