East Fork Wilderness
The East Fork of Illinois Bayou, from which this area takes its name, bisects the Wilderness from northeast to southwest, fed by water from Bear Hollow, Mill Creek, and Sycamore Creek. On the southern edge of the Boston Mountains, East Fork is characterized by flat-topped ridges that rise 800 to 1,600 feet above sea level and are separated by steep hollows, some with sheer sandstone walls. Two seasonal ponds are bordered by overcup oak, but the principal trees are white and red oak and hickory with an understory of redbud, dogwood, serviceberry, sassafras, and persimmon. East Fork bears the scars left by early inhabitants: old homesteads and farms, a cemetery, the remains of old roads.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arkansas |
| Size | 10,585 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.58° N, 92.87° 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 Forest Service recreation site
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.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 viewpoint. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 2 miEast Fork Wilderness ↗Viewpoint
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
4 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 11 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork | 3.5 | |
| Deans Ridge | 3.1 | |
| Overcup | 2.6 | |
| Sycamore | 1.4 |
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
- PrescribedRx Arbaugh Woodland
39 mi from the center point · 75 acres
- PrescribedRx Spring Lake Recreation Area
43 mi from the center point · 48 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
- 8.9 miVan Buren County Road 2e Bridge ↗Scotland, AR
- 13.5 miCafeteria Building--Cleveland School ↗Cleveland, AR
- 13.8 miHankins, Thomas J., House ↗Pelsor, AR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Arkansas
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is East Fork Wilderness?
10,585 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages East Fork Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is East Fork Wilderness in?
Arkansas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was East Fork Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at East Fork 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 East Fork Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.584° N, 92.874° W. Buffalo National River is 29 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near East Fork Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Arbaugh Woodland at 39 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near East Fork Wilderness?
Buffalo National River (29 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near East Fork Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 listings within 15 miles, including Van Buren County Road 2e Bridge and Cafeteria Building--Cleveland School.
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.