Sue Girl
05-27-2009, 09:25 PM
Shady Lake and Bard Springs. Wonderful areas. Quiet, not crowded, very clean, some facilities depending on where you choose to camp. The higher up the ridge, the less facilities. $8 per night in camping areas with facilities. According to one park ranger, if you find a area you want to camp, feel free as long as it isn't private property. If you camp in an area without facilities, it is free.
One word of warning: This is NOT BIKE / TIRE FRIENDLY area. Unless your on a dual sport or in a cage, I would not recommend attempting this area. Arkansas black shale is the road base and it is sharp as glass. Testimony to the two flat tires in two years of camping. Very loose gravel, not much more than one lane most of the way up. But if your traveling a cage, then it doesn't get much nicer than SW Arkansas.
One word of warning: This is NOT BIKE / TIRE FRIENDLY area. Unless your on a dual sport or in a cage, I would not recommend attempting this area. Arkansas black shale is the road base and it is sharp as glass. Testimony to the two flat tires in two years of camping. Very loose gravel, not much more than one lane most of the way up. But if your traveling a cage, then it doesn't get much nicer than SW Arkansas.