Billy Creek Campground

Open — Open year-round, first-come first-served. No reservations accepted. No drinking water available on-site. Note that the campground is scheduled for decommissioning in the future, but remains operational.

About

Billy Creek Campground offers visitors a primitive camping experience in the beautiful Ouachita National Forest of southeastern Oklahoma. Located along a small stream perfect for fishing sunfish in the small pools, this no-fee campground provides a peaceful setting away from developed areas. The camping area features vault toilets and picnic tables at each site, though campers must bring their own water as none is available on-site. The campground serves as the trailhead for Billy Creek Trail, which climbs to the top of Winding Stair Mountain and intersects the 225-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail. The campground is located just 20 minutes from the Talimena Scenic Drive, a 54-mile byway that curves along the crests of Winding Stair and Rich Mountains, offering scenic vistas, interpretive signs, and access to Queen Wilhelmina State Park and the Robert S. Kerr Arboretum. Note that the USFS has indicated this campground is scheduled for decommissioning as funding becomes available, though it remains open and operational. The remote location and basic amenities make it ideal for experienced campers seeking solitude in the Ouachita Mountains.

Directions

From Big Cedar, Oklahoma, drive west on State Highway 63 for 6 miles. At the campground sign, turn right (north) and follow the signs for 3 miles. Alternatively, from US Highway 259 north of Smithville, turn west on Oklahoma Highway 63 and continue about 5 miles to the Billy Creek sign, then turn north and follow signs to the campground.

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