Greers Ferry Lake
RV Guide
Introduction
Nestled up against the Ozark Mountains, at the base of Round Mountain, 60 miles north of Little Rock, Arkansas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Greers Ferry Lake provides over 40000 acres of water surface and 340 miles of shoreline. The COE area was created in the early 1960s by the dam built to hold back the little Red River waters to form two lakes connected by “the Narrows”. When the dam was built, the town of Higden was relocated and the remaining town structures allowed to flood. Some of the town homes and buildings are reportedly still standing under the waters of Greers Ferry Lake today and roads that once traversed the area disappear into the lake! Many of these approaches to the lake are now used as boat launches and the submerged structures make interesting scuba diving sites.
Surrounded by forested areas that provide excellent habitat for wildlife, and rocky outcroppings that add interest to the landscape, Greers Ferry Lake is an excellent location for hiking. The natural pristine shoreline environment attracts nature lovers to the region for sightseeing and wildlife watching.
Water lovers will find the crystal clear waters at Greers Ferry Lake excellent for boating, water skiing, scuba diving, swimming, sailing and other water sports. There are 10 campsite areas with boat launches and eight marinas that rent boats and equipment for visitors to the lake. Greers Ferry Lake is also known for its excellent fishing which is available all year around. It has every game fish native to the region resident in the lake and river.
Visiting the area and need an RV to take in the fun at Greers Ferry Lake campgrounds? Find an RV at Little Rock area RV rentals.
RV Rentals in Greers Ferry Lake
Transportation
Driving
The nearby town of Heber Springs has plenty of amenities and services for RV campers in the area to avail themselves of on the way to the lake or during their stay at a local campground. Looking for insurance prior to your trip? Check out RV Insurance to determine what your needs are and how to obtain the appropriate insurance.
Greers Ferry Lake is located just northwest of Heber Springs, Arkansas. From Heber Springs, take Highway 25 north for three miles and follow signs to the Dam Site Campground.
There are many campgrounds and recreation areas around the lake. All campgrounds are well signed and roads are paved and easy to traverse for visitors with RV units and trailers.Some sites require crossing the dam or “Narrows” bridges but these two-lane highway bridges can accommodate RV units and trailers.
Cove Creek Campground can be reached from Heber Springs by travelling 6.3 miles southwest on State Road 25, 3 miles northwest on State Road 16, then 1.25 miles northeast on an access road.
Choctaw Campground can be reached from Clinton by taking Highway 65 south to Highway 330, then going 3.5 miles east.
Cherokee Campground can be reached from Drasco by taking Highway 92 west for 7 miles, then turning south for 3 miles on Brownsville Road.
Devils Fork Campground is ¼ of a mile north of Greers Ferry on State Road 16.
Heber Springs Campground is 2 miles west on Highway 110 from Heber Springs, then ½ a mile north on Park Road.
Shiloh Campground is 3.5 miles southeast of Greers Ferry on Highway 110.
John F. Kennedy Campground visitors can take Highway 25 north from Heber Springs for 4 miles, cross the dam, and then turn right at the second road after the dam.
Mill Creek Campground can be reached from Higden by taking Highway 16 south for 2 miles, then Highway 92 west 1 mile, then turn north on Mill Creek Road for 2 miles.
To reach Hill Creek Campground head west on Highway 92 from Drasco for 12 miles to Highway 225, then proceed northwest on 225 for 3 miles, and 2 miles south on Hill Creek Road.
Narrow Campground is ½ a mile southwest of Greers Ferry on Highway 16.
Travelling to the Old Highway 25 Campground from Heber Springs head north on Highway 25 for 6.25 miles to Highway 25S, then go 3 miles west to the campground.
Travel 12 miles northeast of Bee Branch on Highway 92, then turn west for 1.5 miles on Highway 337 to reach the SugarLoaf campground.
Parking
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Greers Ferry Lake
Campsites in Greers Ferry Lake
Reservations camping
Dam Site
The largest campsite on the COE Greers Ferry Lake, with 241 campsites that can be reserved during the peak season, is the Dam Site. Open all year sites can be reserved from May until September and are first come first serve in the off season. This campground is ideal for RVers with lots of amenities and choice spots.
