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PARKS
Ouachita National Forest
Recreation Areas & State Parks
These areas offer a natural landscape accessible by trails, cross-country travel or some primitive roads to view the scenic beauty. The seven scenic areas include:
- Blowout Mountain (Oden Ranger District, AR 526 acres)
- Dutch Creek Mountain (Cold Springs and Fourche Ranger Districts, AR 624 acres)
- Crystal Mountain (Caddo and Womble Ranger Districts, AR 100 acres)
- Irons Fork (Jessieville Ranger District, AR 1,450 acres)
- South Fourche (Winona Ranger District, AR 1,495 acres)
- Beech Creek (Kiamichi Ranger District, OK 7,500 acres)
- Indian Nation Wildlife and Scenic Area (Kiamichi and Choctaw Ranger Districts, OK 41,051 acres)
Robert S. Kerr Memorial Arboretum and Nature Center and Botanical Area - The interpretive complex serves as an outdoor laboratory designed to educate and stimulate visitors' awareness of their environment. The Nature Center, Exhibit Pavilion, and self-guided trails interpret the natural world of the forest for general visitors, students and teachers. The botanical area consists of 8,026 acres, managed to protect and encourage rare and endangered diverse plant and animal species.
Indian Nations Wildlife and Scenic Area - 41,051 acres rich in diverse animal species. Includes the Homer L. Johnson Wildlife Management Area and a 15-acre fishing lake on top of Post Mountain. Recreational activities include hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and primitive camping.
Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area - The 26,445-acre National Recreation Area encompasses the Talimena Scenic Drive in Oklahoma, Talihina Visitor Information Station, Old Military Road, Horsethief Springs, Winding Stair Campground, Cedar Lake and Equestrian Camp, and Pipe Spring. Recreational activities in the National Recreation Area include hiking, camping, picnicking, fishing, horseback riding and hunting.
Beech Creek National Scenic Area and Botanical Area- The 7,500-acre scenic area is known for its beautiful old beech trees, other middle-aged to mature trees, and vegetation. Within this scenic area is a special zone, the 400-acre Beech Creek Botanical Area. An old forest road winds through the Scenic Area providing hiking opportunities to view the scenic beauty.
State Parks
These Arkansas state parks are either contiguous or nearby to Ouachita National Forest. . .
Lake Ouachita State Park - A big ole' dam holding back a big ole' reservoir: 975 miles of shoreline and 48,000 acres of lake. You know the rest.
Petit Jean State Park - Named after a legendary cross-dresser, this lovely park nestled between the Ozark and Ouchita Mountains offers rustic lodging, cabins and more than 24 miles of hiking trails.
Queen Wilhelmina State Park - As befits its name, a very civilized park with lodging, camping, and purty, purty scenery.
Cossatot River Natural Area - 11 miles of some of the most rugged and scenic river corridors in the central U.S.
Lake Catherine State Park - A sweet little park with a lake lodging, camping, nature trails. Nearby Hot Springs National Park.
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