Bear Creek Horse Camp serves as the primary destination for equestrian camping near Paron, Arkansas, situated within the Ouachita National Forest approximately 1 mile north of Forest Road 11. The camp connects directly to the Bear Creek Equestrian Trail system, featuring interconnected loop trails open to riders and hikers. This free primitive campground includes four sites with fire rings, hitching posts for horses, and a vault toilet, though limited cell service and mostly shaded areas make solar recharging difficult.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: The Bear Creek Horse Camp provides immediate access to equestrian trails without needing to trailer horses elsewhere. As one visitor notes, "The trailhead is located at the rear of the camp" where riders can explore "a network of interconnecting loop trails that comprise the Bear Creek Equestrain Trail system."
Water activities: At Lake Catherine State Park, visitors can enjoy various water sports on the calm lake. "Lake Catherine offers many different outdoor options close to Hot Springs. The park has a couple hiking options along with the lake activities," reports Chad K. The park also features boat rentals, as another camper explains: "We enjoyed the hiking trails and rented a few kayaks. It's a great lake for kayaking as the water was calm and there were only a couple of boats on the water."
Unique elevation views: For horseback riders seeking spectacular viewpoints near Paron, Mount Nebo State Park provides exceptional vistas. "The 'Rim Trail' is just that...a 3 1/2 mile trail running the top rim of the mountain, with long views," describes one visitor. Another camper adds that "hang gliders frequently use the bluffs to launch" with "beautiful views of Arkansas River/Lake Dardanelle."
What campers like
Natural water features: Campers appreciate streams and lakes throughout the region's horse camps and parks. At DeGray Lake Resort State Park, visitors enjoy "clear lake" access with convenient boat parking: "We stayed in 102 and 106 and had pretty views of the clear lake. Were able to park boat next to campsite and get kayaks and floats in and out of water easily." The park has "very nice boat ramps with a lot of parking."
Wildlife encounters: The area around Paron offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. At Erwin Estate High Point, visitors report seeing diverse animals: "Wildlife sitings: Eagle, White-tail Deer, Wild Hogs, Birds, Squirrel, and more." Similarly, at Woolly Hollow State Park, campers enjoy peaceful animal encounters: "Put my hammock up and watched the sun set and the fireflies start dancing. A few ducks played on the edge of the water and walked on shore for a bit."
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer well-designed sites with adequate spacing. Lake Catherine State Park features "nice, shady, level sites with full hook-ups" and "camp sites spaced for privacy and are level for both campers and tents." Another visitor mentions that "the campsite was a great size and well spaced out from our neighbors. There were trees to hang our hammocks."
What you should know
Accessibility challenges: Some horse camps and parks have road conditions that limit certain vehicles. Mount Nebo posts warnings that routes are "Crooked and Steep, no trailers over 24 ft" with "grades up to 18%." A visitor confirms: "The drive up the mountain is seriously windy though, so be cautious."
Seasonal availability: Campgrounds vary in their operating seasons. DeGray Lake Resort State Park remains open "all year," while others have seasonal limitations. Facilities like swimming areas typically operate only during summer months, as one Camp Robinson visitor noted: "The lake has been partially drained to allow work to be done on stumps."
Reservation requirements: Popular parks fill quickly during peak seasons. One Lake Catherine visitor advises: "This SP will fill up quickly in the spring and fall, reservations are recommend." At Woolly Hollow, a camper similarly notes that "sites fill up fast."
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature programming ideal for children. At Woolly Hollow, one family shares: "They put our daughter right up front and identified every plant and tree we passed as well as answered every question she had. As a homeschool family we are always looking for learning opportunities and we are thrilled we stumbled upon this campground."
Kid-friendly activities: Parks near Paron feature amenities specifically designed for younger visitors. One parent notes that Woolly Hollow has "a large playground for the children" while another mentions that "the state park ranger had a weekend full of planned events from a box turtle demo to a sand castle competition."
Swimming options: Several parks offer designated swimming areas with amenities. DeGray Lake provides "great swimming beaches" while Woolly Hollow features "a nice swimming area with a shop to order drinks/snacks."
Tips from RVers
Site selection advice: RVers should research specific sites before booking. At Mount Nebo, campers suggest: "I would recommend calling ahead and seeing if you can get the site on the Bluff it looked beautiful." Some campgrounds have challenging layouts, with one visitor noting: "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."
Connectivity considerations: Cell service and internet access vary significantly throughout horse camps near Paron. At Mount Nebo, "cell service is limited or nonexistent in this remote location." Similarly, one RVer at DeGray reports: "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."
