Lake Ouachita State Park

Stayed in a camper cabin with the intent of crystal mining in the area. Cabin was secure, clean, and free of bugs and spider webs. Fire pit was functional and we had a great time. The restrooms were very clean and well stocked with toilet paper, and the showers were good too. Trash both inside restrooms and outside were emptied regularly and even the portapotty close to our cabin was just as clean as the brick and mortar restrooms. I think it was freshly cleaned out when we got there, and it was one of the nicest I’ve ever had to use. Though the brick and mortar restrooms were easily close enough to walk, I often opted to use the portapotty instead since it was so well maintained and just a bit closer. You can tell that the hosts and workers really care about their state park and keeping it nice. The park itself is gorgeous. We are already talking about coming back!

Very nice state park. Campsites are reasonably spaced apart and moderately level. Utilities worked fine. Lake was clean and quite nice. Would love to have kayaked, but it was rainy and cold most of the time. Would definitely visit again if we were in the area.

Very beautiful, calm. It has many camping sites nearby and I would recommend camping here for the best experience. We did camping for 2 days. Had a great time at the lake side

Oh. The view and calmness touched our hearts while we were there. We spent more than 3 hours enjoying the beautiful mountain rains and listening to the sounds. Words can't describe how relaxed we felt during those hours. I didn't want to leave, but we had to 😊

Beautiful clear lake and easy-to-moderate hiking options. Note-There aren’t many bathrooms. The visitors center/gift shop is a bit sparse if that’s something that is important for you. However, we stick to park stickers/magnets so we were satisfied with the selection! We heard some dogs yelping/barking from across the lake, and subsequently 7-8 gunshots… I imagine this would freak out some people but we’re from Texas so it was just another Tuesday for us!

Fun park for camping, hiking and water sports. Two swimming areas and a unique old spa area. Good access to Hot Springs area and related activities.

Very beautiful and breathtaking. Was expecting more crystal clear water like people hyped about but it was just clear-ish at the shore. The water is almost warm but cool enough on a hot summer day. My brother and I showed up in the morning around 8:00AM and had the swimming area all to ourselves at the first one then when we drove slightly further down the road at the three sisters spring area we shared that second swim area with another small family. Then we came back later in the day and chilled with the geese. This place is really nice to just float in the water or sit back in a chair. Some life jackets are provided at the swim area just remember to put them back. No pets allowed in these areas and no glass containers.

We had such a wonderful time at Ouachita State Park! The park is very well-maintained, clean, and peaceful. The campsites are spacious, perfectly set up, and many of them have beautiful views of the lake. The lake itself is gorgeous — calm, clear, and perfect for relaxing, fishing, or just enjoying nature. The facilities were neat and easy to access, and the staff was friendly and helpful. It’s the perfect getaway if you want to be close to nature but still have a comfortable and well-organized camping experience. We’ll definitely be back!

It was a beautiful morning, perfect for exploring trails along the state park. We drove :30, 2 miles out of Hot Springs. We started in the visitor center with Wi-Fi, maps, and a small gift shop. We followed the trails down to the marina. We passed campsite's & pullouts. Kayaks, paddle boats, pontoon boats are all available. There was a small beach with two people sitting on chairs.

We drove through part of Lake Ouachita State Park in late July 2025. Entrance was free. The lake looked clean everywhere we went. I was impressed. Many boaters, some swimmers (with designated areas and beaches even), some fishermen, and hikers scattered this area of Arkansas just outside of Hot Springs. It was fairly hot when we went, but still good fun and beautiful scenery. If time had permitted, I would have liked to take my daughters to Three Sisters Springs and other places. We instead stayed at Echo Canyon which is not technically part of the state park, but exists on Lake Ouachita.

Great place, beautiful Easy walk to the marina, friendly people. The only negative is the lack of cellular service but that is normal in most state parks.

The park is absolutely stunning. The lake water is so clear and blue it looks almost drinkable (Don't). Took the dog and fiancé on the 4 mile hike. Took about 2 hours with a few pleasant view stops along the way. Great for a morning activity when you're visiting Hot Springs. Maybe 20 mins away? Just park and hike! Views are great and trails are clearly marked. Shorter hikes are available too.

