To contact the park: 479-761-3325
Devil's Den State Park is nestled deep in Lee Creek Valley, a picturesque setting in northwest Arkansas's Ozarks Mountains, ancient sedimentary mountains renowned for their natural beauty and lush oak-hickory forest. This Ozark valley was selected as a park site in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC used native materials to craft the park’s rustic-style wood and stone structures. This work includes an impressive native stone dam that spans Lee Creek in the heart of the park forming peaceful eight-acre Lake Devil. Rental canoes, tandem kayaks, pedal boats, and water bikes are available at the park.
Hiking, backpacking, and mountain bike trails lead to backcountry areas in Devil's Den State Park and the surrounding Ozark National Forest.
Seventeen fully-equipped cabins featuring kitchens and fireplaces are nestled in the natural beauty of this park. These cabins are available throughout the year. Wood-burning fireplaces in the cabins are available for use from October through April.
A park cafe and swimming pool (both open in summer only) overlook the lake. Groceries, gifts and snacks can be purchased at the park store.
Campsites are spaced along the valley. These 143 sites include 44 Class AAA, 12 Class B, 13 Class C, 24 Class D (no hookups), eight Hike-in (tent only) and 42 sites with water and electric hookups in the Horse Camp that includes a bathhouse and access to the horse trails. The park also includes a group camp, standard pavilion, and mountain bike trails.
Miles of hiking and multiple use trails wind through Devil's Den and the surrounding Ozark National Forest. Caves, crevices and bluff overlooks can be explored here. Take a wet-water hike up Lee Creek, or trek the 15-mile Butterfield Hiking Trail. This trail from the park through the Ozark National Forest leads backpackers deep into the hills and hollows of the rugged scenic Ozarks.
Backpackers may choose from two primitive camp areas.
Hikers are required to obtain a free backcountry permit at the visitor center before venturing onto the Butterfield Trail.
Many outdoor enthusiasts visit Devil's Den State Park with the express purpose of exploring one or more of its many caves and crevices. Most of the park's caves are crevices associated with a unique sandstone crevice area that is the largest such area in the U.S. The longest of these is Devil's Den Cave (550 feet). You can explore it on your own (flashlights required), or participate in a strenuous guided cave exploration hike offered once a week during the summer. The presence of both sandstone and limestone caves at one park is quite rare and makes for a unique caving opportunity here at Devil's Den State Park. [NOTE: Two of the park's lesser known caves, Farmer's Cave and Big Ear Cave, were closed to the public beginning May 2009. These emergency closures were done in an effort to protect these two cves from the the possibility of contamination from the White Nose Syndrome, a fungus killing bats in the eastern U.S. All other caves in Devil's Den State Park remain open to cavers.]
Devil's Den features a horse camp area that offers access to approximately 20 miles of riding trails in the Lee Creek Valley and on surrounding ridges. Three trails begin and end at the horse camp. These are the:
1. Old Road Trail (yellow blaze): 5 miles, 2 hours. This safe, easy trail is the only horse trail located entirely within the park boundary;
2. Gorley King Trail (red blaze): 7 miles, 3 hours. Moderate in difficulty; and
3. Vista Point Trail (green blaze): 8 miles, 5 hours. Contains steep climbs and ledge riding, requiring experienced horses and riders.
Each trail is blazed with a colored diamond-shaped plate with a horseshoe symbol in the center. The Old Road Trail, which begins across from the entrance to the horse camp, is blazed yellow. The Gorley King Trail (blazed in red), and the Vista Point Trail (blazed in green), both begin inside the horse camp near the bathroom. In places where the Gorley King and Vista Point Trails coincide, the trail blaze is both red and green. Where the horseshoe symbol appears to be hanging upside down, this is a warning that the trail makes an obscure turn or intersects with the other trails or roads. Be sure to look for the next blaze before proceeding.
Horses are welcome on Highways 170, 74 and 220, but are not permitted on other park roads or in camping area other than the horse camp. Also, horses are not permitted in the crevice area, Yellow Rock or on any of the hiking trails except where the horse trails and the Butterfield Hiking Trail are the same.
Mountain bike riders are also allowed on these trails, and must yield to horses.
Water for horses and riders is available at the trail head. Here, riders will find a complete campground where they can camp with their horses. The campground features campsites with hookups, and a modern bathhouse that also includes a bathing area for horses. Call ahead to check on the availability of the horse camp.
For more details about the park's riding trails, mountain bike trails, hiking, and backpacking trails, and caving opportunities, go to: http://www.adventurestateparks.com/.
Park interpreters provide guided hikes along several miles of trails. Games and programs are hosted daily during summer. Interpretive programming is available during spring, fall and winter by request.
To reach Devil's Den State Park, travel eight miles south of Fayetteville on I-540 to Exit #53 (West Fork), then go 17 miles southwest on Ark. 170; or I-540 at Exit #45 (Winslow) and go 7 miles west on Ark. 74 to the park. [TRAILERS LONGER THAN 26 FT. SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN USING ARK. 74 DUE TO THIS MOUNTAINOUS ROAD.]