Brady Mountain Recreation Area

October 27, 2020

Donna and I took our annual fall leaf viewing trip to Brady Mountain Recreation Area on Lake Ouachita. As the date for the trip approached we were conflicted about forecast rain event for Wednesday. We decided to go ahead with our plans for the week and make a run for the lake on Tuesday before the rain. We took a route to Brady Mountain via highway 27 through Mount Ida on the west end of the lake avoiding Hot Springs. The drive was a few minutes longer but much less traffic and and pretty good roads.

We arrived at campsite #55 just before dark and decided to not unpack any outdoor stuff. This proved to be a good decision as a hard rain and wind came overnight and continued through the day on Wednesday. 

Campsites #55 and #56 are the only two sites on a finger of land that extended from the northern most point of the campground into Lake Ouachita. It was a great campsite except for the intermittent drone of the nearby campground sewage treatment facility (at least it was a closed process that didn't smell). Our next-door neighbor was a young man apparently staying with only his dog and leaving each afternoon until the middle of the night. We guess that he was maybe working and just living out of his trailer so for the most part we were that only campers in the area.  We could see across to another finger of land with the tent camping sites which were never occupied during our stay.

Wednesday we hung around camp watching it rain and listened to the wind blow.

On Thursday the wind continued to blow, but skies were clearing so we took an afternoon drive on the backroads to Blakely Dam and Hot Springs. 

Friday morning was a beautiful day and my birthday.  After breakfast I stepped out of the trailer and walked down to the water. I heard a ruckus in the tree above me at the point. When I looked up I saw a mature bald eagle takeoff from a tree and fly across the cove toward the marina. I guess I interrupted his fishing. Later I got my old man hiking stick and went for a walk around the park by way of the nature trail. I took some good photos along the way.

After a road trip on the backroads to Crystal Springs campground (opposite direction from the previous day) I got in some fishing time and Hammock time. Ended the day with a beautiful sunset, dinner on the grill and a campfire. Albeit quiet, it was not a bad way to spend my 62nd birthday. Life is Good!

Sunset and Full Moon Rise on Lake Ouachita

Brady Mountain Recreation Area

On September 2, 2016 Donna and I took a trip to Brady Mountain on Lake Ouachita near Royal Arkansas for a three day Labor Day weekend. We left Russellville as soon as Donna got off work and headed to Brady Mountain. We drove through Morrilton and down highway 9 to Crows, then west on highway 5 to what we thought was a shortcut. We took Garmin's recommendation to follow Harris Road, a one lane road that before reaching highway 70 dropped down through a cobblestone creek wash. With no way to backup I put the truck in 4 wheel drive and drove the trailer and all through the little creek. Harris Road then popped up on the Owensville Cuttoff we should have been using down to highway 70.

We arrived just before dark and found site #46 on the point at the far end of the park. The park was full for Labor Day weekend with a constant line of boats coming in and out of the marina breakwater behind our campsite.

Saturday morning Donna put together roast, potatoes and carrots in the Crockpot to slow cook while we spend the day in Hot Springs.

Lunch downtown at a little Italian restaurant called Angels. Donna noticed the 3D art in the restaurant that I walked right under and took the picture below. It is an Italian lady flinging a table cloth out the of a window.

Back at the campground in the evening we enjoyed our crock-pot roast dinner then went out on the point to watch the sunset. 

Bubba and His Sweetheart on the Park Bench

Crystal Clear Lake Water

Weather was cool for an Arkansas Labor Day and we enjoyed the evening with a campfire. Power went out for several hours in the entire campground and surrounding area. We just sat around the campfire and enjoyed the evening. Opened all the windows in the camper to get ready for bed and thank you Entergy the power came back. 

View from the Brady Mountain Overlook.

Came home Labor Day afternoon through Benton to highway 5. Donna drove for a while around Perry on highway 9 to get a feel of pulling 4 tons of trailer and gear through the mountains. She is now qualified to tow anywhere!