Lake Ouachita
USACE Vicksburg District • Built 1953 • 40,000 surface acres • 690 miles shoreline
Lake Ouachita
Great Day on the Water
Level is right at normal conservation pool (-0.5 ft), water temp is a comfortable 72°f, light winds around 0 mph, no active algae or safety advisories.
What to Know About Lake Ouachita
Consistently ranked as one of the cleanest, purest lakes in the United States. Entirely surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest with over 200 undeveloped islands where visitors can pull up a houseboat and camp under pristine dark sky stars.
Boat Ramps & Launches
Public concrete launches, usable lake elevations, and federal pass info🚤 Brady Mountain Resort And Marina
Usable (Level OK)Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
🚤 Cedar Fourche
Usable (Level OK)Public boat launch facility providing direct water access with vehicle and boat trailer parking.
🚤 Crystal Springs Resort
Usable (Level OK)Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
🚤 Echo Canyon Resort And Marina
Usable (Level OK)Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
🚤 Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center And Museum
Usable (Level OK)The Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum is a restored historic bathhouse with exhibits and interpretive films. Park staff is on-site to offer visitor information and public programming.
🚤 Fulton Branch Day Use
Usable (Level OK)River access on Ouachita River.
🚤 Highway 27 Fishing Village
Usable (Level OK)Public boat launch facility providing direct water access with vehicle and boat trailer parking.
🚤 Lake Ouachita State Park
Usable (Level OK)Public recreation park offering lakefront shoreline access, picnic areas, and boat launch facilities.
🚤 Lake Ouachita Vista Overlook
Usable (Level OK)Scenic view of Lake Ouachita. It's also one of the many points of interest along the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail. Other recreation sites in the Caddo/Womble Ranger District.
🚤 Little Fir Landing
Usable (Level OK)Public boat launch facility providing direct water access with vehicle and boat trailer parking.
🚤 Mid America Science Museum
Usable (Level OK)The science museum's mission in part is to disseminate information regarding the development of the International Space Station; train teachers in applying space education to science and math. The museum is a recipient o...
🚤 Mountain Harbor Resort And Spa
Usable (Level OK)Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
🚤 North Shores Resort And Marina
Usable (Level OK)Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
🚤 Shangri La Resort
Usable (Level OK)Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
Campgrounds & RV Parks
Official federal, Corps of Engineers & state park campsites⛺ Air National Guard Camp
$18 - $32 / nightWaterfront camping facility offering tent and RV campsites with scenic lake views and recreational access.
⛺ Avery
$18 - $32 / nightAvery Recreation Area sits just below Blakely Mountain Dam and along the western shore of the Ouachita River/ Lake Hamilton. This day-use area offers great shoreline fishing access, an ADA fishing pier, boat ram...
⛺ Brady Mountain
$18 - $32 / nightBrady Mountain Campground delights visitors with its family-friendly facilities, fabulous views and idyllic placement on Arkansas's Lake Ouachita. The lake attracts visitors who come for the crystal clear waters...
⛺ Brady Mountain Day-Use
$18 - $32 / nightBrady Mountain Day-Use Area delights visitors with its family-friendly facility, fabulous views and idyllic placement on Arkansas's Lake Ouachita. The lake attracts visitors who come for the crystal clear waters...
⛺ Charlton Recreation Area
$18 - $32 / nightCharlton Campground is located 17-miles west of Hot Springs National Park along Highway 270-West. This historic campground constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930's has been upgraded wit...
⛺ Crystal Springs (Ar)
$18 - $32 / nightCrystal Springs Campground, perched on the shores of Lake Ouachita in Arkansas, is an ideal spot for families, friends and couples. Approximately 1.2 million people visit the lake each year to explore its crysta...
⛺ Crystal Springs (Ar) Day-Use
$18 - $32 / nightCrystal Springs Day-Use Area, perched on the shores of Lake Ouachita in Arkansas, is an ideal spot for families, friends and couples. Approximately 1.2 million people visit the lake each year to explore its crys...
⛺ Denby Point
$18 - $32 / nightGroups and families of all sizes come to camp at Denby Point for its scenic views, year-round fishing and convenient boating facilities. The campground promises to entertain jet skiers, boaters, hikers and birde...
⛺ Highway 27 Campground
$18 - $32 / nightWaterfront camping facility offering tent and RV campsites with scenic lake views and recreational access.
⛺ Joplin
$18 - $32 / nightJoplin Campground on Lake Ouachita is an excellent destination for pristine lakefront camping. Joplin is perched on a slender peninsula with plenty of attractive scenic views of the water and surrounding mountai...
⛺ Little Fir
$18 - $32 / nightLittle Fir is a small quiet campground located along the western shores of Lake Ouachita. Little fir is a popular destination for many anglers who desire a quiet atmosphere while still being close to prime fishi...
⛺ Little Fir Recreation Area
$18 - $32 / nightWaterfront camping facility offering tent and RV campsites with scenic lake views and recreational access.
⛺ Spillway (Lake Ouachita)
$18 - $32 / nightSpillway Recreation area is tucked away in a small cove of Lake Ouachita. The day-use area offers shoreline fishing access, swim beach, restroom, boat ramp, reservable pavilion and access to the Lake Ouachita Vi...
⛺ Stephens Park
$18 - $32 / nightLocated just below Blakely Mountain Dam along the shoreline Lake Hamilton is Stephens Park. This small quiet campground has great shoreline fishing access in the Stephens Park and Avery Day-use Area. There is al...
