Flatside Wilderness
In the extreme eastern Ouachita Mountains is a Wilderness that takes its name from Flatside Pinnacle, a 1,550-foot rock outcropping just outside the northeast boundary. In 2019, the Wilderness was expanded...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arkansas |
| Size | 10,180 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.8539, -92.9675 |
| 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.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 3 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireAr State Assist O'Bryant
20 mi from the center point · 160 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
- 3.2 miSouth Fourche LaFave River Bridge ↗Hollis, AR
- 3.2 miHollis Country Store ↗Hollis, AR
- 5.1 miWallace Bridge ↗Nimrod, AR
- 5.3 miIron Springs Dam ↗Jessieville, AR
- 5.3 miIron Springs Shelter No. 1 ↗Jessieville, AR
- 5.3 miIron Springs Shelter No. 2 ↗Jessieville, AR
- 6.5 miCamp House ↗Aplin, AR
- 8.5 miFourche LaFave River Bridge ↗Nimrod, AR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Flatside Wilderness?
10,180 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Flatside Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Flatside Wilderness in?
Arkansas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Flatside Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Flatside Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Lake Sylvia Recreation Area, 4.2 miles out. 3 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Flatside Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.854, -92.968. Hot Springs National Park is 21 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Flatside Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Ar State Assist O'Bryant at 20 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Flatside Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 11 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Flatside Wilderness?
Hot Springs National Park (21 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Flatside Wilderness?
13 National Register listings within 15 miles, including South Fourche LaFave River Bridge and Hollis Country Store.
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.