About Shady Lake
Scenic 25-acre lake in remote mountain setting.The Civilian Conservation Corps developed the Shady Lake Recreation Area in 1937. The Shady Lake Trail traverses Saline Creek, passes the historic Shady Lake Dam, and continues along the eastern edge of the campground. The trail is ideal for day hiking. Mountain bikers may also use the trail. **Overview:** The campground is made up of four camping loops, with 51 campsites, ranging in amenities of no services to campsites with electric and water services provided. Bathhouses with warm showers and flush toilets. Day use hosts a swimming site, picnic pavilions, restrooms, picnic tables with BBQ grills and a 3-mile hiking trail that follows the shoreline of Shady Lake. Campsites can accommodate RV's up to 32-feet in length. Shady Lake is located approximately 40 miles west of Glenwood, Arkansas, and 45 southeast of Mena, Arkansas.
- Fees: - Day use/swim area - $5/vehicle or $2/person for bus, walking or biking - Group picnic shelter - $5/vehicle - Campground: - Single sites-…
- Managed by: USFS - Ouachita National Forest
- Where: 12 mi south of Board Camp, AR · 34.36284, -94.02778
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Jan.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Fork Athens | ATV road | 0.2 mi | 7.0 mi |
| Viles Branch | ATV road | 0.3 mi | 1.9 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
Verizon 4G · T-Mobile 4G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way shows rich detail, horizon to horizon.
Class 2 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Dump station: 0.2 mi
Nearest of each within 25 miles, straight-line.