Dry Creek Wilderness
This little area, the state's second smallest Wilderness, contains numerous high sandstone bluffs and ridges overlooking Dry Creek, a stream that flows only part of the year between Dry Creek Mountain and North Petit Jean Mountain in the Ouachita Range. Rocky outcroppings and steep slopes stand above a dense pine-hardwood forest. Chimney Rock, one of the area's most unique geological features, is a freestanding, chimney-like rock tower that has broken away from a vertical rock wall. Although roads surround the area, an unusually dense black bear population hides here in relative solitude. Ridge tops offer great views of the region. The terrain varies primarily between steep and very steep.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arkansas |
| Size | 6,301 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.03° N, 93.74° 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 3 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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Spring Lake Recreation Area
20 mi from the center point · 48 acres
- PrescribedRx Arbaugh Woodland
49 mi from the center point · 75 acres
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
- under 0.1 miPowder Magazine ↗Blue Ball, AR
- 2.6 miJack Creek Bathhouse ↗Sugar Grove, AR
- 3.4 miPetit Jean River Bridge ↗Sugar Grove, AR
- 5.1 miMitchell House ↗Waltreak, AR
- 6 miChicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad Depot ↗Blue Mountain, AR
- 7 miLogan County Courthouse, Southern Judicial District ↗Booneville, AR
- 7.1 miFirst Presbyterian Church ↗Nashville, AR
- 7.1 miMagazine City Hall--Jail ↗Magazine, 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 Dry Creek Wilderness?
6,301 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Dry Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Dry Creek Wilderness in?
Arkansas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Dry Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Dry 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 Dry Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.027° N, 93.743° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Dry Creek Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Spring Lake Recreation Area at 20 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Dry Creek Wilderness?
The National Register has 20 listings within 15 miles, including Powder Magazine and Jack Creek Bathhouse.
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.