Best Tent Camping near Blue Mountain, AR
The Ozark and Ouachita National Forests surrounding Blue Mountain, Arkansas offer several primitive tent camping options with varying levels of amenities and accessibility. Buzzards Rock Dispersed camping in the Ozark National Forest provides basic tent sites with fire rings but no facilities, while Fourche Mountain Campground offers a small primitive campground with five tent sites, vault toilets, and trash collection. Hickory Nut Mountain and Haw Creek Falls also provide free tent camping opportunities within the national forest boundaries.
Most tent sites in the area feature dirt or gravel surfaces with minimal grading, and campers should bring their own water as drinking water is rarely available. Vault toilets are present at established campgrounds like Fourche Mountain and Haw Creek Falls, but dispersed sites typically lack any facilities. Fire rings are common at designated sites, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Access roads to many tent camping areas require careful navigation, particularly to remote locations like Hickory Nut Mountain, which sits at the end of a three-mile gravel road. According to one visitor, "Some minor erosion on forest roads where small creeks cross the road" can make access challenging during wet weather.
Areas farther from highways offer deeper seclusion and less noise, with Hickory Nut Mountain providing tent campers a ridge-top experience with partial views of Lake Ouachita. Walk-in tent sites at several locations allow for more private camping experiences away from vehicle traffic. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for hiking, with trails accessible from many campgrounds. The Big Brushy Creek area features walking trails leading directly to the creek, though campers should note potential flash flood risks in low-lying areas. A review mentioned that Haw Creek Falls "is right on the creek/waterfall. Epic swimming hole as well. You need to pack in and pack out as there are no trash cans or anything, or drinking water, but there are vault toilets."