Black Fork Mountain Wilderness
Shared by Oklahoma and Arkansas, this area contains the 13-mile-long, rugged ridge of Black Fork Mountain. In both states, the ridge rises to scenic overlooks that offer spectacular vistas of this region. Lower slopes are heavily forested with shortleaf pine, blackjack oaks, and ancient dwarf oaks. Large rock flows or "glaciers" and sandstone bluffs stand above a forest dominated by oak and shortleaf pine. The northern slopes support hardwoods with an open understory. A forest of dwarf oaks adds to the cover of vegetation, which includes several unique plant species, such as serviceberry and granddaddy graybeard, hidden away in small coves. There are no maintained trails on the Oklahoma side, and you'll find the hiking to be challenging.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| States | Arkansas, Oklahoma |
| Size | 13,347 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.72° N, 94.43° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
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
None of the 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
1 named Forest Service trail enters this wilderness, 5 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Black Fork Mountain ↗ | 4.6 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- WildfireRedbud
44 mi from the center point · 198 acres · 60% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.1 miState Line Marker ↗Mena, AR
- 1.1 miHeathcliff Cabin ↗Mena, AR
- 1.1 miFoster, C. E., House ↗Mena, AR
- 8.1 miOld U.s. 71 Ouachita River Bridges ↗Acorn, AR
- 9 miSt. Agnes Catholic Church ↗Mena, AR
- 9.1 miPolk County Courthouse ↗Mena, AR
- 9.1 miShaver, Judge Benjamin, House ↗Mena, AR
- 9.1 miEbenezer Monument ↗Mena, 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 Black Fork Mountain Wilderness?
13,347 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Black Fork Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Black Fork Mountain Wilderness in?
The boundary crosses Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Black Fork Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Black Fork Mountain Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Black Fork Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.719° N, 94.433° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Black Fork Mountain Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Redbud at 44 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Black Fork Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 16 listings within 15 miles, including State Line Marker and Heathcliff Cabin.
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.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- 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.