A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Army Corps of Engineers campground

Horseshoe Bend (Dierks Lake)

Army Corps of Engineers campground in Dierks Lake, Howard County, Arkansas. 681 feet. 4.5 miles from Dierks.

Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Dierks Lake
Elevation
681 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
12 12 standard electric
Longest rig
45 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
Electric, Water
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Howard County

Overview

Horseshoe Bend Park, located along the Saline River just south of Dierks Dam, is home to a paddlers dream course. This aquatic whitewater park, built along three quarters of a mile of pristine river funneled over native river stone, offers four or more challenging drops. The course is designed with paddlers in mind and is an excellent training location. The water park was home to the Olympic trials in the late 90’s and is dependent on spillway releases from Dierks Lake dam. When water conditions are right the course simulates Class II to Class IV rapids, all within a safe location that is easily accessible for paddlers to practice new techniques. For those looking to stay and play a while, 12 class A campsites are available along the riverfront

Recreation

Camping

Day use

Playground

Shelter

Paddling

Facilities

12 Campsites (Overnight)

1 Pavillion (Day Use)

2 Restrooms 1 Shower Facility

Playground

Natural Features

Dierks Lake is in the Ouachitas region of Arkansas and sits on the Saline River. Horseshoe bend sets at the base of a 300 foot verticle cliff offering scenic views along the steep wooded areas

Nearby Attractions

A day trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, just 30 miles from the park, is a popular activity. The diamond mine is the only one of its kind in the country, where visitors get to keep any diamonds and semi-precious stones they unearth, regardless of value.

Hot Springs National Park known for its naturally headed springs ust an hours drive away offers a multiple bathouses, resturants, and activies.

Choctaw nation located just an hour away at Brokenbow offers world class gaming casino as well a variet of natural features and resturants

The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • canoeing
  • paddling
  • picnicking
  • rafting
  • whitewater rafting

The land around Horseshoe Bend (Dierks Lake)

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.