Camping near Gillham Lake
Campgrounds around Gillham Lake in southwestern Arkansas provide both tent and RV camping opportunities in natural settings. Cossatot Reefs, located below the spillway of Gillham Lake dam, serves as a popular destination with improved sites featuring water and electrical hookups. The area includes several established camping options including Little Coon Creek Park and Cossatot River State Park, which offers more primitive tent camping at its Cossatot Falls and Sandbar Area locations. Nearby Shady Lake Recreation Area, approximately 15 miles northeast, provides additional camping facilities within the Ouachita National Forest.
Access to campgrounds varies seasonally, with most developed sites operating between March and November. Cossatot Reefs and Little Coon Creek Park feature paved surfaces suitable for RVs, while the State Park campgrounds require navigation on gravel logging roads that can be challenging after rain. Many campsites require advance reservations through recreation.gov or the Arkansas State Parks reservation system. Bathroom facilities range from vault toilets at primitive sites to cleaner facilities at developed campgrounds. One camper noted, "The road will test your suspension! There is NO water except what you bring with you or if you pull some from the river."
Waterfront proximity ranks highly among visitor priorities, with the Cossatot River attracting campers seeking both recreational opportunities and natural beauty. The Falls campground at Cossatot River State Park features six large tent pads adjacent to the river with hiking access and swimming opportunities. According to one visitor, "The tent pads were huge and the waterfall area was beautiful. Our children enjoyed climbing on the rocks and splashing in the river." Campers frequently mention the peacefulness of sites near flowing water, though some note that generator use at developed campgrounds can detract from the natural experience. Most campgrounds provide standard amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and trash collection, with developed sites adding electrical and water hookups for RVs.
