Rattlesnake Ridge

If you have ever made the hike to the top of Pinnacle Mountain, you may have sat at the summit and looked at the views to the west. Reaching towards the horizon are several ridges. One of those is Rattlesnake Ridge, which is the rocky ridge seen on the far left view of this photo.



Rattlesnake Ridge had sat on private land until 2018, until it was sold to the The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas. The land is now managed by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, which oversees over 70 natural areas across the state. Rattlesnake Ridge, according to the ANHC, "protects rare plant and animal species, while offering visitors a rugged, low-impact recreational experience. The area provides habitat for three species of state conservation concern: the southeastern bat, the western diamondback rattlesnake, and Wright’s cliffbrake, a western desert fern. The ridge, Rattlesnake Ridge, is the watershed divide between the Big Maumelle and Little Maumelle rivers. It is comprised of a rare natural community, Ouachita Mountain Sandstone Outcrop Barrens, which is home to rare plants and animals typically found further west in hotter, drier places. The ridge, one of the most dramatic rocky summits in the eastern Ouachita Mountains, completes the northern boundary of the natural area. It is ¾ mile wide and rises up to 920 feet above sea level at its summit."

There are now several miles of hiking and biking trails at Rattlesnake Ridge. The hike along the ridge has been rated as moderate to difficult. But the views from the ridge were great, with expansive view of Pinnacle Mountain and Lake Maumelle. We didn't see any rattlesnakes while we were there, which was nice.