DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers horseback riding stables with one-hour trail rides for approximately $30 per person, requiring no previous riding experience. The park maintains well-marked equestrian trails through the Ouachita Mountain foothills, providing scenic views of the lake and surrounding forests. Riders frequently encounter deer and other wildlife along the trails. The stables are conveniently located near the campground areas, allowing easy access for both overnight guests and day visitors. The park features multiple camping options including RV sites with water and electric hookups, tent sites, yurts with premium lake views, and lodge accommodations.
Trail riders at DeGray Lake can explore several interconnected paths suitable for various skill levels. The horseback riding trails wind through wooded areas and offer occasional lake vistas, particularly beautiful during sunset hours. CMA Iron Mountain Cabins and Campground, located about 7 miles south of Mena, provides another horse-friendly option with easy access to the Wolf Pen Gap trail system in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains. This campground accommodates large rigs and offers spacious sites suitable for horse trailers. Both locations maintain clean facilities with hot showers and restrooms. Seasonal considerations include higher weekend occupancy during summer months and occasional trail closures after heavy rainfall when paths become soggy and difficult to navigate.
"This weekend we camped at DeGray Lake Resort State Park in Bismarck, Arkansas. We had a blast! DeGray Lake has a lot to offer for groups large and small wanting to get away."
"Nice campsites, lakeside, lake view and in the woods, YURT rentals have the best location, DeRoche Ridge second best if you want to be right next to the lake."
"This campground is located right off of Hwy 71 for easy access. Plenty of room for big rigs. Just a short ride to the Wolf Pen Gap trail system."
"I drive truck, always have a hard time getting in/out of places with a semi and usually end up not getting to camp. The main pavilion in the center of the grounds is HUGE!"
from $12 - $105 / night
"This is as near perfect as you can get!"
from $30 / night
"A beautiful rustic site with hook up clean showers and toilets, and beautiful bbq and eating area, The river is just a 2 second walk to the river and they hire kayaks for a 4 hour kayak $25 Brilliant,"
from $45 / night
TravelerIf you are heading this way this is a deffo stop the tranquility nature and river is absolutely stunning The owners are amazing friendly and accommodating one of the best on this road trip so far Thank you so much
TravelerA beautiful rustic site with hook up clean showers and toilets, and beautiful bbq and eating area, The river is just a 2 second walk to the river and they hire kayaks for a 4 hour kayak $25 Brilliant, the owner is super friendly and welcoming would defiantly recommend a visit i could easily stay longer ❤️ love it And Thankyou x
LegendWe have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 12 for 1 night in mid September. The CG is clean and well maintained but showing its age. The CG roads are paved, but narrow, winding, and fairly bumpy in spots. Few if any of the sites in this section of the CG were anywhere close to level and our site, one of the few pull-throughs, was one of the worst, I mean seriously sloped even after ratcheting up the front levelers as far as they’d go. The CG is very quiet and peaceful. There was only one other camper in this section of the CG while we were there.
AT&T coverage was basically nonexistent with 1 bar of LTE service but very little if any throughput. The CG is heavily wooded, so Starlink was unusable.
RangerFairly cheap for a nicely established campground with really nice bathrooms (with showers)! Water spigot right at our site. Park has 3 different loops and lots of amenities.
LegendLake Degray has two (that we know of) very nice swimming areas. Grandkids has a blast. Life jackets were available as well. The park offers a lot of shade and was very well kept. We saw lots of deer and other wildlife. There are plenty of trails and just a lot to do. They have cabins which are beautiful. The bathrooms are quite nice. There is a marina and they rent party barges. Just overall a great experience and a beautiful location.
LegendI love waterfront camping! There are some amazing sunset views here! Also, the wildlife is abundant. Great ranger led boat tour of the lake. Lots of nice level sites. Super cool yurts for rent that have the best views! Arkansas has the best State Parks!
TravelerCamped here in a tent off my motorcycle. Site was awesome. Bathrooms and showers are spotless. The staff is extremely kind and helpful.
LegendI stayed two nights at a nearby COE campground and enjoyed my stay but was ready for a change so I moved to this campground. Lots of fun things to do here. Hiking, biking, marina and water sports. There’s also a lodge with a restaurant and spa. I didn’t visit it but rode by and it’s very nice. Yurts if you don’t have a tent or RV and they have the best view of the lake in the whole park. Beautiful day use area with a playground, beach and picnic areas.
RangerWow!!! What a magical experience! We arrived at EponaPlace and Rene was incredibly welcoming and introduced us to the farm dogs that keep guests and horses safe and sound! There are several parking options, and we opted to park up by the house so we could enjoy the tent glampers'"secret trail" every chance we got.
Enjoy packing light when visiting Epona- the bed is comfortable, the pillows are snuggable, and there is plenty of space to spread out. There is a bug net around the bed as well for an extra layer of security and luxury. There are fairy lights inside the tent that you can turn on at night so you can forgo the indoor headlamp too. There is definitely wildlife outside the tent at night, and it was very nice feeling safe and secure in the tent.
The commons area is very cute and well stocked. Possibly the most luxurious bath house I've ever encountered- it's air conditioned, has plumbing, and running hot water! There is also a mini fridge, a coffee maker, and tea to share. Outside, there is a grill, comfortable cushions, and crystals plucked from the land everywhere. If you enjoy porch-sittin', this is the perfect porch. After all, this is the south.
