11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Sorghum Hollow Horse Camp in Ozark National Forest provides primitive equestrian camping near Paris, Arkansas. This horse-friendly campground accommodates both tent and RV campers with specific areas designated for horses. The campsites offer basic amenities with no electric hookups, water connections, or sewage facilities, maintaining the rustic nature of the equestrian camping experience. Trail riders find the camp strategically positioned for access to forest riding trails. The campground remains open year-round, allowing equestrians to enjoy seasonal riding opportunities throughout Ozark National Forest.
Bear Creek Horse Camp offers another option for horse camping in the region. Located in a dispersed camping area, this primitive campground includes vault toilets but no drinking water or electric hookups. Fires are permitted at designated fire rings. The campground welcomes pets alongside horses, allowing riders to bring their dogs on camping trips. The peaceful, remote setting attracts equestrians seeking direct access to trail systems away from developed areas. The sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, though without hookups.
Most equestrian trails in the Paris area connect to larger networks within Ozark National Forest. Riders enjoy varied terrain from wooded paths to scenic overlooks, with trails ranging from beginner-friendly routes to more challenging backcountry experiences. Weather conditions significantly affect trail usability, particularly during spring rains when some lower areas may become muddy or impassable. Equestrians should carry sufficient water for horses during summer months when natural water sources may be limited. Trailer parking requires advance planning as space can be limited during peak seasons. Campers should practice leave-no-trace principles, properly disposing of manure and maintaining clean campsites for future visitors.
"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."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
"General: Located in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, you can enjoy time off the grid (we had limited cell service when we were at the summit of the Yellow Rock Trail but none in the campground"
"I stayed in Campground E, one of 5 campgrounds in the park, not including the equestrian campground or the walk in tent sites off of Campground A."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Camped near the river and had a wonderful time exploring the off-road trails near the area."
"This is one of the best campgrounds in Arkansas. Dog friendly"
from $10 - $22 / night
Check Availability"Contacted owner late in the evening looking for a spot after a 9hour drive. This place had everything and the bathhouse was just like taking a shower at home!"
from $22 - $25 / night
Check Availability"There are some trails nearby, but the area and trails are really designed for ATVs."
"short drives from the campgrounds to beautiful scenery with a little bit of research, or ask greg. alot are even accessible by car. take the 30 min drive to hillbillys lims bbq as well."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"They continue to upgrade trails and add beautiful camping spots. This is a family room ranch and Donny and Lynn are wonderful hosts. I always come home feeling reconnected with myself and family"
from $15 - $90 / night
Check Availability
LegendI had heard so many great things about this park but I was not that impressed. The sites are fairly close together. There’s no signs warning that if you are in a large RV you shouldn’t come in on a certain highway. They do have equestrian trails and a campground to accommodate campers with horses. They have a lot of hiking trails. There are cabins and a pool.
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!!
LegendGeneral: Located in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, you can enjoy time off the grid (we had limited cell service when we were at the summit of the Yellow Rock Trail but none in the campground). Limited rainfall resulted in less dramatic (or non-existent) waterfalls that are otherwise boasted of during other times of the year but the scenery was still beautiful, especially in the fall.
Sites/Facilities: Many different camping options (some loops have full hookups while others do not have hookups and there is a dump station near Loop E), a hike-in campground, a group campground, and an equestrian campground. There are also 17 rustic cabins (1-3 bedrooms with kitchens and a/c and heating plus nearby bathrooms). We camped in Loop E and there was reasonable separation between the sites. The pads were paved. Each site had a metal picnic table, lantern hook, and fire grate. Many of the sites provided shade from the many trees.
Bathhouse: Like some other Arkansas state parks, there are two bathhouses in some loops, and they were open on alternating days so that the other one may be cleaned and sanitized (Covid related policy). While the open one in Loop E was clean, the several soap dispensers were empty which does not make sense to me when hand washing is recommended. You also need to bring your own towel, which I have been doing regardless. There are showers but I did not use them so I cannot comment on how good they are.
Activities/Amenities: Hiking! I highly recommend the Yellow Rock Trail and the Devils Den Trail plus there are several others. During the summer, you can rent paddle boats and canoes. There are several areas with picnic tables throughout the park. There is also a swimming pool, although I did not see it when we were there in October(it would only be open in the summer). Firewood is available for sale.
