Bear Creek Horse Camp provides primitive equestrian camping in the Ouachita National Forest, serving riders accessing the interconnecting loop trails of the Bear Creek Equestrian Trail system. The camp features four primitive sites—two official sites with metal fire rings and two dispersed sites with rock fire rings—available on a first-come, first-served basis at no cost. Hitching posts are provided at the campground for securing horses. A clean vault toilet is located at the rear of the camp, and a small creek runs alongside the camping area. The grounds do not appear to be maintained regularly, but sites remain clean. Tent and hammock camping are possible, though heavily shaded sites make solar recharging challenging. The camp is located deep in a forested area with no T-Mobile cell service.
Located approximately one mile north of Forest Road 11 on Forest Road 772, Bear Creek Horse Camp serves as the trailhead for equestrian trails also open to hikers. Coordinates for the camp are 34.78571,-93.15988. Minor erosion exists where small creeks cross FR772, while FR11 remains in good condition. The camp sits on the western edge of the Deckard Mountain Walk-in Turkey Hunting Area. The Ouachita National Forest website no longer lists this site as an official campground, though it continues to function as a primitive equestrian camping area. Sorghum Hollow Horse Camp in the Ozark National Forest provides another equestrian camping option in the region, accommodating both tent and RV camping with drive-in access. The deeply forested setting offers beautiful surroundings despite the camp's basic aesthetic.
$15 - $25 / night
"We stayed in site 54 (w/e/s) that was right on the lake. We could walk to the dock right behind the site to fish, although did not have very good luck."
"Lake Catherine State Park, like all Arkansas state parks, is immaculately clean! Most RV sites have close access to the water and there are small stationary docks to park your boat. "
"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."
$35 / night
"The picnic table had a few steps up to it. This site is at the entrance, we might have preferred something at the back. Everyone coming in or out drove by our spot."
"There is an unofficial overflow campground with a well kept pit toilet that offers the best view from the campgrounds over the Arkansas valley."
"Reservable sites are nearly on top of each other. Might be good if you have kids with you. There is a playground adjacent and a pool/bathhouse close by."
"A great Arkansas destination for outdoorsy people.The steep road climbing to the top of Mount Nebo keeps the big RVs away. Stop your car at the lookout point before you reach the top."
$80 - $100 / night
TravelerReservable sites are nearly on top of each other. Might be good if you have kids with you. There is a playground adjacent and a pool/bathhouse close by. We opted for the hike in site and it was perfect for us. Off-road and hiking were great! Views are breathtaking!!
LegendCoordinates: 34.78571,-93.15988. Visited in early May 2025. Located along Forest Road 772, about 1 mile north of Forest Road 11 in the Ouachita National Forest. Some minor erosion on FR772 where small creeks cross the road. FR11 is in good condition at the time of this visit. The camp is on the western edge of the Deckard Mountain Walk-in Turkey Hunting Area. The camp serves as a small primitive camping area for equestrian riders on the network of interconnecting loop trails that comprise the Bear Creek Equestrain Trail system. These trails are also open to hikers. The trailhead is located at the rear of the camp. Free. Four sites (2 official national forest sites with metal fire rings plus 2 dispersed sites with rock fire rings), available on a first-come/first-based only. Hitching posts are available in the camp. A small creek runs along side the camp. The grounds of the camp do not appear to be maintained, but the sites were clean. There is a very clean vault toilet located at the rear of the camp; it was well supplied. Tent and hammock camping are possible. Sites are mnostly shaded making solar rechargiong and Starlink access a challenge. I received no T-Mobile cell service. The camp itself is not aesthetically pleasing, but it is located deep in a beautiful forest with easy access to a trail system. Note that, when I last checked, the Ouachita National Forest Web site no longer lists this site as a campground.