There are 148 electric serviced sites at the campground and 40 of these have both electric and water hookups. Many of the campsites are able to accommodate large RV units. Amenities include flush and vault toilets, hot showers, drinking water supply, a dump station for RV and trailer black and grey water, a boat launch, marina, playground and picnic shelter.
This beautiful wooded campground has a variety of trees including red cedar, black gum, red oak, elm, pecan and sweet gum trees providing shade and privacy to campers. There is lots of wildlife to see in and around the campground including deer, rabbits, squirrels, wild turkeys and numerous bird species. Nature trails and a multi purpose fitness trail are great for hikes in the area. The visitor center located just west of the dam features exhibits, a children's touch table, and a replica of the over 40 pound brown trout caught just downstream on the Little Red River!
Choctaw Campground
The Choctaw campground is located on the west end of the upper lake. This campground has 146 campsites, 91 with electric hookups, and 55 non-electric sites. Amenities include flush toilets, vault toilets, showers, drinking water, a trailer dump station, a boat ramp, a designated swimming area, a playground for wee ones, group picnic shelter and a marina. Choose between 30 amp or 50 amp service and available sites with water hookups. The campground is open all year round with the peak season being between Mary 15 and September 5.
Devils Fork Campground
Located on the shoreline of the lake near Greers Ferry, Devils Fork Campground has 55 sites with electric hookups for RVs and trailers. Amenities in the park include flush toilets, shower facilities, vault toilets, drinking water supply, a trailer dump station, boat launches, swimming area, playground and a reservable group picnic shelter. Electric services include 30 amp, 50 amp, and some sites with water hookups. The campground is open all year and the peak reservable season is May 15 to September 5. During the off season campsites are first come first serve.
Heber Springs Campground
Located near the town of Heber Springs on the shoreline of the lake, RVers will enjoy the Heber Springs Campground with convenient proximity to services in town. This large campground has 118 sites, 98 with 50 or 30 amp electrical hookups, and 20 non-electric sites. Some campsites have water hookups available. RV campers will find amenities such as flush toilets and showers, vault toilets, drinking water, a trailer dump station, boat launch, swimming area, playground, reservable group picnic shelter and a marina providing services and fuels to boaters on the lake. The campsites are reservable during the peak season between May 15 and September 5.
Hill Creek Campground
Hill Creek Campground is located on the upper lake near the town of Greers Ferry. There are a total of 40 campsites here appropriate for RVs, 30 with electric hookup (50 or 30 amp) and 10 without. Flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water, dump station access and a marked swimming area, marina and reservable group picnic shelter are situated at the campground. The peak season is between May 15 and September 5.
John F. Kennedy Campground
John F. Kennedy Campground is located on the banks of the Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam. It has 68 sites serviced with electrical hookups, and 13 that also have water hookups. There are flush toilets and hot showers, drinking water, a dump station, boat launch, playground and picnic shelter located at the site. Open all year around the reservable speaks season is between April 15 Sept 5. GPS Coordinates: ,
Narrows Campground
Narrows Campground is right next to the town of Greers Ferry. This campground has 60 sites with electricity. Amenities include flush toilets, vault toilets, showers, drinking water, a trailer dump station, boat launch, picnic shelter and marina and accepts reservations from May 15-September 5. GPS
Old Highway 25
Old Highway 25 campground is situated on the lake shoreline just 1 mile northwest of the dam. With 116 sites, 79 of which are serviced with electric hookups for RVs and trailers. This campground has a variety of amenities including flush toilets and showers, drinking water, vault toilets, dump station, boat launch, swimming area, playground, and picnic shelters, and is reservable from May 15 to September 5.
Shiloh Campground
Shiloh campground is also located on the lake shore south of Greers Ferry. Visitors with RVs will find a marina, boat launch, swimming area, picnic shelter, dump station, showers and flush toilets as well as vault toilets on site. Sixty of the 116 campsites reservable during the peak season have electric hookups for RVs and trailers.
