Go if
Hikers chasing the 192-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail or a quick out from site 16 onto the Mountain Top Trail loops. At $8 a night, fall weekdays here cost less than a fast-food lunch and deliver real ridge views from Emerald Vista.
Price
$3 - $14/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
23 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$3 - $14/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
23 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Hikers chasing the 192-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail or a quick out from site 16 onto the Mountain Top Trail loops. At $8 a night, fall weekdays here cost less than a fast-food lunch and deliver real ridge views from Emerald Vista.
No water on-site, vault toilets get dirty on busy weekends, and trash cans overflow regularly. A few reviewers describe interactions that felt unwelcoming to people outside the local cultural mainstream, so campers who've had that experience elsewhere should weigh it here.
Reference information about Winding Stair Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Visitors enjoy the peaceful setting of this campground located within three miles of several trail systems, including Horsethief and Billy Creek Trails. The Mountain-top Trail has a one-mile loop and a two-mile loop adjacent to the campground. The 192-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail passes the campground as it extends from Talimena State Park in Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Arkansas.</p><p align="left">This campground is one of many attractions along the Talimena Scenic Byway, a 54-mile highway winding along the crests of Winding Stair and Rich Mountains.</p><p align="left">Emerald Vista, north of this campground, boasts a birds-eye view of the Ouachita National Forest from atop the Scenic Byway. Picnic tables are available.</p><p align="left">A backpacker’s camp, located about 300 feet west of the main campground, is open year-round. Facilities include five tent pads, table, fire ring, lantern poles and pit toilet.</p><p align="left"><strong>Overview:</strong></p><p align="left">Water services in the area are currently unavailable. Generators may be used, but must be turned off during quiet hours, 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. Winding Stair Campground has 23 campsites with paved spurs, grills, fire rings, lantern poles and tent pads. The campground is located along the Talimena Scenic Byway, sitting atop the crest of the Winding Stair Mountains. The Talimena Scenic Byway traverses the 54-mile stretch across the Rich and Winding Stair Mountains from Mena, Arkansas to near Talihina, Oklahoma. The campground amenities include three vault toilets and is located adjacent to Emerald Vista, which provides a panoramic view of the Ouachita Mountain Range.</p>
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Fall is the clear winner here. October brings daytime temps in the 50s to 70s, nights in the 30s and 40s, peak foliage, and dry trail conditions. Insects drop off, crowds thin on weekdays, and the ridge views stretch for miles. Watch for hunting season in November and occasional strong gusts that can hit 50-60 mph along the ridgeline. Spring and summer work, but expect higher humidity and bugs. Winter camping is possible but cold.
Fall is described as the 'clear winner' with peak foliage, dry trails and fewer bugs.
Potable water is not available at this site.
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