Ouachita National Forest - Alerts & Notices

Preparation and safety are of utmost importance while recreating in the Ouachita National Forest. Check this page for safety updates including current prescribed fire information, know current weather conditions, and be aware of closures and alerts before you plan your trip to the great outdoors. For more information visit Outdoor Safety in the Southern Region.

Alerts

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Wolf Pen Gap Trails OPEN
Date(s): Jun 11, 2021

Effective 6/11/21, the trails at Wolf Pen Gap are open.
Cedar Lake Recreation Area updates
Date(s): Oct 1, 2020

Portions of the Cedar Lake have reopened. Status updates of the progress will be posted here.

Closures

South Fourche Campground
Date(s): Mar 26, 2020

Temporarily shutting down. Local managers are committed to the health and safety of recreational visitors and our staff. We are following the guidelines from our agency and the CDC regarding COVID-19, closely monitoring the situation and responding to current conditions.
Mena Visitor Information Center
Date(s): Mar 26, 2020

Temporarily shutting down. Local managers are committed to the health and safety of recreational visitors and our staff. We are following the guidelines from our agency and the CDC regarding COVID-19, closely monitoring the situation and responding to current conditions.
Camp Clearfork
Date(s): Mar 26, 2020

Closed for the 2020 season.
Bear Creek Equestrian Campground
Date(s): Mar 26, 2020

Temporarily shutting down. Local managers are committed to the health and safety of recreational visitors and our staff. We are following the guidelines from our agency and the CDC regarding COVID-19, closely monitoring the situation and responding to current conditions.
Bard Springs Campground
Date(s): Mar 26, 2020

Temporarily shutting down. Local managers are committed to the health and safety of recreational visitors and our staff. We are following the guidelines from our agency and the CDC regarding COVID-19, closely monitoring the situation and responding to current conditions.

Conditions

Cedar Lake Status Updates

Parts of the Cedar Lake Recreation have reopened, but construction is ongoing. Check this page for status updates of the progress.

Public Notices

Cattle Dip Vat Management Program

In response to potential contamination at former Cattle Dip Vat (CDV) sites across the Southeast, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) Southern Region (R8) developed a CDV Management Program to quickly and efficiently reduce risk posed by arsenic in the soils at these sites. A total of 29 CDV sites within the Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests have been investigated under this program.