Sugar Loaf Campground
Sugar Loaf Campground has 93 reservable campsites, 57 of which have electric services. Amenities include showers, flush and vault toilets, water, dump station, boat launch, swimming, playground, marina and picnic shelter. This campground is located on the upper lake, four miles west of Greers Ferry. GPS Coordinates: ,
First-come first-served
First Come First Serve Campgrounds
Located on the south end of the lower lake, Cove Creek has 63 campsites, 31 of which are serviced with electric hookups. There are some sites with water hookups available. Amenities at the site include flush toilets, vault toilets, showers, drinking water supplies, an RV dump station, boat launch, and a swimming area. The campsite is open from May 15 until September 15. Own an RV and looking for some guidance on maintenance to ensure you have a smooth, trouble free trip? Check out the following link Regular RV Maintenance for advice. GPS Coordinates: -92.15386, 35.46177
Cherokee Campground is located in the northeast section of the lower lake. This lovely campground boats 33 excellent campsites. 17 of which are electric and 16 non-electric. Amenities at the campground include a vault toilet, drinking water, sani-dump station to drain your grey and black water and a boat launch ramp. The campground is open May 15 to September 15.GPS Coordinates: -92.07674, 35.55737
Mill Creek Campground is located on the upper lake, southwest of Greers Ferry and has 39 non-electric campsites with vault toilets, a boat launch, and a picnic shelter. GPS Coordinates: -92.21871, 35.58151
Seasonal activities in Greers Ferry Lake
In-Season
Boating
Two lakes, a channel, a river, and over 40000 acres of water surface provide ample opportunity to take a boat out on the water and enjoy! There are 22 boat launches at campsites and day use areas, as well as 8 marinas on the lake providing fuel and services for watercraft. Marinas also have boat rentals, so if you can’t bring your own, you can choose to rent a boat for the day so you can enjoy some watersports. Please note that boats are not permitted inside the buoyed areas by the Greers Ferry Dam.
Picnicking
Enjoy an outdoor meal while camping at a local campground, or visit one of the recreational day use areas and dine al fresco. Many of the picnic sites have nearby playgrounds for little ones. Picnic shelters for groups can be reserved and are popular for reunions, company and organization picnics, and weddings. Many of the picnic areas overlook the lake. There are picnic shelters in all the Corps Of Engineers parks with the exceptions of Cherokee and Cove Creek.
Swimming
Many of the COE parks and campgrounds have designated swimming areas on Greers Ferry Lake. Swimming on a hot, sunny, summer day in the lake is the perfect way to cool down. Swimming areas are located at Choctaw Cove Creek, Devils Fork, Heber Springs, the Dam Site, Hill Creek, Old Highway 25, Sugar Loaf, and Shiloh campgrounds. There is a day use fee for visitors to the swimming area and an annual pass is available. Swimmers should stick to marked areas to avoid watercraft and stay away from outlets and the dam area.
Off-Season
Fishing
Amazing fishing can be found at Greers Ferry Lake, with a wide variety of fish species found in the lake. A world record walleye at over 22 pounds, and a state record hybrid-striped bass at over 27 pounds have been harvested from the lake. Species in the lake include black bass, bream, crappie, catfish, walleye, white bass and hybrid-striped bass and fishing on the lake goes on all year long. Anglers will be interested in checking out the Little Red River downstream from the dam, which harbors several trout species. A world record brown trout weighing in at over 40 pounds was caught in 1992, and held the record until 2009! During the offseason there is less recreational boat traffic on the lake to disturb local fish.
Hiking
Multiple trailheads in and around Greers Ferry Lake provide excellent trails for hikes in natural areas. Some well travelled local trails include Buckeye National Nature Trail, an easy 660 foot trail appropriate for all ability levels, Collins Creek Trail, .6 miles long, Josh Park Memorial Trail, 6485 feet in length, and Mossy Bluff National Nature Trail, a 1.6 mile trek. The Sugar Loaf Mountain nature trail is 1.6 miles in length, and winds up the mountain where it provides hikers with fantastic views of the lake from 500 feet above the lake surface. Many trails have vault toilets, seating, and picnic areas located along them. Hiking in the fall when vibrant autumn leaves provide a riot of color reflected in the lakes clear waters is a real treat.
Hunting
The Corps of Engineers and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission jointly manage the wildlife area around the lake. There is a 9000 acre area above the conservation pool called the Greers Ferry Lake Wildlife Management Area. White-tailed deer hunting in the region is limited to bowhunting. Also, no rifles or handguns are permitted for hunting, however other firearms can be used to harvest eastern wild turkey, rabbits, and squirrels. There is no hunting in the developed parks or on Sugar Loaf Mountain. Be sure to have an appropriate hunting license and be aware of regulations before venturing out on your hunting adventure.
