Black Fork Mountain Wilderness

Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness (map) in 1984 and it now has a total of 13,139 acres. Arkansas contains approximately 8,350 acres. Oklahoma contains approximately 4,789 acres. It is managed by the Forest Service.

Description

Shared by Oklahoma and Arkansas, this area contains the 13-mile-long, rugged ridge of Black Fork Mountain. Large rock flows or "glaciers" and sandstone bluffs stand above a forest dominated by oak and shortleaf pine. The northern slopes support hardwoods with an open understory. A forest of dwarf oaks adds to the cover of vegetation, which includes several unique plant species, such as serviceberry and granddaddy graybeard, hidden away in small coves.

There are no maintained trails on the Oklahoma side, and you'll find the hiking to be challenging. You'll also find the headwaters of Big Creek along the southern boundary. Once you're deep in the interior, water sources are either slim or none. Two small springs on the mountain flow most of the year. On the northern side the sound of traffic from a nearby highway fades away and leaves you as alone as you can get in an Oklahoma Wilderness.

On the Arkansas side, the Black Fork Mountain Trail, six miles long one-way, passes several pioneer sites dating back to the late 1800s as it winds its way to the top of Black Fork Mountain, over 2,400 feet above sea level. The mountain is actually a 13-mile-long east-west ridge, a geologic uplift that runs well into Oklahoma.

Some of the slopes near the top of the ridge on the Oklahoma side are nearly vertical. Rock scree slopes, sometimes called rock "glaciers," flow off in many locations. No maintained trails lead from the Arkansas side of the Wilderness to the Oklahoma side.

In both states the ridge rises to scenic overlooks that offer spectacular vistas of this region. Lower slopes are heavily forested with shortleaf pine, blackjack oaks, and ancient dwarf oaks. Some of the shrubs and trees in the area are seldom seen anywhere else in this region. Solitude reigns here, as Black Fork Mountain receives few human visitors.

Planning to Visit the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness?

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness.

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.