Dam at Devil’ Den State Park
Located in Lee Creek Valley of the Ozark Mountains is Devil’s Den State Park. With its deep crevices, mysterious caves, and striking bluff overlooks, Devil’s Den State Park is ideal for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking and camping in Arkansas. Several of the park’s backcountry hiking trails lead into the adjacent Ozark National Forest. Whether you’re looking for a place to relax or want an outdoor adventure, Devil’s Den is a place where you can get a feel for the spirit of the ancient, scenic hills known as the Ozarks.
Devil’s Den State Park
Cost:
There is no fee for this area for day use. Fees apply for camping, cabins, Backpacking Equipment rental, Boat Rental, Use of Group Facilities and Swimming
Best Time to Visit:
The area has many photographic opportunities all year long. Wildflowers in the spring, summer sports like backpacking and mountain biking along with water recreation, followed by brilliant fall foliage. Add an occasional winter snow and you have four seasons of photography.
Where it is:
Directions:
To reach Devil’s Den State Park, travel eight miles south of Fayetteville on I-540 to Exit #53 (West Fork), then go 17 miles southwest on Ark. 170; or I-540 at Exit #45 (Winslow) and go 7 miles west on Ark. 74 to the park. [TRAILERS LONGER THAN 26 FT. SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN USING ARK. 74 DUE TO THIS MOUNTAINOUS ROAD.] From Fort Smith go east on I-40 to I-540 to either of the above exits.
Map:
Click map to enlarge
Links:
Arkansas State Parks – Devil’s Den
Contact
11333 West Arkansas Highway 74
West Fork, AR 72774
Email: devilsden@arkansas.com
To reach the park office or make campsite reservations call 479-761-3325
Facilities
There are 143 campsites located in the park: 44 Class AAA, 12 Class B, 13 Class C, 24 Class D (no hookups), eight Hike-in (tent only) and 42 sites with water and electric hookups in the Horse Camp that includes a bathhouse and access to the horse trails. There is also a group camp area. The park also has 17 cabins. Cabins feature kitchens and fireplaces and are available throughout the year. A park cafe and store are available in the summer months. A park grocery is open year round.
Tips for the Photographer
Equipment:
You will want to bring everything that you have and then borrow some of your friends equipment. Ok I just kidding, but you will have the opportunity to shoot birds and other wildlife that will require as long of lens as you have. There are a great number of possibilities for doiing close-up and macro work. Scenic’s may require normal to wide angle lenses. To shoot in the caves you will need a flashlight to see and focus (it is totally dark in there) and a flash to light the cave.
What to Photograph:
Devil’s Den has more to photograph than you could possibly fit into one day. Nature photographers will enjoy the butterflies, wildflowers, caves and crevices, and wildlife.
Photography Tips:
When shooting the wildflowers in spring be sure to bring something that can be used as a diffusion filter. The sunlight filtering through the leaves will leave hot spots and ruin your images. Also a reflector can help to fill the shaded parts to get a great exposure. Using a longer lens (around 200mm) will help to narrow the angle of view and elimate distracting backgrounds.
Waterfall on Devil’s Den Trail
Devil’s Den CaveBat in Devil’s Den Cave
Lee Creek in Devil’s Den State Park
Lake at Devil’s Den State Park
Wildflowers are abundant, such as this “Jack in the Pulpit”
Devil’s Den State Park Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Arkansas:
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Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance.
