Richland Creek Wilderness
Beautiful Richland Creek traverses this area, cutting its way through a thick forest with abundant wildlife, secluded off-creek hideaways, and ridges that rise to towering vistas. Set within the Boston Mountains (which encompass most of Ozark National Forest), this Wilderness is a land of narrow valleys bordered by steep slopes and vertical limestone and sandstone bluffs rising as much as 100 feet above the drainages. Some of these stone formations contain fossilized remains of now extinct species. Richland Creek and Long Devil's Fork Creek meet near the very heart of this area on their eastward journey. Within one-quarter mile of these creeks, bluffs more than a mile long loom over Richland Creek.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Arkansas |
| Size | 11,674 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.80° N, 92.97° 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 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.
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 miRichland Creek Wilderness ↗Viewpoint · Year-round
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Arbaugh Woodland
33 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
- 7 miHankins, Thomas J., House ↗Pelsor, AR
- 8.8 miSnowball Gymnasium ↗Snowball, AR
- 8.9 miGates--Helm Farm ↗Snowball, AR
- 11.4 miOak Hill School House ↗Marshall, AR
- 14.8 miWillmering Tourist Cabins Historic District ↗Silver Hill, 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 Richland Creek Wilderness?
11,674 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Richland Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Richland Creek Wilderness in?
Arkansas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Richland Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Richland 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 Richland Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.801° N, 92.969° W. Buffalo National River is 14 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Richland Creek Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Arbaugh Woodland at 33 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Richland Creek Wilderness?
Buffalo National River (14 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Richland Creek Wilderness?
The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including Hankins, Thomas J., House and Snowball Gymnasium.
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.