Caney Creek Wilderness
Located on the southern edge of Ouachita National Forest, Caney Creek Wilderness protects a rugged and lovely portion of the Ouachita Mountains. From heights above 2,000 feet in the east, Short Creek and Caney Creek flow all the way across the area before plunging into the Cossatot River on the western boundary. Along the creeks you'll find beech, large pines, and bottomland hardwoods. Sharp ridges separate the creeks and offer splendid views of the surrounding region. Occasional sandstone outcroppings dot the landscape. The Caney Creek Trail is 9.6 miles and generally follows Caney Creek, crossing it 13 times. As the terrain grows steeper hiking on the path becomes more difficult. Parking lots give access to both ends of the trail.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arkansas |
| Size | 14,262 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.40° N, 94.09° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
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 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 21 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Caney Creek ↗ | 9.8 | |
| C.creek - Buckeye Mtn ↗ | 4.7 | |
| C.creek - Tall Peak | 3.2 | |
| Shady Lake | 3 | |
| C.creek - Katy Falls | 0.1 |
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.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- under 0.1 miTall Peak Fire Tower ↗Athens, AR
- 0.1 miBuckeye Vista Overlook ↗Athens, AR
- 0.2 miShady Lake Ccc Bridge #2 ↗Athens, AR
- 0.3 miBard Springs Dam No. 1 ↗Athens, AR
- 0.4 miBard Springs Bathhouse ↗Athens, AR
- 0.4 miShady Lake Caretaker's House ↗Athens, AR
- 0.4 miBard Springs Dam No. 2 ↗Athens, AR
- 0.4 miBard Springs Picnic Shelter ↗Athens, 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 Caney Creek Wilderness?
14,262 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Caney Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Caney Creek Wilderness in?
Arkansas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Caney Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1975.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Caney Creek 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 Caney Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.401° N, 94.091° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Caney Creek Wilderness?
The National Register has 26 listings within 15 miles, including Tall Peak Fire Tower and Buckeye Vista Overlook.
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.