Located in west central Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma, the Ouachita National Forest offers visitors a myriad of opportunities. There are 35 developed recreation areas, 7 scenic areas, 43 vistas, 5 float camps, 11 shooting ranges, 2 historical sites, 6 wildernesses, 1 national recreation area, and over 700 miles of trails.

Ouachita National Forest is the oldest national forest in the South and is the area that was the backdrop for the novel and subsequent John Wayne movie, True Grit. The forest is named for the Ouachita Mountains which stretch from near the center of Arkansas to southeast Oklahoma. "Ouachita" is the french spelling of the Indian word "Washita" which means "good hunting grounds". The forest is a "land of many uses" including timber, grazing, mining, recreation, and providing habitat for wildlife. A progressive ecosystem management policy promotes wise use of the land and provides a healthy forest for tomorrow.

Recreation opportunites abound on the Ouachita National Forest. There are over 700 miles of trails, two scenic byways and numerous campgrounds and picnic areas. Natural scenery and solitude are found in the six wilderness areas. Because mechanized and motorized equipment are not allowed in wilderness, these areas provide an opportunity to "get away from it all". Numerous rivers and streams provide for excellent fishing and floating. Some of the most popular float streams are the Ouachita River and the two designated Wild and Scenic Rivers on the forest, the Cossatot and Little Missouri. Part of the forest in eastern Oklahoma has been designated as the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area (NRA). The NRA lies on either side of the Talimena Scenic Byway and contains a 90-acre lake, over 150 campsites, interpretive sites, hiking trails, the Robert S. Kerr Memorial Arboretum and Botanical Area, and one of the best equestrian trail systems and camping facilities in the nation.