Notable Campground

Fred and I are often asked to identify our favorite campground, well, here are some we want to go back to someday. The desire to return varies but each one has one or more outstanding features that calls us back.

Notable Campground

Cedar Lake Recreation Area - Something for everyone

Oklahoma has miles and miles of rolling grass-covered hills. More golden than green, they appeared as gentle swells on a sea of grass. At least they did until we reached the town of Talihina, near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border. Suddenly, the rolling hills reached skyward and became the lush green of a mighty forest. Here begins the Ouachita (wash-e-tah) National Forest's Winding Stair National Recreation Area (NRA) and within this NRA is great campground complex - Cedar Lake Recreation Area.

Nestled among the gently rounded hills of Winding Stair Mountain is a wonderful campground in the Cedar Lake Recreation Area. While there are other campgrounds within the Winding Stair Mountain NRA, the Cedar Lake Recreation Area is the only one that offers multi-level camping experiences - two sections of "rustic" camping, another with full hook- ups, ideal for recreational vehicles, and a third for campers with horses.

The "rustic" sections, North Shore and Sandy Beach, are shaded by mature trees and located along Cedar Lake's shoreline. The oldest camping areas in the Recreation Area, both were initially developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The only evidence, however, of CCC handiwork is the exterior of North Shore's bathhouse. Offering a more "traditional" Forest Service campground experience, these sections are designed for tent campers and small recreational vehicles.

The Shady Lane, Cedar Lake's newest section, is for those who want to camp in a recreation vehicle. Located in a relatively open area between the Equestrian Camp and Cedar Lake, Shady Lane features a mixture of sites with full (water/electric/sewer) and partial (electric and water only) hook-ups. The campground has a centrally located, modern, fully accessible bathroom with hot showers. The Shady Lane loop has only been open a few years but the word is getting out so reservations are suggested.

The third section, Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp, is not your run-of-the-mill horse camp. This is a "Cadillac" of horse camps. With nearly a hundred-miles of maintained trails, most campsites having pull-thru parking aprons, large cleared areas for portable corrals, and site-specific water and electric hook-ups, Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp is a delight. This campground is very popular and there is a constant bustle of activity what with some horse-related chore to be done, a trail to ride, or someone to visit. The Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp was designed by, developed for, and used by horse-people. If a camper does not have a love of horses and all their by-products (i.e. manure, flies, etc) this section is not recommended.

Besides the multi-level camping experiences of Cedar Lake Recreation Area, the Winding Stair Mountain NRA offers great fishing, miles and miles of hiking trails, abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery. With outstanding scenic beauty, diverse recreational activities, and the multi-level camping opportunities of Cedar Lake Recreation Area, Ouachita National Forest's Winding Stair National Recreation Area is a great place to spend a few days or a few weeks.

Click on the name for detailed description of North Shore section, Sandy Beach section, Shady Lane section, and Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp campground.