Just beyond the commons, through Hummingbird Way(yes, we saw hummingbirds!!), Rene has an extensive collection of ball gowns in a small cottage. You could spend hours picking out and trying gowns and flower crowns before a sunset encounter with a unicorn! There are also knight and dragon costumes, if sparkly dresses aren't your thing:) While this isn't a place suited for young children, the unicorn experience is so completely magical. My ten year old daughter gasped when Rene led out a real-life unicorn at sunset. Rene was incredibly patient and warm, and led both princess and unicorn through the process of meeting each other and posing for photos. It's worth every penny! I'll definitely be back sans kid to get the princess/unicorn experience myself!
You can spend the day crystal hunting on property(no digging!), or ask Rene for directions to the nearest free crystal mine! We picked up a few chunks of quartz to bring home with us- a lovely keepsake of our stay at EponaPlace. There is lots of room to explore on property, and the farm dogs are sure to accompany you on your adventure. Don't worry, they are as sweet as pie and are such good company.
DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers equestrian experiences in the Ouachita Mountains with various camping options. The park's trail system extends through wooded terrain with periodic lakefront access. Riders must be at least 6 years old and weigh under 250 pounds for safety reasons, with no personal horses allowed on the dedicated riding trails.
Wildlife observation trails: DeGray Lake State Park features multiple hiking paths where visitors regularly spot deer and other wildlife. According to Michael H., "DeGray Lake is very pretty, and calm. The sunrise and sunsets are serene. This is a very laid back area to camp. The trails are far from challenging, and the Park Rangers are very helpful."
Geocaching opportunities: The park maintains several geocaching locations throughout the property. Natalie S. notes, "Had fun geocaching and deer sighting. Great to have sewer hookups so didn't have to use the park bathrooms."
Water recreation: Boondockers Landing provides river access for fishing and paddling. Kala V. describes it as "Nestled right beside the upper Mountain Fork river, this campground doesn't disappoint. Roomy, with large shade trees, cement pads and all services. This is as near perfect as you can get!"
Mountain biking access: Several trails within a 30-minute drive of Langley accommodate mountain bikers with varying skill levels. The routes through Buck Knob area offer technical challenges during dry conditions.
Peaceful atmosphere: DeGray Lake Resort State Park receives consistent praise for its quiet environment. Terry L. mentions, "Walking trail, Waterview walking, The Degray Lodge close to campground is perfection. Marina is great as well!"
Clean facilities: Equestrian campgrounds maintain well-serviced restrooms and shower facilities. Norbert B. from CMA Iron Mountain states, "Bathrooms and showers are spotless. The staff is extremely kind and helpful."
Lake visibility from campsites: Many sites offer direct water views. According to P., "We stayed at the De Roche Ridge campsite area, love the view of the lake no matter which site you stay and enjoyed beautiful sunsets from ours. Full hookups, level pads, clean and well maintained picnic benches, fire pits and grills."
Convenience to horse trails: CMA Iron Mountain Cabins and Campground provides easy trail access for equestrians. John notes it's "Just a short ride to the Wolf Pen Gap trail system. Located in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, 7 miles south of Mena."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the region. Ray & Terri F. report, "AT&T coverage was basically nonexistent with 1 bar of LTE service but very little if any throughput. The CG is heavily wooded, so Starlink was unusable."
Site leveling challenges: Some campsites require substantial leveling equipment. "Few if any of the sites in this section of the CG were anywhere close to level and our site, one of the few pull-throughs, was one of the worst, I mean seriously sloped even after ratcheting up the front levelers as far as they'd go," notes Ray & Terri F.
Trail conditions after rain: Trails become difficult following precipitation. P. cautions, "Some trails were soggy but it had been raining for a few days making it difficult to get past. Some signs indicating this could have helped us stay off the trails."
Reservation requirements: During peak seasons, particularly summer weekends and holidays, advance bookings are essential for secured sites at most established campgrounds in the region.
Multiple accommodation options: The region offers various lodging types for different family needs. Stacy M. shares about DeGray Lake: "Just this past weekend, my husband and 3 kiddos set up camp at Degray for a couple of nights... There are lots of sites, but somehow they've maintained enough wooded space between each site to feel fairly secluded."
Kid-friendly amenities: Boondockers Landing provides family-oriented facilities. Hope F. notes, "Good place for family camping. Plenty of room and peaceful area. Our family had a enjoyable time."
Recreational variety: The area offers fishing, swimming, hiking and boating options for different age groups. Jason W. explains, "Great swimming beaches and shore fishing are available too. There's a Diamond Trail golf course across the road as well."
Weather preparedness: Summer temperatures routinely exceed 90°F with high humidity. Pack additional water and sun protection for children during June through September activities.
Site selection considerations: When booking horse campgrounds near Langley, Arkansas, choose sites based on shade coverage and proximity to water sources. Heather S. advises, "some camping on the lake but a lot of the sites cannot see the lake. great bathrooms."
Big rig accessibility: Several campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles with appropriate parking. Jason L. from CMA Iron Mountain states, "I drive truck, always have a hard time getting in/out of places with a semi and usually end up not getting to camp... The few people we encountered were super cool and eager to see if we needed help or had questions."
Water access for boats: Some sites allow watercraft storage adjacent to campsites. Natalie S. reports, "Were able to park boat next to campsite and get kayaks and floats in and out of water easily. Boat ramp super close by."
Check-in timing: Arrival coordination matters at busy campgrounds. Natalie S. suggests, "Wish road was wider and wish check out time was your earlier than check in so ppl wouldn't be in your spot when you get there at check in."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Langley, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Langley, AR is DeGray Lake Resort State Park — De Gray State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Langley, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Langley, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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