Welcome to Lake Greeson

 

Lake Greeson is one of three lakes located in southwest Arkansas within the Ouachita River Basin.  

The lake is located on the beautiful Little Missouri River in Pike County, Arkansas.  Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1947 and 1950 as part of a flood control and hydropower project, authorized purposes now include recreation, water quality, water supply, conservation, and  forestry, fish,  wildlife management.  Each year millions of people utilize the many public parks, marinas, and campgrounds conveniently located around the lake to pursue a variety of outdoor recreational experiences.

 

Lake Greeson is a man-made lake and has the only all-concrete dam within the Vicksburg District.  The lake is approximately 12 miles long and is surrounded by 15,842 acres of federally administered public lands.  The project offers a wide array of recreational opportunities. Whether you choose to enjoy the clear water for boating or swimming, or you decide to take in the beauty of the land on one of our trails, we feel confident that you will appreciate and enjoy your time at Lake Greeson.

  Camping

At Lake Greeson, one of our most popular outdoor recreation activities is camping. The U.S .Army Corps of Engineers manages 11 campgrounds at Lake Greeson with a total of 408 campsites. Many of these campgrounds feature amenities such as restrooms, showers, boat ramps, sanitary disposal stations, playgrounds, electric and water hook-ups, and swimming areas. Four of the campgrounds feature contract park attendants who register incoming campers, provide information, and ensure the campground is operated to provide the safest, most enjoyable experience for all visitors.

Camping Areas

Description of Facilities:
15 recreation areas with 102 picnic sites, 416 campsites, 10 boat ramps, and 6 swimming beaches.

Class A camping areas

Cowhide Cove
-50 campsites
Location:  HWY 27 North, midway between Murfreesboro and Kirby.
Amenities: Potable water available, concrete boat ramp, shower house, modern bathroom, trailer dump station, 20 and 30 amp breakers, service tables, picnic tables, ground grills, pedestal grills, playground, lantern poles and swim beach.
Cowhide Cove 911 address:  239 New Cowhide Cove Road, Murfreesboro, AR  71958

Kirby Landing
-87 campsites
Location:  HWY 70 West, approximately 2 miles west of Kirby
Amenities: Potable water available, 2 concrete boat ramps, shower house, modern bathroom, trailer dump station, 20 and 30 amp breakers, service tables, picnic tables, ground grills, pedestal grills, playground, lantern poles and swim beach.
Kirby Landing 911 address:  224 Kirby Landing Road, Kirby, AR  71950

Self Creek/Jim Wylie
-76 campsites
Location:  HWY 70 West, 6 miles west of Kirby near Daisy
Amenities: Potable water available, concrete boat ramp, 2 shower houses, modern bathroom, trailer dump station, 20 and 30 amp breakers, service tables, picnic tables, ground grills, pedestal grills, playground, lantern poles and swim beach.
Self Creek 911 address:  4206 Hwy 70 West, Daisy, AR  71950

Parker Creek
-57 campsites
Location: 6 miles north of Murfreesboro to dam on Hwy 19,  then 3 miles west on paved road.
Amenities: Potable water available, concrete boat ramp, 2 bathrooms with showers, trailer dump station, 20 and 30 amp breakers, service tables, picnic tables, ground grills, pedestal grills, playground, lantern poles and swim beach.
Parker Creek 911 address:  129 Parker Creek Road, Murfreesboro, AR  71958

Dam Area
-24 campsites
Location: From Texarkana, AR: East on I-30 to Prescott, AR. North on AR 19, 30 miles to Murfreesboro, north on Hwy 19, 6  miles to Dam Area. From Hot Springs, AR: West on US 70 for 41 miles to Kirby,AR. South on AR 27 for 15 miles to Murfreesboro, AR. North on Hwy 19, 6 miles to Dam Area.
Amenities: Potable water available, concrete boat ramp, shower house, modern bathroom, trailer dump station, 20 and 30 amp breakers, service tables, picnic tables, ground grills, pedestal grills, lantern poles, swim beach, and a pavilion.
Dam Area 911 address:  145 Dynamite Hill Road, Murfreesboro, AR  71958

Fees:
$10.00 to $18.00 (01 March-31 Oct)

America the Beautiful Passes/Golden Age and Golden Access cards accepted
Arkansas Agencies Authorized to sell America the Beautiful Passes

Golden Age, Golden Access and America the Beautiful cards accepted for half price fees.
Off season rates:
$6.00 to $14.00 per night
Reservations for Class A sites at these camping areas may be made by calling the National Recreation Reservation System's toll free number 1-877-444-6777 or on the internet at www.recreation .gov

Class C camping areas

Arrowhead Point
-23 campsites
Location:  5 miles east of New Hope on US 70.
Amenities: Picnic tables, service tables, potable water available, concrete boat ramp, modern bathroom, pedestal grills, and swim beach.
Arrowhead Point 911 address:  50 Arrowhead Road, Kirby, AR  71950
Fees:
$6.00 per night
Golden Age, Golden Access and America the Beautiful cards accepted for half price fees. Free in the off season. All campsites are non-reserve and available as “first come-first serve”.

Class D camping areas

Pikeville
-12 campsites
Location:  6 miles north of Murfreesboro to dam on Hwy 19, then 5 miles west on paved and gravel roads.
Amenities: Picnic tables, service tables, ground grills, lantern poles, vault type bathroom.
Pikeville 911 address:  788 Copeland Road, Murfreesboro, AR  71958

Star of the West
-21 campsites
Location:  West of Kirby approximately 11.6 miles
Amenities: Picnic tables, service tables, ground grills, lantern poles, vault type bathroom, potable water available.
Star of the West 911 address:  5048 Hwy 70 West, Newhope, AR  71959

Bear Creek
-19 campsites
Location:  .5 miles south of Kirby on Hwy 27
Amenities: Picnic tables, service tables, ground grills, lantern poles, vault type bathrooms, potable water available.
Bear Creek 911 address:  300 Bear Creek Road, Kirby, AR  71950

Buckhorn
-9 campsites
Location:  6 miles north of Murfreesboro to dam on Hwy 19, 6 miles west on paved and gravel roads.
Amenities: Picnic tables, service tables, ground grills, lantern poles, vault type bathroom.
Buckhorn 911 address:  798 Forest Road P-626, Murfreesboro, AR  71958

Laurel Creek
-24 campsites
Location:  5 miles south of Kirby, AR on Hwy 27, then 3 miles west on gravel road.
Amenities: Picnic tables, service tables, ground grills, lantern poles, vault type bathrooms.
Laurel Creek 911 address:  976 Laurel Creek Road, Kirby, AR  71950
Fees:
$5.00 (01 Mar-31 Oct)
Golden Age, Golden Access and America the Beautiful cards accepted for half price fees. Off season rates: Free. All campsites are non-reserve and available as “first come-first serve”.

Primative Campground

Rock Creek
-14 campsites
Location:  5 miles west of Daisy on Hwy 70,  then 6 miles east on gravel road.
Amenities:  Tent pads and vault type bathroom.



  Fishing...

Lake Greeson is recognized for its rich variety of game fish, which include such species as large mouth, stripped, spotted, small mouth, and white bass, flathead and channel catfish, black and white crappie, walleye, and blue gill. The tail waters of the Little Missouri River below the dam support a healthy population of rainbow trout and small mouth bass. With 7,260 surface acres of clear water it is no wonder why fishing on Lake Greeson is such a popular outdoor activity.

When Lake Greeson was created most of the timber was harvested and removed. Due to the age of Lake Greeson most of the timber that remained has deteriorated resulting in very little underwater structure for fish habitat. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work diligently to supplement fish habitat by creating fish shelters in various locations within the waters of Lake Greeson. Fish shelter construction has greatly improved quality fishing opportunities for both the novice and professional angler. As the quality of fish continue to improve, fishing guide services have became available over the past few years. For information on fish shelter locations please refer to our link on this website.

Fish Shelter Maps

Narrows Dam Generation Schedule
https://www.swepco.com/info/recreation/

  Hunting
The best opportunity for hunting near Lake Greeson lies within the Lake Greeson Wildlife Management Area.  This area is made up of approximately 22,000 acres of Weyerhaeuser Company land, 11,000 acres of International Paper land, 1200 acres of Potlatch Forest Inc. land and 2000 acres of Corp of Engineer property.  The Lake Greeson Wildlife Management Area was established in 1981.  The primary objective of this management area is to provide quality wildlife habitat and public hunting opportunities. Typical Athens Piedmont Plateau, rolling hills intensively managed for pine production and pine/hardwood mixed composition along creeks comprise the majority of the area.

Access points on the west can be found along Hwy 369 between Nashville and Newhope, while from the north, Weyerhaeuser Rd 25520 off of Hwy 70 leads onto the area. From Murfreesboro, take Hwy 19 to Narrows Dam and follow the signs to the Parker Creek Campground, located within the management area in the western shore of the lake. 

