Winding Stair Campground

Star4.21
173 reviews
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Top 24% in OKFall
Scenic ViewsGreat Hiking

Quick Facts

1,900 ft

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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Winding Stair Campground
$3.00 - $14.00 / night
Campsite Fees
Rates are $8 per night for single sites, $14 per night for double sites, and $3 per night for backpacker's camp. Fees are reduced when potable water...
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Standard Site Fee$8.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$3.00

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USFS
Provider
(580) 494-6402null
I manage this campground

Campground Map

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Winding Stair Campground

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Nearby places
Hodgen: 2 miles.
Nearby supplies
The nearest supplies can be found in nearby towns, such as Smithville, OK, which is a drive away. Bring all necessary supplies including water, as none is available on-site.

Weather at Winding Stair Campground



About Winding Stair Campground




I manage this campground

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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.

Skip if

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.


Campgrounds
Ouachita National Forest
Winding Stair Campground

From the U.S. Forest Service

Reference information about Winding Stair Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →

Overview

<p>Visitors enjoy the peaceful setting of this campground located within three miles of several trail systems, including Horsethief and Billy Creek Trails. &nbsp;The Mountain-top Trail has a one-mile loop and a two-mile loop adjacent to the campground.&nbsp; 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&rsquo;s camp, located about 300 feet west of the main campground, is open year-round.&nbsp; Facilities include five tent pads,&nbsp;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>