Best Tent Camping near Mena, AR
The Ouachita National Forest surrounding Mena, Arkansas offers numerous backcountry tent camping opportunities with varying levels of accessibility and amenities. Cossatot River State Park provides tent-specific campsites at both the Cossatot Falls and Sandbar Area locations, featuring cleared tent pads surrounded by dense forest. The Eagle Rock Loop trail system contains several primitive tent sites including Straight Creek, Long Creek, and Viles Branch Creek campsites, accessible only by hiking in from trailheads.
Most tent campsites near Mena require preparation for primitive conditions. Vault toilets are available at established areas like Hickory Nut Mountain and Cossatot Falls, but no showers or running water. Sites typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and tent pads, though dispersed camping areas may offer only cleared ground. According to one visitor at Cossatot Falls, "There are six large, improved sites which are first come first serve cash pay only. Vault toilets, no water and no electricity." High clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing remote tent sites, as many require travel on unpaved forest roads that deteriorate after rain.
Tent campers in this region experience exceptional solitude and natural surroundings. The backcountry tent sites along Eagle Rock Loop provide direct access to fishing opportunities and scenic hiking. One camper noted that "the Long Creek Primitive Campsite is located alongside a creek. On your hike into this site you will be rewarded with beautiful scenery as you walk through majestic forests of oak." Sites at Cossatot River State Park offer proximity to swimming holes and kayaking opportunities. Free tent camping is available at Hickory Nut Mountain, providing views of Lake Ouachita. Most tent sites feature good shade coverage from the dense forest canopy, though this also means limited cell service in many areas. Campers should practice Leave No Trace principles, as most backcountry tent sites require packing out all waste and properly storing food away from wildlife.