GuideThis 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. It has several camping spaces with water and electric hook ups (about $22/night), yurts (about $55/night), a lodge (about $100/night), a marina to rent boats or buy bait, several daily activities for children or adults of all ages (some free and some about $5-15/person), horse riding stables (no experience required, about $30/ride 1 hour trail), a full golf course, playgrounds, pavilions, overall clean facilities, and a restaurant. Although our bank fishing experience wasn’t so great, I’m sure with a boat it would have been better. And for those that want to make the camping trip into the ultimate family vacation, this park is about a 30 minute drive from Hot Springs, AR where there is tons to do like restaurants, mini golf, shopping, and we even decided to get ice cream at Scoops (24 homemade flavors and delicious)! We will definitely be back for a visit!!
TravelerSmall open Campground with no specific sites (Tent Only Area). There is a small lot nearby to park then you must walk everything in. This can be anything from right next to your car to a few hundred feet away depending on where you want to set up. Picnic tables, fire rings and campground grills located throughout but again nothing is marketed as far as site numbers. The area allows for up to six camp permits per night. Could be good for smaller groups. It’s up away from the lake unlike the rest of the campgrounds in the park. There are restrooms nearby with flushing toilets and sinks. Also a playground is located close to the campsite. Overall it was clean but felt cramped among other campers and parking away from the tent made for multiple trips back and forth.
GuideWe stayed at an RV site at Cameron Campground, #2. Nice shady spot with a picnic table, grill and fire pit. Was also a space for a tent. The picnic table had a few steps up to it.
This site is at the entrance, we might have preferred something at the back. Everyone coming in or out drove by our spot. But the neighbors were all very quiet.
The bathhouse had two showers, several toilets.
Several signs up say beware of bears, but we didn't see any.
We saw LOTS of deer.
Be prepared for a long winding road up the mountain. It's not overly steep, but it takes a while to get ANYWHERE in this part of Arkansas.
Went to Cove Lake (11 miles away, about a 20 minute drive) to fish, but didn't stay long, and didn't catch anything. Cove lake has camping but no hookups.
RangerA great Arkansas destination for outdoorsy people.The steep road climbing to the top of Mount Nebo keeps the big RVs away. Stop your car at the lookout point before you reach the top. When you arrive, walk into the Visitor's Center and right through the other door on the back to take in the view and step right onto a nice hiking trail. The campground has an open feel, so you might see cars going by on the main road, or strike up a conversation with your camping neighbors. It is nonetheless a nice place, particularly the sites that overlook the bluff. If you have kids, there are two sites that back up directly to a playground. For tent campers, the real draw is the hike-in campsites, which are easy to hike to on a flat, wide trail that circles the top of the mountain (similar in width to a fire road), or the various other well maintained hiking paths that parallel or criss-cross it. Wake up and check out the view at Sunrise Point, enjoy a day of hiking and other activities, then top it off with the view at Sunset Point.
GuideWe stayed in site 54 (w/e/s) that was right on the lake. We could walk to the dock right behind the site to fish, although did not have very good luck. I’m betting the fishing is better if you have a boat. We did not use the restrooms/bathhouse. This site is smaller but fit our 22’ trailer perfectly. We had our ebikes with us and road around a little, but the campground is not ideally set up for using them like we did at Petit Jean. We did have some pretty tall weeds that we wished would have been taken care of before we arrived, but not a deal breaker for sure. We hiked several trails that were challenging and beautiful. Close proximity to Hot Springs so spent one day there. If I had it to do over again, I would have skipped it. Casino close by for those folks so inclined. Wish we would have brought our kayaks🤨
TravelerLake Catherine State Park, like all Arkansas state parks, is immaculately clean! Most RV sites have close access to the water and there are small stationary docks to park your boat.
A short trail leads you to a waterfall or take the longer trail for a fun hike through the woods. Swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking are all a part of the fun.
The cabins are rustic but well-appointed. All cabins have water views.
No matter the time of year, Lake Catherine State Park is a wonderful place to visit.
ScoutI am quite fond of the state parks in Arkansas and this was a clean, quiet, beautiful and safe location near Hot Springs. I was very happy that I could also bring my dog. When I reached my campsite my booking tag was already there and there was some firewood placed on the fire pit for me already. I was only a minute walk from restroom facilities. I also found it was very easy to book last minute after receiving a recommendation from a local barista.
