Crystal Campground in Ouachita National Forest sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation surrounded by mixed pine-hardwood forest in west-central Arkansas. The campground occupies a clearing alongside Montgomery Creek, where water flows year-round and provides natural cooling during hot Arkansas summers. Located on Forest Road 177, the campground requires driving on maintained gravel roads that can become challenging during wet weather conditions.
What to do
Hiking trails: Explore the Crystal Springs Trail directly from Crystal Campground, which offers moderate terrain suitable for day hikes. "The Crystal Springs Trail departs directly from the campground" and connects to other forest trails. Visitors note "there are great hiking trails, the lake is always fun" in the surrounding area.
Crystal digging: Visit nearby crystal mines for unique souvenirs within a short drive of the forest. "Went crystal digging at Coleman which was also unbelievable. Will definitely go back when half the US is underwater!" reports one camper at COE Lake Ouachita Crystal Springs Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Fish directly from shoreline campsites at many Ouachita campgrounds or bring small watercraft. "I received AT&T and T-Mobile service during the time of my visit. I loved this campsite; very peaceful. Convenient for hiking in a beautiful forest" reports a visitor to Blue Knob Road dispersed camping area.
Wildlife watching: Birdwatching is popular throughout the forest, especially near water. "We saw eagles every day and fishing was great" notes a camper at COE Lake Ouachita Crystal Springs Campground. Look for deer, especially at dawn and dusk, when they frequently graze in camping areas.
What campers like
Clear water access: Montgomery Creek provides natural cooling spots for pets and humans alike. At Denby Point, campers appreciate lake accessibility: "We stayed in the group area (B) for 4 nights. Secluded from the crowds with nice clean bathrooms."
Free camping options: Several free primitive sites exist throughout the forest. "Free primitive campground on national forest land. Camped here in Nov 2025. There are a handful of sites on a gravel loop road. Wooded. No toilet. No potable water" reports a visitor at Washita Primitive Camping Area.
Campsite quality: Most sites feature standard amenities despite remote locations. "Sites were clean and very usable tables and fire ring. Bring wood for fire there is nothing to scavenge. Even some free roam cattle on the road to the site" notes a Crystal Campground visitor.
Natural features: Campers consistently mention water features as highlights. "The campsite is very pretty (November) with changing leaves and quiet days and nights. Cell service is not great but works. Slow speeds but works," reports a COE Lake Ouachita Crystal Springs camper.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across the forest. "There is a small rock fire ring. There is no picnic table directly on this site, but there is one at the start of the trail, a short walk from the trailhead. The campsite is nearly level where I parked my van" notes a visitor at Blue Knob Road in Ouachita National Forest.
Road conditions: Many campgrounds require travel on unpaved roads that may become impassable during wet weather. "Even small RVs can access the campground via the well-maintained dirt road, though it may become challenging during wet weather."
Water access: While creek and lake access exists at many campgrounds, potable water remains limited. Collier Spring provides fresh drinking water about 3 miles from Crystal campground, where visitors report "one can get all the drinkable fresh mountain spring water one wants."
Wildlife awareness: Bears and snakes are present in the area. "Bear-proof trash containers help prevent unwanted wildlife interactions" at several campgrounds, and campers should properly store food and scented items.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer water access for supervised swimming. "We stayed here and then would travel to the hot springs NP. Bathrooms were awesome but a little bit of a hike from where we were" reports a visitor at Lake Ouachita State Park Campground.
Dog-friendly campgrounds Ouachita National Forest: Most forest campgrounds allow leashed pets. "This campground is secluded and quite. We saw eagles every day and fishing was great" mentions a visitor at COE Lake Ouachita Crystal Springs Campground. Keep dogs leashed near livestock, as some forest roads have free-roaming cattle.
Playground availability: Certain campgrounds feature play areas for children. "Nice lake with beach area. Playground for kids. Clean restrooms. Some of the sites are small so check the length. Not far from Hot Springs" notes a visitor at COE Lake Ouachita Crystal Springs Campground.
Shade considerations: Most forest campgrounds offer good tree coverage. "Most sites offer good shade, which helps keep pets comfortable during Arkansas summer heat" especially important for family camping with children or pets.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many forest campground sites require leveling blocks. At Tompkins Bend, "our site was not level but not terribly off either. The sites are wooded, with paved pads and are very large and spacious."
Size restrictions: Most primitive forest campgrounds accommodate small to medium RVs only. "I have a 30ft Class C which is probably the largest vehicle you would want to drive down the dirt road to this site" advises a camper about Blue Knob Road dispersed camping area.
Limited hookups: Prepare for dry camping at most forest sites. "Crystal campground is in the quachita forest. It has 9 or 10 off grid sites and a pit toilet the campground is right on the forest road and has a beautiful spring fed creek running the length of the campground."
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for waste disposal as most primitive sites lack facilities. Some developed campgrounds like Denby Point provide sanitary dumps, where one visitor noted "between the multiple bathhouses and dump station, we were ok."
