HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (May 26, 2020) — Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forest officials have announced that some day use areas on the forests are open today, but many services, such as toilet facilities and trash receptacles, will remain closed
Open day use areas on the forests can be found on the websites of the Ouachita National Forest
at http://www.fs.usda.gov/ouachita or the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests at http://www.fs.usda.gov/osfnf/.
Reacreation areas open include:
Acorn Shooting Range
Bear Mountain Shooting Range
Brushy Hollow Shooting Range
Buck Ridge Shooting Range
Jessieville Shooting Range
Kelly Branch Shooting Range
Kiamichi Shooting Range
Oden Shooting Range
Pigeon Roost Shooting Range
Reed Mountain Shooting Range
Wolf Pen Gap Trail Complex – Closed when heavy rain is predicted
Reacreation areas open with limited amenities include:
Dragover Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Fourche Mountain Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Friendship Trail (area open – restroom closed)
Fulton Branch Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Hollis CCC Interpretive Site (area open – restroom closed)
Horsethief Springs Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Iron Springs Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Knoppers Ford Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Old Military Road Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Peeler Gap Shooting Range (area open – restroom closed)
Pipe Springs Day Use (are open – restroom closed)
Presbyterian Falls Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Rich Mountain Tower Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
River Bluff Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Rocky Shoals Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Shirley Creek Day Use (area open – restroom closed)
Winding Stairs Trailhead on the Caddo-Womble (area open – restroom closed)
Recreation sites reducing services include:
The following sites are open but have reduced services, which includes restrooms being unavailable:
Hickory Nut Mountain Day Use
Emerald Vista Day Use
Billy Creek Day Use
Big Brushy Day Use
While some facilities remain closed in the short-term, come prepared with all the essentials you would need for a day trip, including food, emergency supplies, and the ability to pack-out trash.
The Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests are coordinating with federal, state and county officials to reopen areas once it can be accomplished safely. Other developed recreation sites remain closed due to the limited availability of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment.
Forest Service staff are examining each site to ensure operations comply with current public health guidance. Additional recreation area reopenings are expected on a case-by-case basis.
Visitors to our National Forests are urged to take the precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For tips from the CDC on preventing illnesses like the coronavirus, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html.