Best Tent Camping near Dierks Lake
Tent camping opportunities surround Dierks Lake in southwestern Arkansas, with notable options including the Cossatot Falls Campsites in Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area and the nearby Sandbar Area Campsites. The Ouachita National Forest also offers primitive backcountry tent camping along the Eagle Rock Loop trail system, with established sites like Viles Branch Creek Primitive Campsite. While Albert Pike Recreation Area now permits only day use following flood damage, tent campers can find alternative primitive sites along nearby forest roads and trails.
Most tent sites feature gravel or packed dirt surfaces with adequate drainage during typical weather conditions. Cossatot Falls offers six large, improved tent pads with fire rings, picnic tables, and bear poles, while Sandbar Area provides more numerous sites with slightly less privacy between campers. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds but no showers or running water. Campers must bring all drinking water or filter from streams, with no hookups available. Forest Service roads accessing some sites require careful navigation, particularly after rain. According to one visitor, "It's 5 miles to pavement. On a good day, depending what you're driving, that's 20 to 30 minutes of dirt, gravel, rocks, and washboards."
Tent campers experience remarkable solitude at backcountry sites along the Eagle Rock Loop, where hikers can access swimming holes and fishing spots on the Little Missouri River. Sites at Cossatot Falls provide easy access to the river and hiking trails, with enough space for multiple tents. Walk-in sites at Sandbar Area require short hikes from parking areas, offering slightly more privacy than drive-up options. The primitive nature of these campgrounds means minimal light pollution for exceptional stargazing opportunities. The region's thick forests provide ample shade during summer months but also harbor ticks and other insects. A camper noted that "The tents spaces are very nice with lots of trees which make it very cozy. Only compost toilets and no showers... but you can hear the Owls and Coyotes at night."
