To contact the park: 479-761-3325
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--was selected as a park site in the 1930s. The Civilian Conservation Corps used native materials to craft the park’s CCC/Rustic style wood and stone structures including an impressive native stone dam that spans Lee Creek in the heart of the park forming peaceful 8-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 of 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. The cabins are available throughout the year. Their wood-burning fireplaces 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 [143 sites: 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] are spaced along the valley.
The park 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 well-maintained trail from the park through the Ozark National Forest leads backpackers deep into the hills and hollows of the rugged scenic Ozarks.
Backpackers can choose from two primitive camp areas. Hikers are required to obtain a free backcountry permit at the visitor center before venturing onto this 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, the largest such area in the U.S. The longest of these is Devil's Den Cave (550 feet). You can visit on your own (flashlights required), or participate in a strenuous guided cave exploration hike offered once a week during the summer. Others may wish to explore Farmer's Cave, a relatively small, gated limestone cave located at the west end of the park. Parties interested in exploring this cave must meet set guidelines in order to obtain a free first-come, first-served permit at the visitor center. The presence of both sandstone and limestone caves at one park is quite rare and makes for a unique caving opportunity at Devil's Den State Park.
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.]