⛺ Stephens Park Day-Use
$18 - $32 / nightLocated just below Blakely Mountain Dam along the shoreline Lake Hamilton is Stephens Park Day-Use Area. This area has great shoreline fishing. There is also boat ramp access nearby for Lake Ouachita by using th...
⛺ Tompkins Bend
$18 - $32 / nightTompkins Bend on Lake Ouachita, is a great family camping destination. The combination of lush mountain scenery and roomy sites big enough for two camping units, make this quiet location an ideal place for an ou...
⛺ Tompkins Bend Day-Use
$18 - $32 / nightTompkins Bend Day-Use Area on Lake Ouachita, is a great spot to getaway for the day. The combination of lush mountain scenery and wildlife, make this quiet location an ideal place for a family gathering, reunion...
⛺ Twin Creek Recreation Area
$18 - $32 / nightWaterfront camping facility offering tent and RV campsites with scenic lake views and recreational access.
Full-Service Marinas
Fuel docks, wet slips, ship stores, and boat rentals⚓ Brady Mountain Resort And Marina
Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
⚓ Crystal Springs Resort
Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
⚓ Echo Canyon Resort And Marina
Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
⚓ Mountain Harbor Resort And Spa
Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
⚓ North Shores Resort And Marina
Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
⚓ Shangri La Resort
Full-service marina providing vessel mooring, slip rentals, fuel dock, and visitor services.
Today's Fishing Outlook
Favorable feeding forecast today with the First Quarter (56% illuminated). Surface water is 72°F with a steady pool (-0.01' in 24h). Fish will feed aggressively along windblown points and main-lake humps during the primary major window.
Fishing Regulations & Species
State Wildlife AgencyLicense Info: AGFC Arkansas fishing license.
Regulations Summary: Known for 30+ pound trophy striped bass.
View Official Wildlife Department Regulations →Lake Rules & Boating Safety
No private residential docks are permitted on the shoreline; all boat slips are clustered at commercial marinas.
Recent Community Reports
Real-time water clarity, hazards, and ramp wait times shared by boaters and anglers.
No community reports submitted in the last 24 hours for Lake Ouachita
Were you on the water today? Share water clarity, ramp conditions, or hazards to help fellow lake visitors.
Spaceborne Satellite Observation & Water Clarity
Fresh multi-spectral overhead Earth observation from the European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-2 constellation (10m spatial resolution).
Satellite imagery and indices processed via Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (CDSE) / Sentinel Hub API. Data reflects actual surface conditions at the time of orbital passage.
Derived from Band 4 red reflectance across open water pixels. Low reflectance indicates minimal suspended silt and high underwater visibility for angling and navigation.
Normalized Difference Chlorophyll Index (NDCI: 0.004) measures phytoplankton concentration using Red-Edge (B05) and Red (B04) bands to detect early bloom development before surface scums appear.
Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) contrasts Green and Near-Infrared spectra to map shallow shoals, sandbars, and exposed islands (like Sometimes Island on Travis or Wood Island on Texoma).
Recommended Gear for Current Conditions
Algorithmically matched to today's water temperature (72°F), lake elevation, and weather forecast.
Bassdash UPF 50+ Performance UV Sun Protection Fishing Hoodie
Ultra-breathable moisture-wicking UV shield designed to prevent all-day open water sunburn and heat fatigue without overheating.
Onyx A/M-24 Deluxe Automatic/Manual Inflatable Life Jacket (USCG)
Lightweight, comfortable low-profile design that automatically inflates upon immersion while allowing full arm mobility for driving and casting.
SereneLife 10'6" Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard (Complete Kit)
Calm winds (0 mph) offer pristine mirror-calm coves for touring, paddleboard fitness, and shoreline exploration.
Garmin Striker 4 Fishfinder with CHIRP Sonar & Dual-Beam Transducer
High-frequency CHIRP sonar pinpoints submerged humps, river channel dropoffs, bait balls, and suspended gamefish with crisp target separation.
Commercial Marinas & Featured Partners on Lake Ouachita
Verified marine operators, boat slip facilities, and licensed guide services.
⚓ Brady Mountain Resort And Marina
Full-service marina facility providing vessel mooring, guest slip rentals, marine fuel dock, and lakefront boater amenities on Lake Ouachita.
⚓ Crystal Springs Resort
Full-service marina facility providing vessel mooring, guest slip rentals, marine fuel dock, and lakefront boater amenities on Lake Ouachita.
Charter Guide or Boat Rental on Lake Ouachita?
Reach thousands of visiting boaters and anglers checking live water levels, surface temperatures, and ramp conditions before heading to Lake Ouachita.
Living on Lake Ouachita
Considering buying a lake cabin, dockable waterfront home, or retirement property on Lake Ouachita? Water levels, dock stability, and flood pool buffers are critical factors in waterfront valuation.
Massive 14-foot flood storage pool protects the upper Ouachita basin and downstream Lakes Hamilton and Catherine.
Hot Springs, AR
Historic spa city, Hot Springs National Park, Oaklawn horse racing, and dining.
Mount Ida, AR
Quartz crystal capital of the world offering peaceful south-shore marina access and national forest trails.
Mountain Pine, AR
Former timber community nestled directly between Lake Ouachita State Park and Brady Mountain.
Hot Springs Village, AR
Gated master-planned recreation enclave featuring private lakes, golf courses, and Ouachita proximity.