Best Dispersed Camping near Bull Shoals, AR
The Ozark National Forest and surrounding wildlife management areas near Bull Shoals, Arkansas provide multiple dispersed camping options on public lands. Several primitive sites can be accessed within an hour's drive, including Matney Knob, Hercules Glades Wilderness Area, and Woolum Dispersed Area along the Buffalo National River. These areas typically feature minimal development with few or no amenities, allowing for a more secluded outdoor experience compared to developed campgrounds. Most locations permit camping in designated areas only, though some wilderness zones allow backcountry camping with proper permits or licenses.
Access roads to many dispersed sites near Bull Shoals range from maintained gravel to rough forest service roads that may require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rain. The Hercules Glades Wilderness Area offers hike-in camping with moderate trail difficulty, while areas like Matney Knob and Blair Ridge feature drive-in accessibility. Most sites include basic fire rings but no drinking water, requiring visitors to pack in all supplies. Wildlife management areas such as Gene Rush WMA require either a hunting license or specific WMA camping permit purchased through Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, with camping restricted to designated areas only.
Primitive camping in this region provides opportunities for solitude and direct access to natural features like riverbanks, bluffs, and forest terrain. Sam's Throne Recreation Area offers particularly scenic camping near dramatic cliff views. At Woolum Dispersed Area, campers can find sites directly adjacent to the Buffalo River. One visitor noted that Blair Ridge Road offers "two fire rings along this road. Both locations have full bars (Verizon). Little to no man-made noise." Another camper at Gene Rush WMA emphasized the importance of knowing regulations: "There is only a handful of sites spread throughout the WMA and you can only camp in those designated by the game and fish. This isn't the national forest, you can't just pull off and camp anywhere you please."
