White Rock Mountain Recreation Area

About

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area occupies a dramatic 58-acre mountaintop in Arkansas's Ozark National Forest, where sheer bluffs covered in white lichen give the peak its name. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the stone lodge and three cabins here during the 1930s, featuring hand-crafted furniture and stone fireplaces that remain in use today after restoration by Friends of White Rock in 1991. The campground offers nine primitive sites including eight family units and one group site for up to 10 guests. Each site has a tent pad, picnic table, BBQ grill, fire ring, and lantern pole with plenty of shade. Vault toilets and water spigots with potable water serve the campground. No hookups, showers, or trash service are available, so this is strictly a pack-it-in, pack-it-out operation. White Rock Mountain serves as the hub for several trail systems: the 1.5-mile Rim Trail circles the mountaintop, the 13.4-mile loop connects to Shores Lake, and the renowned 170-mile Ozark Highlands Trail passes through. The nearest town is roughly an hour away, making this a true escape into the Ozarks.

Directions

From Interstate 40 at Mulberry, Arkansas, take exit 24 and turn north onto Arkansas 215. Continue approximately 12.3 miles, then turn left onto Forest Service Road 1505 toward Shores Lake/White Rock. Follow FSR 1505 for approximately 5.3 miles, then continue on FSR 1505 for 2.2 miles. Turn right onto FSR 1505 for 0.5 miles, then right onto FSR 1535 for 0.5 miles to White Rock Mountain. Use Google Maps navigation only; vehicle GPS may be unreliable.