Very nice facilities and rest rooms were surprisingly very clean. Plenty of parking for vehicles, boats and nice boat ramp. Great job to all!

Wonderful stay at Lake Ouachita State Park! Did an overnight in campsite D and was very impressed by the bathroom facilities. Tons to explore with the beach areas, 3 Sisters Springs, the Dogwood Trail, and Caddo Bend Loop! The views are Caddo bend were spectacular and the trails were in excellent condition! We also rented kayaks for $22 for 4 hours which was a steal. Staff was friendly and loved the quality of the facilities here. Woke absolutely return!

Very clean, very beautiful would recommend anybody to go for family day and swim and bring pets and picnic

After a morning of digging in the rocks at Ron Coleman's Mining, we were looking for a place to cool off. Lake Ouachita State Park is super close by, so we threw on our swimsuits and headed to the lake! First off, entry is free. Which is always nice when we've got 4 kids with us. They have several swimming areas and we chose the three sisters area because it didn't have as many people at it. The main swimming area has grills, a boat ramp, and playgrounds, so if you'd like more amenities, I'd go there. The three sisters area was perfect for us. It has beach entry into the water and has buoys roping it off from the rest of the lake. There were maybe 4 other families there both days we went. (Yes, we loved it so much that we went back a second day.) Tip: be sure to take some pool noodles or floaties with you. That water gets deep quickly and if your family is like ours, we all wanted to be further out away from the shore. The water at this park is unmatched!

Hands down one of the best State parks we have ever camped at. We came in last minute due to weather in Tn. We called and they said they had several spots. If we could get there before 5 we could pick what we wanted. We got super lucky and scored an amazing site on the lake that had cancelled that day! Alan at the desk was amazing and super helpful. The park is in excellent condition everywhere we went. We enjoyed the hiking trails and 3 Sisters springs. The bathhouses were spotless! Great experience here. We will be back!

Well marked trails and good maps. Roads were excellent. However few did get a heart attack when we thought we missed the service road to escape a 3 hours hike--turns out the metal signing just fell off. Freaky! Great bird variety. Love the views of the water. Caddo bend trail: EXPECT IT TO BE HILLY! Your ankles will need to be careful. But so worth it. So pretty and we even saw some deer. Great facilities and loved the store. Shoutout fish crow!

Anything in, on, or near lake Ouachita is worth the visit! 2nd cleanest lake in the continuous 48 is an amazing claim. 200 islands and plenty of marinas for put ins or rentals. It's our little slice of paradise. Oh hey, April 8th, 2024, there's going to be a total solar eclipse here. Get a room in any of the motels/ARBs/VRBOs in the area.

This state park was very well maintained and had all the outdoor recreation options you could want! A marina, swimming beaches, hiking, camping, fishing, etc! The visitor center had snacks, water fountains, maps, and plenty of last minute camping needs. Lake Ouachita was gorgeous, clean, and the water seemed pretty clear! We did the Caddo Bend Trail hike, it was 4 miles on the dot and was pretty strenuous. I recommend hiking shoes or trail runners at least, because you will need a shoe with some traction! It took us about 2.75hrs to complete with multiple stops along the way for water and admiring the views. Point 50 has a gorgeous view of the surround mountains and lake Ouachita. Definitely check this state park out if you want to venture out from Hot Springs national park and see more of what Arkansas has to offer!

I love this RV park. Plenty to do here. Very well maintained sites, bathrooms and other facilities.

We have rented a cabin here three years in a row during the spring months. Making reservations is bit archaic, but we haven't had too many problems. The cabins are fairly new (and I think they are building more) and come with a furnished kitchen, deck with lounge chairs and table, fireplace (with logs provided) and a typical BBQ stand (like are found in most state parks). The furnishing are new. The scenery is spectacular and so serene. The cabins are a short walk away from the Three Sisters Spring. Trails are well marked and surround the lake. Canoes can be rented at the marina. This is a hidden gem of a place. You can't help but relax.

The Caddo bend trail the four mile hike started off smooth then tested your from there lol we are ages 30/31 and moderately fit and decided that if we had kids they wouldn't come on this trail and we realized we were not in as great shape as we thought this trail does circle around so no back tracking and the sites are beautiful and well worth the hike! Roots, loose gravel, incline, up hill and large rocks, hiking stick and boots are a plus ! Theirs four benches and a table on the trail! We seen five deer

Beautiful. If you go when there's not a lot of people, you'll see anywhere from 2-20 mallard ducks. They walk up wanting you to feed them. Next time, I'll bring bread for them. :) My only complaint is the cell service is horrible. If there's an emergency, don't expect to get your phone out for a call.

We love this place and we weren't even camping there! We wish we would've known! The water is clear and beautiful. We rented kayaks and went out on the lake and had a great time. It was a pretty hot day so we swam there as well. The water was a little on the warm side but it was still very enjoyable ! We definitely would want to go back!!

We spent the morning here at the three sisters springs public beach area. It's very quiet and peaceful. Water is really clear for a lake. Beach and water is really clean and its all very nice and maintained. Park security came and pull up in parking area a few times and check area than drive away which made us fell good that they are watching area etc. No dogs, glass etc. , parking is concrete right at beach. Not a ton of shade or sitting areas. This is sand and rock area even in water wear beach shoes to water. We enjoy our time and would recommend and go again if in area. Three sister springs was neat to see, read etc. Restrooms were so clean

Seriously how does this place not have 5 stars??? Cleanest, most beautiful lake I've ever seen...and I think around 55,000 acres. Amazing! Colorado has nothing comparable to this. IMO, you must have a boat. Rent one if need be. You CANNOT experience the powerful beauty to its fullest unless you get out on the lake and explore. Even when it's busy, it doesn't feel like it. Okay so I read the lower star reviews. I've vacationed here countless times and NEVER had a problem...but I haven't caused any. I'm not sure that the bad experience people are telling is the full story...plus, I wouldn't base a review of an enormous state park and lake on one park ranger. Pretty extreme!

Great camping. Nice bathroom and showers. Park not too crowded for Covid. I wish they did a better job as far a requiring day passes. It's a shame to make the drive just to be turned away because park is at capacity. I felt bad for the mass of day trippers being turned away after driving to the long winding entrance. They should have had someone at the entrance. Mask not enforced but it is a wide open park so it's understandable. Swimming potion of lake is small. Great for boating and jet ski. Pretty big lake compared to Lake Catherine. Beautiful.

We loved seeing the deer, the woods, and the lake. There are so many resort areas to stay in nearby, but we stayed at Mountain Harbor and were thrilled!

This is a hidden gem. Very clean and sites were good. The view of the lake we had was absolutely amazing. The staff was friendly. There is no wifi in most areas. A great place to walk your dog. We loved this park and will be returning for a longer visit.

I camped here while traveling for a couple of days. While there is an option to rent a cabin in multiple campgrounds, I stayed with my van in the wild forest. I was excited. Forest is quiet and river is clean. Nature is beautiful. The nice thing is most of the trees are coniferous. I swam in the river in October and water was not so cold. When I called local ranger station, the lady at the reception was nice and friendly. She provided a lot of useful information. The wild (dispersed) camping is free here for up to 2 weeks. The only disadvantage is mosquitoes. Better have lotion against insects at least for the night time. I would like to come back here again.

Lake Ouachita State Park is a great place to spend a few days camping. We are tent campers so I cannot speak to how well they maintain the RV sites. I have brought my family here for several years. Below are a few tips for making the most of your stay: 1. Do not bother trying to use tent stakes. You will get frustrated after you break several so instead just find large rocks and tie your tent down with them. 2. There are only two trails in the state park. One is 4 miles and the other is much shorter; I think it is less than 1 mile. Neither is aggressive, but you did not come here to hike, did you? This is a lake. 3. If you are not bringing your own boat, then be sure to rent a boat at least one day. Make it a big and fast boat too. The lake is huge and you will need a fast boat if you plan to see a lot of it in a single day. 4. If you are not fishing or renting boats, then I do not recommend camping here for more than 3 days. I have found 3 days is about the perfect amount of time to enjoy the lake and not get bored. Beyond three days, you should bring a good book or something like that to occupy your time. 5. The water is super clean. While they have showers and flushable toilets near the campsites, you should not feel that urgent need to take a shower after swimming in this lake - it is one of the cleanest lakes in the country. Do take a shower at some point though ;) This will help ensure your camp-mates are happy-campers. 6. This one is quite important. If you get in the lake, either offshore or on a boat, immediately spray yourself with bug-spray. Do not hesitate to use the stuff, or the biting flies will ruin your day. They are very aggressive out there. Fortunately they sell bug spray everywhere around there. 7. The visitor center sells ice, so do not worry about bringing your biggest or multiple coolers to keep your food cold. In addition, you can pick up groceries (and booze) very conveniently at stores just outside the state park. This is a great place to spend a weekend and it is very close to Hot Springs so you can do the touristy thing there too.

Camping, boating and hiking here with the family over spring break was tremendous. We would recommend this as base camp to Hot Springs and the Ouachita mountains to anyone. Try the camper cabins!

Being harassed and treated like criminals by an overzealous, rude, antagonizing, confrontational armed park ranger who called for backup and threatened to take us to jail was not part of our plan when choosing this beautiful area to enjoy the fall foliage. Would have liked to have stayed longer and spend our tourist dollars here but with that kind of welcome we'll choose another state next year. Be forewarned.. do not pull into a campground and park in a legal parking space after dark (7pm) and wait for the host or a friendly park ranger to scoot by to help you find a camp site that isn't reserved. Instead of a simple point in the right direction we was threatened with searches and jail time. Also, you should know, all sites say reserved even when they are empty (at all times). The uncertainty of this is why we temporarily parked in a parking lot space. Trying to do the right thing got us an unnerving 45 minutes worth of blinding flashlights and an 'in your face' ranger with his hand on his holster the majority of that time. In conclusion, the back up ranger finally pointed us to a campground down the road that had plenty of camp sites to choose from (all sites said reserved here too). Giving the rating two stars instead of one because it was a beautiful space to wake up in. Choose either the Oklahoma side or go on over to Hot Springs State Park where the hospitality makes you feel welcome!

We've rented here every summer for the last 3 years. We always rent a fishing boat with motor to camp on the island overnight. The first year it was raining....no problem. However, last week when we had reserved a boat and drove 4.5 hours to the marina we were told we couldn't rent the boat we had reserved due to rain. No lightening mind you...we ended up camping in the campground for 2 nights and never once saw lightening. When asked why they didn't call to let us know we couldn't rent the boat I was told that "we didn't expect you to show up", that "most people don't camp in the rain", and from the older gentleman who runs the marina "I don't call my reservations unless it's to confirm a reservation". Simply ridiculous if you ask me. So if you want to rent a boat there...make sure its not raining first.... apparently their boats aren't made to get wet unless is lake water. Smh

Beautiful place! I have been coming to Lake Ouachita since 1962 and have always enjoyed the scenery and tranquility. But if you run afoul of Park ranger with badge number 25 you best be prepared for a Gestapo wearing a park ranger uniform. This wannabe cop harassed and intimidated a mother in front of her 6 year old son. He told her to open her cooler where he found beer! Then he told her that she didn't have to do that. Then he proceeded to write her a ticket for alcohol in a state park! Beautiful place loaded with Gestapo park rangers who are in desperate need of common sense and sensitivity training.

The trail was pretty but also quite difficult. We were very hot and ended up "rationing" water at the end so bring more than you think you'll need, especially if you're going in the summer. Not suitable for children unless they are super into hiking. Other than that, have fun!

If you are camping in a RV camp area A has full hook ups. We have been camping there at least twice a year since 2006. It is one of the best in a state where all the state parks are as good or better than any other state. Most all the pads in area A are level. side to side. You will never have to use more than one leveler on either side. Area A is on a point that faces almost due west. You get incredible sunsets. The down side to that is in the spring the storms that usually come from the south west can be fierce. So keep that in mind if you have to run to town for an extended period of time. Ara C and a little cramped and only have electric and water. This year the state is upgrading area D to full hookups. And will be adding a few more cabins. I highly recommend LOSP!!!

Very pretty place and the springs are really nice too! The springs here, called the 3 sisters, are historic. The views over the lake are gorgeous from the overlook on the trail especially in spring or fall.

This is a nice state park. We only came here to swim, but it looks like they have some nice camping ground as well. We went to some other beaches in the area and this was one was a little less then those we thought. The park is big. The water was relatively clean, but one of the beaches had a ton of algae so we did not use it. The scenery is gorgeous and more mountainous then hot springs. The beaches are a little lacking in terms of bathrooms, sandy beaches and picknick tables. Its a little more rustic, but we did still have a great time here and enjoyed swimming for a few hours.

If you ever get a chance to explore Arkansas, we highly recommend staying at Lake Ouachita State Park. We rented a cabin here and it surpassed all expectations. The cabins were beautiful! Well kept, fairly new and the amenities were the best I've ever seen in any cabin. The lake is beautiful and so clean. We have zero complaints from LOSP. Definitely a great vacation! We'll be back!

Would have been rated higher except the fact that when we arrived, my Girlfriend and I were not sure whose name it was under, we were not in a line or forming on, and we had a very hard time dealing with and explaining that it might be under a different name, that was by far one of the worst receptions I have ever had, but the rest of the place again was ok, we tented, and were on the peninsula, it was super stormy the entire time that we were there, all our firewood was wet, and even the dry stuff we had could not light due to low camp fire rim the wind snuffed it out every time. Everything else was ok, the bathroom was a bit far but that was ok for us, but the truck we had being so far away was a small problem, but we dealt with it as best we could.

Booked a cabin for 3 days using the 1-800 telephone number. We were told this cabin was on the lake, overlooking the lake (Lake Ouachita). When we arrived we found the cabin WAS NOT on The Lake. At $235 a night plus fees we were not happy after traveling from Arizona to Arkansas. Drove back to the check-in office and was told SORRY NO other cabins available and NO REFUNDS. No manager on duty. Went the next day and was told ALL CABINS ARE FULL SORRY. That evening 4 cabins remained EMPTY, verified by 1 of the cleaning ladies. Spoke to another manager the following AM That ADMITTED other cabins were available and apologized. Unfortunately none are available today you're stuck. Mgr agreed to refund the last night of our stay if we left and didn't stay the last night. Of course we left. DON't BOOK BY PHONE OR ONLINE WITHOUT SEEING THE CABIN IN PERSON. YOU MIGHT NOT GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. WE DIDNT. See pictures and decide if it's a Cabin on the Lake.

This lake is a beautiful spot in all ways....with one exception. I'm sad to report that there is a problem park ranger who uses "overwhelming force" to advise vacationers of minor infractions. Google it and you will see a pattern of reports on her. If you are unlucky enough to come in contact with this female ranger, I guarantee she will charge her batteries up by draining yours. My infraction was using my mobility device to get from my car to the marina (bad hips). The gas pump attendant advised me it was not permitted, so I walked it to my boat. I HATE to report this type of thing because the rangers there have always been just wonderful. As a senior citizen, I was treated like a army recruit at the drill-Sargent's first address. Not permitted to speak, she raged at me for 10 minutes - never citing me for using my mobility device, but accusing me of not respecting her authority. So happy to be with my family on holiday, I was as sweet as a person could be towards her. I walked away shaking. It ruined my family's July 4th. I would sadly advise to avoid this marina until they transfer her. In the mean-time I'll pray- for the Lord to ease her suffering.

I love this place!! Soooo Relaxing, great to be hiking, sitting outside to drink cup of java!!

Nice sites. Clean park. Full hook ups. Reservations Easy and professional. Staff helpful. Couldn't ask for more. The beaches were kept up and facilities the same.

I have stayed in this park on 4 different occasions. 1 time roughing it with only a tent @ the other 3 were lodging in one of the cabins. My home habitat consists of terrain that is mesquite trees and that is about it when it comes to trees. I fall in love the minute I hit the Quachita forest. The park itself has it all. Many sites are very close to the lake. Tent sites, Tent sites with electric and water, great R.V. sites and the cabins are excellent. I agree with one of the other reviewers, you should bring or rent a boat. This lake is stunning. It is large enough to get lost and it is amazing to stand in a lake and look down and see your feet clearly. Our last visit was 3 years ago and they had pontoon boat rentals that were reasonably priced. Loads of fun for a family. The staff at that time, were very courteous and helpful. If you want to stay at this park, make reservations months ahead of time or they will not be available. Books up very very fast.