Poteau Mountain Wilderness
Extensive folding and faulting of the terrain in bygone days created the steep east-west ridges of Poteau Mountain, a subrange of the Ouachita Mountains. Erosion from many streams has carved deep slices out of the ridges. The streams feed a typical Ouachita forest of dense pines and hardwoods broken by rocky outcroppings that often provide scenic overlooks. This Wilderness has two distinct sections, east and west, which are separated by a wide strip of land along the mountain upon which car traffic is allowed. The eastern section is dominated by East Poteau Mountain; the western section rises briskly up two drainages, Rock Creek and Posey Creek, and is accessible from a road on the southern boundary.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arkansas |
| Size | 11,141 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.98° N, 94.16° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 14) |
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.
Fire nearby
- 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
- 3.4 miCoop Creek Bridge ↗Mansfield, AR
- 4.9 miHartford Water Tower ↗Hartford, AR
- 4.9 miJones Memorial Methodist Church ↗Hartford, AR
- 5.1 miHartford Commercial Historic District ↗Hartford, AR
- 5.2 miOld Huntington Jail ↗Huntington, AR
- 5.5 miBates School ↗Bates, AR
- 5.6 miScott City County Jail, (Old) ↗Waldron, AR
- 5.6 miWaldron School Historic District ↗Waldron, 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 Poteau Mountain Wilderness?
11,141 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Poteau Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Poteau Mountain Wilderness in?
Arkansas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Poteau Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Poteau 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 Poteau Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.983° N, 94.160° W. Fort Smith National Historic Site is 28 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Poteau Mountain Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Spring Lake Recreation Area at 43 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Poteau Mountain Wilderness?
Fort Smith National Historic Site (28 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Poteau Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 24 listings within 15 miles, including Coop Creek Bridge and Hartford Water Tower.
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.