U.S. Forest Service · Ouachita National Forest · Hodgen, OK

Winding Stair Campground

Winding Stair Campground sits along the Talimena Scenic Byway. The mountain-top campground offers scenic views from Emerald Vista located adjacent to the campground. During the Spring and Fall seasons, cool mountain temperatures enhance the camping experience. The campground is open year-round and serves as a trailhead for the Ouachita National Recreation Trail. All RV/Tent campsites in the campground have paved surfaces and gravel tent pads for setting tents up at the site. The Backpackers Camp, located adjacent to the campground offer designated tent pads for tent placement.

Open nowFirst-come, first-served25 sitesPets okFires ok

Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.

More like this: first-come in Oklahoma · pets allowed in Oklahoma

Fall view of Winding Stair CampgroundWinding Stair Campsites - WinterWinding Stair CampsitesWinding Stair Campsites - Spring
Photos courtesy of Bill Jackson · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Lake · 46 mi away · 105 acres
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups24
Host/management1
No reservations, so arrive before checkout on a weekday, usually 11 a.m. to noon, and take what is open. In season, weekends fill by Thursday. The first-come playbook

Site guide

24 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
Backpackers Camp -Tent OnlyScan & PayPartialNo / –6 / –YesStandard
01Winding StairPartialNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
02Winding StairPartialNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
03Winding StairPartialNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
04Winding StairPartialNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
05Winding StairPartialNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
06Winding StairPartialNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
07Winding StairPartialNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
08Winding StairPartialNo / –6 / 2YesStandard
09Winding StairPartialNo / –6 / 2YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:30 PM.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesHonor box is available for payment. Scan & Pay with credit card or debit card is an option as well.

Developed RV/Tent campsites, paved roadway and campsites, vault toilets. No electricity available at campground.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
ForestOuachita National Forest
BookingNo reservations.
FeesCampground: Backpacker's camp- $3/night. Single sites- $8/night. Double sites- $14/night
RulesCurrent fees and regulations are posted at the self-service pay station.

Ouachita National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Winding Stair Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 38.9°F averageFebruary: 43.7°F averageMarch: 51.0°F averageApril: 59.5°F averageMay: 68.7°F averageJune: 77.8°F averageJuly: 81.8°F averageAugust: 81.0°F averageSeptember: 73.3°F averageOctober: 62.7°F averageNovember: 51.5°F averageDecember: 41.6°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Wister 3S, 16 miles from the campground at 525 feet, station USC00349724 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

The campground is located on the Talimena Scenic Drive (Oklahoma State Highway 1), two miles west of US Highway 259 junction.

Nearest townHodgen, Oklahoma
Coordinates34.7145° N, 94.6751° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Once on-site, you can pay for your campsite(s) with cash, check, money order, or by scanning a QR code using the Recreaion.gov mobile app.
  • Please download the Recreation.gov app prior to arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cell service.

Charges and cancellations

Once payment is made on-site, we do not offer refunds or modifications.

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Lake

    46 mi from the campground · 105 acres · 50% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗37 mi
Outdoor gearGellco Outdoors ↗45.4 mi
RV sales & serviceVictory Lane Motors ↗48 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Camping at Winding Stair in Ouachita National Forest #ouachitanationalforest #windingstair

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Wsm Eq - 1007
    2.7 mi trail
  • 0.3 mi
    Mountain Top Trail
    1.1 mi trail
  • 0.6 mi
    Mountain Top Spur
    0.08 mi trail
  • 1.2 mi
    Billy Creek
    4.2 mi trail
  • 1.7 mi
    Billy Creek Spur
    1.6 mi trail
  • 2 mi
    Wsm Eq - 1006 ↗
    7.1 mi trail

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Ouachita National Forest begins about 4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Mountain top and valley views can be seen from Emerald Vista located adjacent to the campground. All campsites in the campground are well shaded.

Recreation

The Winding Stair Campground is the only campground in Oklahoma along with Talimena Scenic Byway that provides developed campsites. Located along the Ouachita National Recreation Trail (OT), the campground serves as a trailhead for the OT.

Guidebooks for Oklahoma

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Winding Stair Campground?

No. Winding Stair Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Winding Stair Campground?

Honor box is available for payment. Scan & Pay with credit card or debit card is an option as well.

Source: Forest Service

What time is check-in at Winding Stair Campground?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:30 PM.

Source: Forest Service

Is Winding Stair Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Winding Stair Campground have?

25 sites, including 24 standard sites without power.

Source: Forest Service

Are pets allowed at Winding Stair Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Winding Stair Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Forest Service

Can I have a campfire at Winding Stair Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Current fees and regulations are posted at the self-service pay station.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Winding Stair Campground?

The Winding Stair Campground is the only campground in Oklahoma along with Talimena Scenic Byway that provides developed campsites. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Winding Stair Campground?

Hodgen, Oklahoma.

Source: Getting there

What if Winding Stair Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Cedar Lake (Oklahoma) (3.2 mi), Billy Creek Recreation Area (3.6 mi, first-come), and Little Pines Campground (25.4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby