Army Corps of Engineers · Arkansas
Big Coon Creek
Army Corps of Engineers · Arkansas, United States
- Sites
- 32
- Hookups
- 32 electric, 32 with water
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 77 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Elevation
- 591 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Gillham Lake
- Nearest town
- Gillham
- Address
- 493 POLK 246, Gillham, AR, 71841
- Phone
- 870-385-7126
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Kayaking, Swimming Site
32 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Big Coon Creek Campground sits along the lush banks of Gillham Lake in southwest Arkansas.
Nicknamed the "Bright Spot on the Cossatot," Gillham Lake is a recreational oasis for outdoor enthusiasts.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy the lake for its vast boating opportunities, and a boat ramp is provided for easy water access. The river can be canoed from a point below the dam to U.S. Highway 71 South, a distance of about 16 miles. For shorter canoe trips, there are access roads to the river at Mize Crossing and Ladd Bridge. Anglers will find smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass, saugeye, crappie, channel and flathead catfish and various species of sunfish in the river. Hunting is allowed north of Little Coon Creek Park and on the eastern shore of the lake. Check with the Arkansas Game and Fish for Season Dates, Maps, and Regulations.
Facilities
Coon Creek provides 32 sites, each with water and 50-amp electric hookups. Additional amenities include hot showers, a boat ramp, swimming beach, dump station and a playground.
Natural Features
Gillham Lake spans 1,370 surface acres and boasts 36 miles of shoreline. The lake stems from the Cossatot River, designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50° | 32° | 10° | 70° | 9 of 11 |
| February | 57° | 39° | -2° | 74° | 8 of 11 |
| March | 65° | 47° | 30° | 81° | 2 of 11 |
| April | 73° | 54° | 37° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 81° | 66° | 52° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 89° | 72° | 62° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 91° | 75° | 65° | 105° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 93° | 75° | 67° | 104° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 88° | 70° | 59° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 73° | 56° | 39° | 88° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 66° | 48° | 24° | 82° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 55° | 40° | 26° | 73° | 5 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
- Little Coon Creek Park · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 11 sites
- Cossatot Reefs · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 31 sites
- Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area · Arkansas State Parks · 6 mi · 23 sites
- Jefferson Ridge · Army Corps of Engineers · 8 mi · 87 sites
- Blue Ridge Park · Army Corps of Engineers · 9 mi · 21 sites
All public campgrounds in Arkansas · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-04-07. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.