Deer, quail, turkey, squirrel, and rabbits are the primary game hunted.
Wildlife management practices are integrated with timber management practices to provide quality wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities. These management practices provide substantial open land habitats and stimulate excellent browse production.

Any individual interested in hunting the Lake Greeson Wildlife Management Area must contact the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, http://www.agfc.com/  to obtain applicable permits. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is the primary regulatory agency for hunting in the state of Arkansas.

  Trails
Lake Greeson offers 30 miles of walking, nature, and cycling trails for public use. The Parker Creek Recreation Area allows you to experience a little piece of history as you walk the Cinnabar Mine Nature Trail. Mining activities were booming in the area during the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. The Cinnabar Mine is an interesting part of history for the area. If you would rather see the land pass by a little faster, you would enjoy The Bear Creek Cycle Trail. The trail allows riders to view 20 miles of breathtaking beauty that Lake Greeson has to offer. The journey takes the rider across rocky hills, through pine forests and colorful hardwoods, which accent the shoreline.
 Boating

Wear your pfd like this child and her doggieBoating is an activity enjoyed by many of the visitors at Lake Greeson. The beautiful clear waters offer an excellent opportunity for many boating activities including water skiing, tubing, personal water craft, cruising, and fishing. There are eight boat ramps located around the lake for easy launching of boats. Enjoyment of these activities is available to everyone, but true enjoyment is only experienced if safety is recognized. Safety is the responsibility of each person. Remember that wearing life jackets save lives. Users must be alert to underwater hazards such as submerged stumps, logs, rocks and shallow humps. Special attention to water depth as you approach the shoreline must be administered. Water depths vary month to month depending on rainfall and the need for generating electricity.

Anyone born after 1 January 1986, must carry proof of completing an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Boating Education Course before operating a motorboat or personal watercraft. All state and federal boating rules must be obeyed. No open alcoholic containers are allowed while in a boat at Lake Greeson.

Four marinas at Lake Greeson offer boaters fuel, picnic and fishing supplies, and boat rentals. Two marinas have modern cabins for overnight occupancy or extended stays.

Phone numbers for the marinas are:
Swaha Lodge and Marina: 870-285-2272
Kirby Landing Marina: 870-398-4434
Self Creek Lodge and Marina: 870-398-5000
Hwy 70 Landing and Marina: 870-398-5490

 Day Use

Swimming

Swim at Lake Greeson and Enjoy the Fresh Clear Water.
There are six swimming areas at Lake Greeson with sand covered beaches. Each swimming area has depth marker poles installed indicating the water depth for your safety. The swimming areas are open all year, but during the months of May – September there is a user fee charge of $1.00 per person for anyone over the age of twelve or a maximum of $4.00 per vehicle.

 

Who can resist a swim in the lake on a hot summer afternoon? Enjoy your swim but please remember:

  • Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Learn to swim – it’s never too late.
  • Never dive into a lake or river.
  • Swim with a buddy – never swim alone.
  • Wear your life jacket when swimming if you are not a good swimmer. Better yet, wear your life jacket regardless of your swimming abilities.
  • Coves are always farther than they appear! Don’t overestimate your swimming ability.
  • Parents: There is no substitute for your close attention – don’t rely solely on a life jacket or swimming lessons for your child’s protection. Watch your children closely!
  • Swim in designated swim areas.
  • Be aware that water levels fluctuate.
  • Don’t rely on inflatable rafts, toys, and armbands. They can deflate in seconds and leave you or your child stranded.
  • Don’t swim in cold water. Warm air temperatures don’t necessarily mean warm water temperatures.

 

The following recreations areas at Lake Greeson have designated swimming areas:

  • Parker Creek
  • Dam Area
  • Cowhide Cove
  • Kirby Landing
  • Self Creek
  • Arrowhead Point

 


Picnic Shelters

Picnic shelters are available at three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operated parks on Lake Greeson. Picnic Shelters are located at Riverside Area, Dam Area, and Self Creek Area. These shelters and day use areas are ideal for family reunions, birthday parties, church picnics, civic group meeting, company picnics, and other group outings. Rentals are available all year. Shelter reservations are only for the exclusive use of the shelter. All park amenities are available to the public.

 

 

Dam Area
Amenities: Boat ramp, swimming beach, modern bathroom, pavilion, picnic tables, potable water, and pedestal grills.

 

 

Riverside
Amenities: Playground, service tables, pavilion, modern bathroom, picnic tables , potable water, pavilion, and pedestal grills.

Self Creek Ramp
Amenities: Boat ramp, service tables, pavilion, modern bathroom, picnic tables, water-potable water, pedestal grills, playground, and a pavilion.

