Ozark-St. Francis National Forest

Fishing and canoeing are popular activities on this Forest with many mountain streams offering smallmouth bass, sunfish, and trout.


Park Photo

Photo credit: USDA Forest Service

Welcome to the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest! The Ozark-St. Francis National Forest covers over 1 million acres with the majority in northwest Arkansas. The southernmost portion runs along the Arkansas River Valley south to the Ouachita Mountains. The northern boundary extends beyond Lone Rock to Matney Mountain in Stone County. On the west, the Forest touches Oklahoma. The Ozark-St. Francis National Forest has six nationally-designated scenic byways with over 160 miles of year-round driving availability. There are 5 wilderness areas as well as six wild and scenic rivers and streams. The Forest’s rugged scenic beauty offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities during the four very separate and distinct seasons. Whether you are a hiker, camper, canoeist, horseback rider, hunter or fisherman, the Ozark National Forest offers you the experience you are seeking. The Forest also offers three spectacular multiple use trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking and all terrain vehicles (ATVs). Blanchard Springs Caverns offers visitors a view of the subterranean world below with guided tours departing from the Visitor Information Center. Fishing and canoeing are popular activities on the Forest with many mountain streams offering smallmouth bass, sunfish, and trout. Each recreational area, hiking trail, wilderness area or wild and scenic river provides unique opportunities for visitors to observe nature and enjoy your favorite outdoor activities from cavern tours to hunting black bear and white-tail deer.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/osfnf

Wilderness Areas/Wild & Scenic Rivers

East Fork Wilderness - Hiking is a popular recreational activity in the East Fork Wilderness as well as horseback riding.

Hurricane Creek Wilderness - The Ozark Highlands Trail and Hurricane Creek Wild and Scenic River run through the middle of the Hurricane Creek Wilderness.

Leatherwood Wilderness - Leatherwood Wilderness is spotted with stands of native shortleaf pine as well as the unique cedar glades nestled within the primarily oak, gum, and hickory forest.

Richland Creek Wilderness - Richland Creek Wilderness was created by the 1984 Arkansas Wilderness Act and contains 11,801 acres in the middle of the Boston Mountains.

Upper Buffalo Wilderness - There are four developed access points to reach the Upper Buffalo Wilderness: Hawksbill Crag, Kapark Cemetery, Dahl Memorial, and Boen Gulf.

Mulberry River - Mulberry River has been recognized by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as one of the premier smallmouth and spotted bass fisheries in Arkansas.

Buffalo River - The Buffalo River is managed for smallmouth bass with special length and creel limits.

Richland Creek - Richland Creek Falls, Twin Falls, an upland swamp, fossiliferous limestones and smallmouth bass fishing are some of the features of this Ozark Mountain's stream as it flows through the Richland Creek Wilderness.

Hurricane Creek - Hurricane Creek River's outstanding scenery is characterized by sharp ridges and cliffs, unusual rock formations and clear reflecting pools.

Big Piney Creek - Big Piney Creek supports plant species considered by the Arkansas Heritage Commission to be sensitive.

North Sylamore Creek - North Sylamore Creek flows through the Blanchard Springs Recreation Complex, which provides camping, swimming and hiking, and includes the famous Blanchard Caverns.

Invasive Species

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