LegendThis is a gorgeous park, even on a rainy weekend. I stayed in Campground E, one of 5 campgrounds in the park, not including the equestrian campground or the walk in tent sites off of Campground A. E was a large campground, with mixed tent and RV camping, with some sites along Lee Creek. Each site was well equipped with paved parking pads, nice flat sites for tents (some gravel pads, some just grassy areas), and many of the spots had electic and water. All had campfire rings, picnic tables, and grills. There were two nice hiking trails leading out of this particular campground, and some of the other campgrounds (A in particular) also had good trails. The bathhouses were really nice and modern and very clean. What I liked about this park, besides the great hiking trails, were all of the historic CCC buildings. There is a really neat scenic overlook that was built by the CCC near the Yellow Rock trailhead, and if you step in the visitor's center, you are actually in the old CCC motor pool. There is a really nice statue and plaque commemorating the work of the CCC in building the park near the lake and cafe.
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.
TravelerDevil's Den is a gorgeous parked tucked in the mountains of Arkansas. The primary campground for RVs is one of the better campgrounds I have seen. The facilities and amenities have been great. The sites are generally spacious. If you want the best experience - grab one of the sites along the ridge (83, 85, 87) - these have a great view off the back and offer incredible space. There are several hiking trails within the park and other activities during warmer months (i.e. pool). If you have a large rig - make sure to take the West Fork exit off I-49 vs. the south exit (Winslow). There's no cell service whatsoever but Wifi (paid) is offered by the park. Make sure to stock up on supplies beforehand - there are not many options within that area as far as food and services.
LegendAmazing State Park with something for everyone
I have been to Devil's Den State Park twice now and this is my favorite state park in Arkansas. Devil's Den State park has something for every camper, no matter how you prefer to camp. Tent camping, hike in camping, RVs, cabins, they have it all. Want to bring your horse, you can do that as well. Devil's Den has some great hiking and mountain biking trails, from short to long. If you only do one trail be sure that is the Devil's Den Trail, you won't be disappointed on this 1.5 mile trail. If you want a longer trail there is the 15 mile Butterfield Hiking Trail. Devil's Den campground includes 135 campsites ranging from basic tent sites to full hookups for the RV crowed and horse sites. Campground are all paved with paved parking pads. Individual sites have tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings and a first for me, hooks for hanging your lantern. Flush toilets and showers are included. If you like to swim they even have a pool. Park has a store to provide your food needs. Sites all appeared to be well spaced. If you want complete privacy the word is get one of the walk in sites, you will have a bit of a walk but the reward is complete solitude. Lee Creek runs through the park and a 8-acre lake which allows fishing and boating with canoes and pedal boats. You need to reserve your site before hand or at the visitor center. One thing I do like is if you arrive to late to register at the visitor center, then you can just grab an empty site for the night, you just have to register the next day by 10am.
Ranger Review of Banner& Oaks Bull Tan Hat
Got the Bull Tan hat and have been wearing it for about a month now. Hat fits great, looks great. This is a very well made hat with quality materials and made in the U.S.A. It has held up amazing well in all weather conditions, sun, heat, rain and even snow and continues to hold its shape. I have a lot of hats and this one is one of my favorites.
LegendWe stayed here for some backwoods hiking in the Ozarks and it was about 40 minutes from the various hikes we had planned. There are some trails nearby, but the area and trails are really designed for ATVs.
It doesn’t offer a lot in terms of comfort—there are full hookups but no real fire rings, no trees or shade and it’s HOT in early June. It’s an all gravel path so not great for any elderly walkers or those in need of ADA. The showers are ROUGH, but they exist. They have hot water, but there’s a literal nail to operate the handles. Toilets are okay. No laundry. It has stables for horses and seems to really be built for ATVers.
No ATT or Verizon service there or in the general area, had to download a map that was essentially a PDF to get around.
Nicest people in the world own it and work there. They have a shop and cafe on site that is open only on the weekends. The cafe is okay. It does have WiFi, but that does not extend to the camp/ RV sites. The real draw is the folks who work there, can’t state enough how wonderful and helpful they are.
Dry county with very few places to buy any food or groceries outside of an hour drive.
Very beautiful sites close by: falling water falls, big creek cave falls, glory hole falls, pedestal rocks and kings bluff trails, alum natural bridge—and so much more.
