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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. 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. 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. 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.
From Hodgen, OK, take US Rt. 270 south 10.5 miles to US Rt. 259. Turn right onto Rt. 259 and go 4.3 miles to Talimena Drive sign (State Rt. 1). Turn right onto Talimena Dr. and proceed to stop sign. Turn right onto State Rt. 1 (Talimena Drive) and go 2 miles to Winding Stair campground sign. Turn right at sign and proceed into campground.
Beautiful, peaceful and uncrowded, but not serviced adequately (trash was overflowing the entire three days I was there). I stayed for two nights just after Memorial Day 2022. There were never more than two or three parties there (in 22 campsites plus a backpacker campground) while I was there.
The nearby (Walking distance) Emerald Vista offers unobstructed views of the Ouachita mountains, picnic tables, and plenty of parking. The campground itself is lovely with many trees, and each site offers picnic tables, fire rings and lantern poles. The campground is dog friendly and includes two pit toilets which were in good condition except for the lack of toilet paper.
There’s no water (old fashioned faucets are waterless) and apparently trash had not been collected in quite some time as it was beyond overflowing. I knew there would be no water so I brought plenty, but apparently some web sites, maps or guides (may be private or National Forest) still mention available water, with the result that backpackers still arrive from the nearby Ouachita Trail needing water. Even with a car, the nearest town on 259 (Smithville) would be a long drive just for water. Anyone with maps, trail guides or web sites referring to Winding Stair needs to clarify that there is no water.
Trails are easily followed through the mixed pine-hardwood forest, and signage good, although perhaps in need of repair. Several 8+ mile round trip hikes, such as to Billy Creek, are available, but bring a trails map or guide book as there isn’t much trail info on the campground signs. The nearest trail (the Mountain Top trail) starts near campsite 16 and a spur trail to the right leads to the backpacking camp.
The wind gusted to 50-60 mph at night, and a sizable tree fell on my campsite, # 7. Luckily no one was hurt. This must be a rare occurrence or downed trees would be everywhere.
BEAUTIFUL place to stop in and camp for a night or two. There is no water close by, but don't let that be a deciding factor. There are pit bathrooms and a trash receptacle on the grounds (although the trash was completely filled but we were able to stuff ours in there thankfully because we were on motorcycles). The sites are great and the hiking trail is a clear trail that can be followed through a beautiful wooded area. The trees are tall and at night the wind gusts makes for a neat scary sound! There is no electricity or running water so make sure you have lights and water! Rates were $8.00/night and the entire grounds is very calming. Sites are well spaced and you just drive through and pick a spot. Recommend if just passing through to camp out for the night. Not sure I would spend a week at this campsite though.
Would I return? Absolutely!
My wife and I were passing through moto-camping, and we were searching for locations to hammock camp. Many campgrounds wanted a pricey sum to camp, AND the various campgrounds were FULL & atop of one another (crowded). We wanted quietness- peacefulness!
I came across this location recommended in another review, and we decided to stop by and see it... The reviewer said that rarely are there many people there, and if a number of campers were on site, the place WAS NOT full.
We arrived May 14th around 4pm; there were ONLY four other campers whom each were spaced FAR apart as if no one there!
We opted to sling our hammocks out by the turnaround/overlook as to catch the breezes to stay cool and keep flying pests at bay!
The campground charges an honor system $8/night.
Sites offer picnic table, grill, and hang pole.
There was absolutely NO, No noise from other campers such as music, laughter, driving around; no lights beaming, no passing traffic, NADA! SIMPLY BRILLIANT!
I took my grandkids & new gsd puppy camping up there between Christmas & New Years & it was amazing. We drove in around 2:00pm & the clouds were heavy on the mountain but it cleared up & was just beautiful. The next morning was just glorious. The weather was perfect & we had the campground to ourselves. This is now one of our favorite local road trips for a great camping adventure.
The water was off for the winter but the vault toilets were clean & nice.
Beautiful and quiet mountain top campground, with Emerald Vista in easy walking distance from all sites. Reasonable nightly rate for primitive sites (pit toilets, no electric or water at sites), but I wish the water hydrants would have been turned on to refill our water supply as needed. We were there in March, though. The 4-star rating is due to a lack of trash pickup. We were there Friday through Wednesday, and the bear proof trash containers were full the whole time. By Monday night, people were just leaving their trash bags on the ground next to them. Not very "bear proof." I called the Hodgen Ranger District to let them know, but they were not at all concerned. They said the woman who does that was off, so they would try and get someone out there on Wednesday. Not very responsive, especially in bear country.
