National Park Service · Arkansas
Steel Creek Campground
National Park Service · Arkansas, United States · in Buffalo National River
- Sites
- 40
- Hookups
- 40 with water, 39 no hookups
- Season
- March 13 to November 15
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Dump station
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,542 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1 · certified dark-sky place
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Buffalo National River
- Nearest town
- Jasper
- Address
- 386 NC 2104, Jasper, AR, 72641
- Phone
- 870-861-2570
- Activities
- Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Historic & Cultural Site, Horse Camping, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Picnicking, Ranger Station, Star Gazing, Swimming
40 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Steel Creek Campground is situated along the Buffalo River under the towering and picturesque Roark Bluff. One section of the campground offers 26 walk-in tent sites and another section of the campground offers 13 sites for those camping with horses. All sites are available by reservation only. Steel Creek is located about 3 miles (5 km) east of Ponca, just off Highway 74.
Recreation
Paddling conditions in the upper (westernmost) district of Buffalo National River are extremely dependent upon rainfall. On an average year, the upper river is only navigable by boat in the spring and early summer when consistent rainfall feeds into the watershed. Some sections on the upper end of the river are technical and should not be attempted by novices. For current paddling conditions, please check with an outfitter (visit our Guided Services web page ), call the Tyler Bend Visitor Center at 870-439-2502, or check the Buffalo National River Float Guide Dashboard
Facilities
Steel Creek has 26 tent only sites and 13 sites for campers with horses/stock animals (six people and four stock animals allowed per site). All sites are available by reservations only. There are no electrical amenities or water hookups, but flush restrooms and water spigots are available from approximately March 15 through November 15 each year.
Natural Features
The Buffalo National River flows free over swift running rapids and quiet pools for its 135-mile (217 km) length. One of the few remaining rivers in the lower 48 states without dams, the Buffalo cuts its way through massive limestone bluffs traveling eastward through the Arkansas Ozarks and into the White River.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (870) 439-2502.
Nearby Attractions
The Buffalo River Trail runs through Steel Creek and offers great day hiking or overnight backcountry opportunities.
Boxley Valley is nearby and is home to Lost Valley, an easy to moderate trail that leads hikers past geologic and water formations. Visit the park's Hiking Trails web page for more information..
Charges & Cancellations
rules and reservation policies
Fees
Fees for the walk-in tent sites and primitive horse-only sites (non-electric) are $20 a night for up to 6 people and per site. Horse-only sites are allowed up to 6 stock per site.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44° | 29° | 3° | 64° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 51° | 31° | -12° | 71° | 9 of 11 |
| March | 61° | 41° | 22° | 79° | 6 of 11 |
| April | 69° | 49° | 32° | 84° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 76° | 62° | 48° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 85° | 68° | 55° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 71° | 62° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 87° | 70° | 60° | 101° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 66° | 52° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 69° | 51° | 31° | 84° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 61° | 42° | 19° | 77° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 49° | 34° | 18° | 69° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Kyles Landing · National Park Service · 4 mi · 33 sites
- Kyles Landing Campground · National Park Service · 4 mi · 34 sites
- Ozark Campground · National Park Service · 10 mi · 32 sites
- Sam's Throne Campground · USDA Forest Service · 20 mi
- Withrow Springs State Park · Arkansas State Parks · 23 mi · 39 sites
All public campgrounds in Arkansas · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-05. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.