GuideWe only had three days and it rained all day for the first day but I still really enjoyed this park. The trails are great and our campsite had a path right down to the river. The water hookup was a bit tricky, it leaks all over the place until you turn it all the way. We were not used to this setup so we thought it was broken. We were on site 53. I don’t like the placement of the fire pits, they are off at the road side of the site which makes it feel too close to other campers, rather than tucked into your own site. The bathrooms are probably the nicest I’ve experienced at a state park.
The Ozark National Forest surrounding Paris, Arkansas contains multiple equestrian-friendly camping areas at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 feet. The region experiences humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F and mild winters, though occasional ice storms can make forest roads temporarily impassable. The terrain features a mix of hardwood forests, sandstone bluffs, and rolling hills intersected by seasonal creeks.
Hiking trails with water features: Several trails near the equestrian campgrounds connect to swimming holes and creeks. At Mount Magazine State Park, "The hike up to the highest point in Arkansas is easy and family friendly for kids" according to Jeremy C. The park sits at 2,753 feet, making it Arkansas's highest elevation point with multiple trail difficulty levels.
Off-road adventures: The forests around Paris provide extensive off-road opportunities. Byrd's Adventure Center offers "their own off-road trails or you can venture out into the Ozark National Forrest trails," notes John F. The center maintains over 800 acres of private trails plus access to public forest trails ranging from beginner to advanced difficulty.
Rock climbing and rappelling: Sandstone bluffs throughout the region provide climbing opportunities. At Mount Magazine, "Magazine is one of the few parks that offers climbers great opportunities to work their skills. The park essentially sits on top of a bluff that is nearly surrounded on all sides by straight rock face," explains Donny S.
Temperature differences: The higher elevations offer relief from summer heat. Donny S. advises, "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. So unless you're going in July, I would recommend you pack a pair of pants, long sleeves and maybe even a light jacket."
Stargazing opportunities: Limited light pollution makes for excellent night sky viewing. At Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch, Mike B. describes it as "one of the most peaceful places I have ever camped. Wide open and beautiful views," making it ideal for night sky observation.
Water access: Many sites offer creek or river access. Leslie D. appreciates that Byrd's Adventure Center has "the river runs right through the property" allowing for swimming, fishing, and cooling off during summer months when temperatures frequently exceed 90°F.
Road conditions: Mountain access roads can be challenging for larger vehicles. When visiting Mount Nebo State Park, Rebecca P. warns "the drive up the mountain is seriously windy though, so be cautious." These roads often feature 15-18% grades with sharp switchbacks.
Limited services: Most horse campgrounds near Paris have minimal amenities. Fred S. notes that Bear Creek Horse Camp has a "very clean vault toilet located at the rear of the camp; it was well supplied" but lacks water hookups or shower facilities.
Weather preparedness: The region experiences rapid weather changes. At Mount Magazine State Park, Charles H. describes how "the road winds up and around the bends and crooks of the mountain" creating unique weather patterns where fog can develop quickly, reducing visibility on mountain roads to near zero.
Swimming options: During summer months, seek campsites with water access. Melissa M. recommends, "Pool, great trails, and the creek/river kept my kids entertained and worn out!" at Devil's Den State Park, which offers both natural water features and a constructed swimming pool.
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. Stephen R. exclaims "Holy Buffalo! Beautiful area. Gorgeous views and wildlife everywhere!" when describing Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch, where managed herds can be observed from safe distances.
Camp store access: Some locations offer basic supplies. Amy & Stu B. note that Macks Pines has "a shop and cafe on site that is open only on the weekends" though they caution it's in a "Dry county with very few places to buy any food or groceries outside of an hour drive."
Size restrictions: Mountain roads limit RV access at some locations. Gary F. reports Mount Magazine State Park "has 18 RV campsites of varying length, all with water and most have sewer. Two have 50 amp service with the rest having 30," but larger rigs should verify access routes before booking.
Leveling requirements: Some forest service sites require additional equipment. When visiting Macks Pines, Roscoe notes "some sites require a bit of leveling, lots of full hookup and good amount of 50 amp."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across the region. Amy & Stu B. warn "No ATT or Verizon service there or in the general area, had to download a map that was essentially a PDF to get around," emphasizing the importance of downloading offline maps before arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Paris, AR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Paris, AR is Mount Magazine State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Paris, AR?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Paris, AR, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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