Doom 2026

The 2026 edition sets off on Friday the 13th, an appropriately ominous date for an event built around long miles, remote country, and terrain that reveals its character only when you’re deep in it. All three routes launch from Hot Springs and move quickly into the Ouachitas, where singletrack, forest roads, tarmac, and rugged doubletrack blend into long, shifting patterns. Riders can choose from LOViT or Leave iT, The High Watch, or the full Ouachita Doom, each offering its own scale of effort while keeping the backcountry experience at the center.

A mountain bike is recommended across all distances. The region’s mix of fast flow, slow technical sections, chunky connectors, and steep backroads rewards control and capability over the compromises of underbiking.

Ouachita DOOM

Distance: 325+ miles
Elevation: 32,000+ ft
Singletrack: 110+ miles
Dirt: 80%+

A full-scale Ouachita epic. Over 100 miles of singletrack link the Northwoods Trails, the IMBA Epic Lake Ouachita Vista Trail, the IMBA Epic Womble, and long runs of the Ouachita Trail—stitched together with tarmac, gravel, doubletrack, and rugged forest roads. The route grinds to Tall Peak’s old lookout tower and carves through the Flatside Wilderness before closing the loop around Lake Ouachita—a demanding multi-day push stacked with bonus miles and hidden gems.

The High Watch

Distance: 200+ miles
Elevation: 16,000+ ft
Singletrack: 45+ miles
Dirt: 65%+

This figure-eight route weaves the Northwoods Trails, the IMBA Epic Lake Ouachita Vista Trail, and a patchwork of tarmac, dirt, and rugged ridgelines into a ride of deliberate contrast. From punchy singletrack to fast backroads and the climb to Tall Peak’s old lookout tower, every transition feels intentional—each element returning in new form as the route loops back through the Ouachitas to Hot Springs.

LOViT or Leave iT

Distance: 110+ miles
Elevation: 9,000+ ft
Singletrack: 45+ miles
Dirt: 55%+

This route traces a compact figure-eight through the Ouachitas, weaving the Northwoods Trails, the IMBA Epic Lake Ouachita Vista Trail, and a mix of tarmac, dirt, and rolling backroads into a seamless ride. Every section shifts tempo—from punchy singletrack to fast, flowing roads—looping through the hills before returning to Hot Springs.