Fees:

  • $4 per day to use a boat launching ramp
  • $1 per day per person to use a swimming beach, maximum $4 per vehicle per day

* Annual Passes for launching boats are available at any Corps of Engineers Lake Field Office. The cost of an Annual Pass is $40; they are good for one year from date of purchase and they are accepted at any U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Project, Nationwide.
Click links to find information about recreation passes issued, sold, and accepted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
Summary of Recreation Fee Discount Passes that the Corps of Engineers is authorized to issue, sell, and accept
and Changes in Age and Disability Discount Passes for Recreation Fees

Reservations
For these areas can be made by calling the Lake Greeson Field Office at 870-285-2151; reservations can also be made in person at the Lake Greeson Field Office at 155 Dynamite Hill Road. Reservations can be made beginning the first work day of each year, Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. from January – December.

Payment
Reservation fees for shelters may be made in person at the Lake Greeson Field Office or by mail. Methods of payment accepted are cash, checks, and credit card. When a shelter reservation is made, a form confirming the reservation and payment is mailed or faxed to the party that made the reservation.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. How much does an annual day use pass cost?
A. Cost is $40.
Q. For what period is an annual day use pass valid?
A. The annual pass is valid for one year from date of purchase.
Q. Do age- and disability-related discounts apply on annual day use passes?
A. Holders of either an Interagency Senior or Access Pass or Golden Age or Access Passport get a 50% discount on all use fees. Senior and Access Pass Holders no longer need to purchase an annual pass, as the card now serves as an annual pass.
Q. What do I do with it after I buy it?
A. The annual pass is a hangtag which is hung from the interior rear view mirror of the vehicle. Two decals, one displaying the month and the other displaying the year of purchase, will be affixed to the hangtag upon purchase. On open vehicles or vehicles with no interior rear view mirror, the decals may be affixed directly at an alternate location, such as the left front bumper or the back of the left exterior rear view mirror, rather than to the hangtag. Senior and Access Pass Holders can request, at no cost, a special card holder for hanging on the rear view mirror.
Q. What if I have more than one vehicle?
A. No duplicate passes will be sold because the hangtag may be used on any vehicle the pass holder owns. A visitor may purchase more than one Annual Day Use Pass at full price if desired.
Q. Where can I use the pass?
A. The pass is only valid at day use areas operated by the Corps of Engineers. It may not be used at areas operated by other agencies even if those areas are located on Corps-owned property.
Q. What if my pass is lost or stolen?
A. Lost or stolen Annual Day Use Passes will not be replaced at no cost unless proof of theft, such as police report or insurance document, which specifies the theft of the pass, is provided.
Q. How many age- or disability-related discounted annual passes can be purchased by a single individual?
A. The card holder no longer needs to purchase an annual pass, because the card fulfills the pass requirement. A visitor may purchase an Annual Day Use Pass at full price if desired, to use separately from the Senior or Access Pass.

 Passes
Day Use Fee Program

At U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas, including day use parks and boat launching ramps, a day use fee of $5.00 will be assessed from recreation users launching boats and $2.00 per person/$5.00 per vehicle for beach use. In most cases, a self-deposit sealable envelope with detachable stub is used for payment of fees. After filling out the envelope, the day use visitor will detach the stub (making sure the date has been filled out) and display the stub on the interior rearview mirror of his/her vehicle. The day use pass authorizes the use of Corps of Engineers day use facilities for the date specified on the envelope and stub. The stub is invalid unless dated.
For more information on Passes click here.
 Permits

The mission of the Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program is to protect the Nation’s aquatic resources, while allowing reasonable development by federal, state and local agencies, special interest groups, and private citizens through a fair and balanced permit program. The Corps’ decision-making process considers the interests of all parties and results in decisions that are fair and equitable and that allow for the reasonable use of private property, business development and economic growth. At the same time, these decisions must neutralize the impacts of proposed work in order to protect the waters of the United States.

 

Click here for the Permits Page

Contact Info

Lake Greeson Field Office
155 Dynamite Hill Road
Murfreesboro AR 71958

Phone: 870-285-2151
FAX: 870-285-3700

Camping Reservations:
www.recreation.gov
1-877-444-6777

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Lake Greeson Location

 

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We would like to remind our ATV/UTV/Dirtbike enthusiasts that the Bear Creek Cycle Trail is the only designated trail for use of these vehicles.  Trail riding is prohibited in all other areas surrounding the lake.  Riders must stay on the marked, designated trails of the Bear Creek Cycle Trail. 

 

 

 

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