Bear Creek Horse Camp serves as a primitive equestrian base in the Ouachita National Forest at 34.78571,-93.15988. The elevation in this region ranges from 600 to 2,700 feet with mixed pine-hardwood forests typical of the Ouachita Mountains. Temperatures fluctuate seasonally with summer highs averaging 90°F and winter lows reaching the 20s, affecting camping conditions throughout the year.
Trail riding: Access the interconnected Bear Creek Equestrian Trail system directly from Bear Creek Horse Camp. Trails are open to both equestrians and hikers with multiple loop options of varying difficulty. "The camp serves as a small primitive camping area for equestrian riders on the network of interconnecting loop trails that comprise the Bear Creek Equestrain Trail system," notes Fred S.
Hiking: Explore the Falls Branch Trail at Lake Catherine State Park which features a waterfall and moderate terrain suitable for most skill levels. "We really enjoyed hiking the Falls Branch Trail with my nieces (8 and 10 years old). I would highly recommend this trail," writes Alison C.
Water activities: Rent kayaks at Lake Catherine for calm water paddling. The lake offers protected coves and minimal boat traffic. "It's a great lake for kayaking as the water was calm and there were only a couple of boats on the water," reports Alison C.
Secluded camping: Campsites at Mount Magazine State Park provide privacy despite limited quantity. "The camping spaces are large and accommodating, most are level and can fit almost anything you travel in," notes Charles H. Sites are well-spaced with natural buffers between them.
Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening animal sightings are common around Ouachita Lake campgrounds. "Cattle roam the pastures. Wildlife sitings: Eagle, White-tail Deer, Wild Hogs, Birds, Squirrel, and more," explains Susan E. from Erwin Estate High Point.
Scenic views: Elevated campgrounds offer panoramic vistas. "180+ degree view overlooking Benton to Malvern to Greater Hot Springs," reports Susan E. about Erwin Estate High Point. The higher elevation campgrounds provide cooler temperatures during summer months.
Road conditions: Access roads to some horse camps have seasonal erosion issues. "Some minor erosion on FR772 where small creeks cross the road. FR11 is in good condition at the time of this visit," reports Fred S. about Bear Creek Horse Camp.
Campground facilities: DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers more developed facilities than primitive horse camps. "Close enough to Arkadelphia if you need supplies. State Park Marina and Caddo Point have very nice boat ramps with a lot of parking which is good because this place gets crowded," notes Jason W.
Reservation needs: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. "This SP will fill up quickly in the spring and fall, reservations are recommend," advises Chad K. about Lake Catherine State Park. Horse camps typically operate on first-come, first-served basis with limited sites.
Choose family-friendly trails: Select appropriate hiking distances for children. "The hike up to the highest point in Arkansas is easy and family friendly for kids," recommends Jeremy C. from Mount Nebo State Park.
Pack for temperature changes: Mountain campgrounds experience significant temperature variations. "The temperature is literally about 10-15 degrees cooler on the mountain than below. One night we were there it got down to mid teens," warns Donny S. about Mount Magazine State Park.
Bring entertainment: Limited connectivity means planning offline activities. "Just 15 minutes from beautiful Hot Springs, Arkansas!" notes Susan E., providing a backup option for family outings from Erwin Estate High Point during extended stays.
Size restrictions: Mountain roads limit RV access. "At the base of the climb, signs posted numerous times, 'Crooked and Steep, no trailers over 24 ft'," warns Dave V. about Mount Nebo State Park. Measure your rig length before attempting steep access roads.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven sites at primitive equestrian camping areas. "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," reports Ray & Terri F. about DeGray Lake State Park.
Connectivity issues: Cell service varies dramatically by location and carrier. "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," notes Ray & Terri F.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ouachita Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ouachita Lake is Lake Catherine State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 84 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ouachita Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Ouachita Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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