Steel Creek Campground
Steel Creek Campground is situated along the Buffalo River under the towering and picturesque Roark Bluff. One section of the campground offers 26 walk-in tent sites and another section of the campground offers 13 sites for those camping with horses. All sites are available by reservation only. Steel Creek is located about 3 miles (5 km) east of Ponca, just off Highway 74.
More like this: reservable in Arkansas · tent only in Arkansas · pets allowed in Arkansas · dark sky in Arkansas
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 26 |
| Equestrian | 13 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
39 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 28 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 29 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 30 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 31 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 32 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 33 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 34 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 35 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 36 - Horse Site | Horse Camp | Equestrian | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Fees for the walk-in tent sites and primitive horse-only sites (non-electric) are $20 a night for up to 6 people and per site. Horse-only sites are allowed up to 6 stock per site. |
| Dark sky | Inside Buffalo National River, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
Steel Creek has 26 tent only sites and 13 sites for campers with horses/stock animals (six people and four stock animals allowed per site). All sites are available by reservations only. There are no electrical amenities or water hookups, but flush restrooms and water spigots are available from approximately March 15 through November 15 each year.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Fayetteville, Arkansas drive north and take US Highway 412 East for approximately 42 miles (67.5 km) to the intersection with State Highway 21. Take highway 21 South for approximately 17 miles (27 km) to the intersection of State Highway 43. Here, take highway 43 East for about 5 miles (8 km) to the intersection of State Highway 74.
| Nearest town | Jasper, Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 36.0302° N, 93.3419° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Rules and reservation policies
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Buffalo River Canoe ↗ | 5 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 33.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blue Compass RV ↗ | 52.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Steel Creek #buffalonationalriver
Worth a stop
The Buffalo River Trail runs through Steel Creek and offers great day hiking or overnight backcountry opportunities. Boxley Valley is nearby and is home to Lost Valley, an easy to moderate trail that leads hikers past geologic and water formations.
- 9.6 miBoen Gulf Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 11.2 miWhitaker Point Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Ozark-St. Francis National Forest.
- inOzark-St. Francis National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,532,900 acres
- 9.9 miUpper Buffalo Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 11,978 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Big Buffalo Valley Historic DistrictHistoric district · Ponca · 1.8 mi
- Little Buffalo River BridgeStructure · Parthenon · 7.7 mi
- Dermott Commercial Historic DistrictHistoric district · Dermott · 8.8 mi
Natural features
The Buffalo National River flows free over swift running rapids and quiet pools for its 135-mile (217 km) length. One of the few remaining rivers in the lower 48 states without dams, the Buffalo cuts its way through massive limestone bluffs traveling eastward through the Arkansas Ozarks and into the White River.
Recreation
Paddling conditions in the upper (westernmost) district of Buffalo National River are extremely dependent upon rainfall. On an average year, the upper river is only navigable by boat in the spring and early summer when consistent rainfall feeds into the watershed. Some sections on the upper end of the river are technical and should not be attempted by novices.
Guidebooks for Arkansas
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Steel Creek Campground?
Sites at Steel Creek Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Steel Creek Campground?
Fees for the walk-in tent sites and primitive horse-only sites (non-electric) are $20 a night for up to 6 people and per site. Horse-only sites are allowed up to 6 stock per site.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Steel Creek Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Steel Creek Campground have?
40 sites, including 26 tent-only sites and 13 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Steel Creek Campground?
Steel Creek Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Steel Creek Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Steel Creek Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Steel Creek Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Steel Creek Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Steel Creek Campground sits inside Buffalo National River, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Steel Creek Campground?
FCC coverage maps show T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Steel Creek Campground?
Paddling conditions in the upper (westernmost) district of Buffalo National River are extremely dependent upon rainfall. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Steel Creek Campground?
Jasper, Arkansas. The Buffalo River Trail runs through Steel Creek and offers great day hiking or overnight backcountry opportunities.
Source: Getting there
What if Steel Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Kyles Landing Campground (3.8 mi), Ozark Campground (10.4 mi), and Haw Creek Falls Point of Interest (24.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby