Big Lake Wilderness
Twenty miles west of the Mississippi River, the Big Lake Wilderness, serves primarily as a migration habitat for ducks and geese using the Mississippi Flyway. The Wilderness lies flat, approximately 240 feet above sea level, and consists of interspersed wooded swampland. During flood periods, 99 percent of the Wilderness may be submerged in water. Pondweed grows on the water's surface, supplying food for waterfowl. Giant bald cypress, black willow, and buttonbush thrive in swampy areas, while drier ground supports species such as cottonwood, oak, river birch, green ash, and red maple. White-tailed deer and many smaller mammals inhabit the area. Big Lake Wilderness is the only wilderness in eastern Arkansas and the state's smallest.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Arkansas |
| Size | 2,143 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.93° N, 90.12° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 3.4 mi
- 3.4 mi
- 3.6 miHerman Davis Memorial ↗Manila, AR
- 7.2 mi
- 10.3 mi
- 10.6 miBlytheville Greyhound Bus Station ↗Blytheville, AR
- 10.6 miThree States Lumber Company Mill Powerhouse ↗Burdette, AR
- 10.6 miTompkins, Chris, House ↗Burdette, AR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Arkansas
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Big Lake Wilderness?
2,143 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Big Lake Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Big Lake Wilderness in?
Arkansas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Big Lake Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Big Lake Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.934° N, 90.116° W. Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail is 25 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Big Lake Wilderness?
Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail (25 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Big Lake Wilderness?
The National Register has 16 listings within 15 miles, including Widner--Magers Farm Historic District and Jonesboro, Lake City & Eastern Railroad Depot.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.