The Ouachita National Forest, shown in green on this map, covers nearly 1.8 million acres in central Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma. It is the largest and oldest national forest in the Southern Region. When first established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, it was named the Arkansas National Forest. President Calvin Coolidge renamed it to Ouachita in 1926. Ouachita (pronounced wash-i-tah) is the French spelling of a Native American word meaning "good hunting ground." The Supervisor's office is in Hot Springs. The Ouachita has 5 Districts: Caddo-Womble, Oklahoma, Cold Springs-Poteau, Fourche-Jessieville-Winona, and Mena-Oden.
The Ouachita is primarily a pine-hickory mix. It has over 700 miles of trails for various activities such as hiking, mountain biking, interpretive, equestrian, off-road vehicles, and trails that allow for accessibility. There are 35 developed recreation areas, 7 scenic areas, 43 vistas, 5 float camps, 11 shooting ranges, 2 historical sites, 6 wilderness areas, and 1 National recreation area. Most of the developed recreation areas are open April through September, but some sites are open year-round.
Ozark National Forest
The Ozark National Forest covers more than one million acres, mostly 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 patchwork touches Oklahoma. The Ozark Districts of the Ozark National Forest include the following districts: Big Piney, Boston Mountain, Magazine, and Pleasant Hill.
The Ozark National Forest was established on March 6, 1908 by Presidential proclamation. The Supervisor's office is in Russellville.
Diverse flora in the rgion include more than 500 species of trees and woody plants. Hardwoods occupy 65 percent of the forests; the oak-hickory types dominate. There are 18 developed campgrounds, 5 wilderness areas, and 5 wild and scenic rivers, and 4 scenic byways in the Ozarks districts.
Sylamore District
The Sylamore District of the Ozark National Forest is mostly in Stone and Baxter Counties, with small portions in Marion and Searcy Counties. Home to some of Arkansas' most breathtaking scenery, the Sylamore District is not to be missed. The District office is located in Mountain View, Arkansas.
The Sylamore District has 3 developed campgrounds which offer a variety of seclusion. In addition to these three campgrounds, the district has a variety of unique resources: the Leatherwood Wilderness Area, which is located along the western edge of the district; Sylamore Creek, for which the district is named; and Blanchard Springs Caverns. Blanchard Springs Caverns are considered two of the nation's premiere show caves, and they are the only caves operated by the National Forest Service.
