Lee Creek Valley, a picturesque setting in northwest Arkansas's Ozarks
Mountains--ancient sedimentary mountains renowned for their natural beauty and
lush oak-hickory forest--was selected as a park site in the 1930s. The Civilian
Conservation Corps used native materials to craft the park's CCC/Rustic Style,
wood and stone structures that include an impressive native stone dam that spans
Lee Creek in the heart of the park forming peaceful 8-acre Devil's Lake. Rental
canoes, tandem kayaks, pedal boats and water bikes are available at the park.
Hiking, backpacking and mountain bike trails lead to backcountry areas of
Devil's Den State Park and the surrounding Ozark National Forest.
Sixteen fully-equipped cabins featuring kitchens and fireplaces are nestled
in the natural beauty of this park. The cabins are available throughout the
year. Their wood-burning fireplaces are available for use from mid-September
thru mid-May.
A park cafe and swimming pool (both open in summer only) overlook the lake.
Groceries, gifts and snacks can be purchased at the park store.
Campsites [144 sites: 44 Premium A, 12 Standard B, 13 Standard C, 24
Standard D (no hookups), 8 Hike-in (tent only) and 43 sites with water and
electricity in the Horse Camp] are spaced along the valley.
The park includes a group camp, standard pavilion and mountain bike trails.
Miles of hiking and multiple use trails wind through Devil's Den and the
surrounding Ozark National Forest. Caves, crevices and bluff overlooks can be
explored here. Take a wet-water hike down Lee Creek, or trek the 15-mile
Butterfield Hiking Trail. This well-maintained trail from the park through the
Ozark National Forest leads backpackers deep into the hills and hollows of the
rugged scenic Ozarks. Backpackers can choose from two primitive camp areas. This
is a hilly hike past bluffs and boulders in one of the largest crevice areas in
North America. Hikers are required to obtain a free backcountry permit at the
visitor center before venturing onto this trail.
Many outdoor enthusiasts visit Devil's Den State Park with the express
purpose of exploring one or more of its many caves and crevices. Most of the
park's caves are crevices associated with a unique sandstone crevice area, the
largest such area in the U.S. The longest of these is Devil's Den Cave (550
feet). You can visit on your own (flashlights required), or participate in a
strenuous guided cave exploration hike offered once a week during the summer.
Others may wish to explore Farmer's Cave, a relatively small, gated limestone
cave located at the west end of the park. Parties interested in exploring this
cave must meet set guidelines in order to obtain a free first-come, first-served
permit at the visitor center. The presence of both sandstone and limestone caves
at one park is quite rare and makes for a unique caving opportunity at Devil's
Den State Park.
Devil's Den features a horse camp area that offers access to approximately 20
miles of riding trails in the Lee Creek Valley. Three trails begin and end at
the horse camp. These are the:
1. Old Road Trail (yellow blaze): 5 miles, 2 hours. This safe, easy trail is
the only horse trail located entirely within the park boundary;
2. Gorley King Trail (red blaze): 7 miles, 3 hours. Moderate in difficulty;
and
3. Vista Point Trail (green blaze): 8 miles, 5 hours. Contains steep climbs
and ledge riding, requiring experienced horses and riders.
Each trail is blazed with a colored diamond-shaped plate with a horseshoe
symbol in the center. The Old Road Trail, which begins across from the entrance
to the horse camp, is blazed yellow. The Gorley King Trail (blazed in rad), and
the Vista Point Trail (blazed in green), both begin inside the horse camp near
the bathroom. In places where the Gorley King and Vista Point Trails coincide,
the trail blaze is both red and green. Where the horseshoe symbol appears to be
hanging upside down, this is a warning that the trail makes an obscure turn or
intersects with the other trails or roads. Be sure to look for the next blaze
before proceeding.
Horses are welcome on Highways 170, 74 and 220, but are not permitted on
other park roads or in camping area other than the horse camp. Also, horses are
not permitted in the crevice area, Yellow Rock or on any of the hiking trails
except where the horse trails and the Butterfield Hiking Trail are the same.
Mountain bike riders are also allowed on these trails, and must yield to
horses.
Water for horses and riders is available at the trail head. Here, riders will
find a complete campground where they can camp with their horses. The campground
features campsites with hookups, and a modern bathhouse that also includes a
bathing area for horses. Call ahead to check on the availability of the horse
camp.
To reach Devil's Den State Park, travel eight miles south of Fayetteville on
I-540 to Exit #53 (West Fork), then go 17 miles southwest on Ark. 170; or I-540
at Exit #45 (Winslow) and go 7 miles west on Ark. 74 to the park. [TRAILERS
LONGER THAN 26 FT. SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN USING ARK. 74 DUE TO THIS MOUNTAINOUS
ROAD.]
Contact Information
11333 West Arkansas Highway 74
West Fork, AR 72774
GPS: 35° 46.7’ 46.7” N / 94° 15’ 1.3” W
To reach the park office or make campsite reservations call (479) 761-3325
To make cabin reservations call 1-800-264-2417
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