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The view from Yellow Rock overlook over the Lee Creek valley at Devil's Den State Park

State Park · Arkansas

Devil's Den State Park

An Ozark CCC classic in a Lee Creek hollow: the Yellow Rock overlook, crevice caves, stone cabins, and a 15-mile backpacking trail.

Historic 1930s CCC stone cabins in the wooded hollow

Field briefing

Devil's Den State Park changes fast with season and elevation.

Before you go

Devil's Den is the Ozark CCC park people return to: a Lee Creek hollow ringed by bluffs, with the Yellow Rock overlook as the headline hike and stone cabins and dams from the 1930s.

There is no entrance fee, so the planning problem is the cabins, which are 1930s CCC stone updated inside and book out fast for fall color and spring weekends.

Best window
April to June and September to November for mild Ozark hiking and color
Signature routes
Yellow Rock Trail, Devil's Den Trail and caves
Pack focus
Water, weather checks, layers

The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.

Location
Arkansas
Best time
April to June and September to November for mild Ozark hiking and color
Entrance
No entrance fee. Camping and cabin fees apply separately

When to go

Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.

Spring

High crowds

Mild and green, with flowing creeks and busy weekends.

Pack Rain shell, grippy footwear, and an early start for the overlook.

Summer

Moderate crowds

Warm and humid, with shaded hollows and the creek for cooling off.

Pack Water, bug spray, and sun protection on the ridge sections.

Fall

High crowds

Crisp hiking weather and strong color through the hollow.

Pack Warm layer, headlamp for short days, and traction for leaves on rock.

Winter

Low crowds

Cold and quiet, with bare-tree overlooks and occasional ice in the caves.

Pack Insulation, traction, and a plan for limited seasonal services.

Top things to do

  • Yellow Rock Trail

    The must-do for first-time visitors, climbing to one of the best overlooks in the park above the Lee Creek valley.

  • Devil's Den Trail and caves

    A short loop past crevices, bluffs, and the namesake caves. Caves may close to protect bats, so check current access.

  • Butterfield Hiking Trail

    A 15-mile backpacking loop past rock formations and panoramic viewpoints, the longest route in the park.

How long to spend

Anchor the day around Yellow Rock Trail

Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Devil's Den State Park, make Yellow Rock Trail the non-negotiable, add Devil's Den Trail and caves only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Butterfield Hiking Trail as the flexible finish.

  1. 1Start with Yellow Rock Trail: The must-do for first-time visitors, climbing to one of the best overlooks in the park above the Lee Creek valley.
  2. 2Add Devil's Den Trail and caves: A short loop past crevices, bluffs, and the namesake caves. Caves may close to protect bats, so check current access.
  3. 3Use Butterfield Hiking Trail as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.

Plan your trip

Turn Devil's Den's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.

Rock crevices and caves along the Devil's Den Trail

Build around conditions

Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.

Plan your trip

4 quick tools, already seeded for Devil's Den State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.

  1. 01Size your water for a mild day on the trail
  2. 02Dial in your pack base weight before you load up
  3. 03Find the pack size a multi-day trip here needs
  4. 04Check you will sleep warm down to about 30F

What to pack

Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.

Pack planning

Decide what Devil's Den State Park asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.

Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.

  • First constraintHydration and exposureWater, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, Navigationmap, downloaded GPS, or a GPS watch, 3 more
  • Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
  • Load choicePack and carry systemBackpacking pack
  • If overnightSleep and shelterBackpacking tent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad, 1 more

Checklist mode

25 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.

  1. Dates and season are set.
  2. Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
  3. Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.

Gear for Devil's Den

The buying guides that match what Devil's Den asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.

Where to stay

The view from Yellow Rock overlook over the Lee Creek valley at Devil's Den State Park

Stay strategy

Choose the base before reservations narrow.

Stay strategy

Cabin or campground, both in the hollow.

Devil's Den has free entry, so lodging is the real reservation. The historic stone cabins fill first for fall color and spring weekends, and the campground is the flexible backup.

Compare base options

1930s stone cabins, modern inside is the first base to test against your route. Compare the alternatives by morning friction, reservation risk, and drive time.

Lee Creek and the stone dam below the CCC structures

CCC stone cabins

1930s stone cabins, modern inside

Reserve a cabin
Best for
Travelers who want history and comfort with a full kitchen and air conditioning.
Tradeoff
Only 17 full cabins, so they book months ahead for peak dates.
Planning detail

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and updated with heat, air conditioning, and full kitchens.

Rock crevices and caves along the Devil's Den Trail

Camper cabins

Bare-bones camper cabins

See camper cabins
Best for
Campers who want a roof and a bed without full cabin amenities.
Tradeoff
Minimal amenities, with shared bathhouses and outdoor picnic tables.
Planning detail

Six simple camper cabins for a step up from a tent at a lower cost than the full cabins.

Lee Creek and the stone dam below the CCC structures

Devil's Den campground

135 sites including hike-in tent sites

Reserve camping
Best for
Tent and RV campers who want the flexible, lower-cost base.
Tradeoff
The best sites still go early on holiday and fall-color weekends.
Planning detail

135 campsites across the hollow, including some hike-in tent-only sites near Lee Creek.

Camping reservations

Camping reservations

Book through Arkansas State Parks, cabins first for peak dates.

Devil's Den charges no entrance fee, so where you sleep is the reservation that matters. The campground has 135 sites including hike-in tent sites, and the historic CCC cabins are reserved through the same Arkansas system.

Reviewed June 11, 2026

Booking window

Reserve campsites and cabins through the official Arkansas State Parks reservation system. Cabin and camping bookings carry a non-refundable deposit, and peak weekends fill early.

  • There is no entrance fee or vehicle permit. Camping and cabin fees apply separately.
  • Cabin reservations carry a non-refundable deposit, and dog-friendly cabins add a pet fee.
  • The campground has 135 sites, including some hike-in tent-only sites near Lee Creek.

Where to book or verify

Devil's Den camping

Official Arkansas State Parks campground reservation page.

Devil's Den cabins

Official cabin reservation page for the CCC stone cabins and camper cabins.

Search Recreation.gov

Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.

Campgrounds to know

Devil's Den campground

Details
Booking
Reserve through Arkansas State Parks.
Sites
135 sites, including electric sites and hike-in tent-only sites.
Best first check for tent and RV campers who want the flexible base.

CCC and camper cabins

Details
Booking
Reserve through Arkansas State Parks.
Sites
17 full cabins plus 6 bare-bones camper cabins.
Book first for peak dates, since these fill before the campground.

Getting there and practical info

The view from Yellow Rock overlook over the Lee Creek valley at Devil's Den State Park

Build the arrival around the reservation.

Entry windows, permit pickups, and drive time should be checked before the itinerary gets crowded.

Getting there

Get to Devil's Den State Park with the required window already protected.

Access rhythm
Plan the last mile
Region
Arkansas
  1. