Clarks Ferry Recreation Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Clarks Ferry Recreation Area is located in the state of Arkansas and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
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Summary
The area offers a wide range of activities, including fishing, boating, camping, hiking, and picnicking. One of the main attractions of the recreation area is the Arkansas River, which provides excellent opportunities for fishing and boating. Visitors can also explore the nearby Ozark National Forest, which is home to a variety of wildlife and scenic vistas.
Some specific points of interest at Clarks Ferry Recreation Area include the campground, which offers both RV and tent sites, as well as showers and restrooms. There are also several picnic areas throughout the park, as well as a boat ramp and fishing pier. Hikers can explore the nearby Ozark Highlands Trail, which offers stunning views of the river and surrounding countryside.
Interesting facts about the area include its historical significance as a crossing point for the Arkansas River during the 1800s. The ferry that gave the area its name was established in the early 1800s and was used by pioneers and settlers traveling westward. Today, visitors can still see remnants of the old ferry landing and explore the surrounding historic sites.
The best time of year to visit Clarks Ferry Recreation Area is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. Summer can be hot and humid, while winter can be cold and snowy. However, the park is open year-round, so visitors can enjoy the area's natural beauty and recreational opportunities at any time of year.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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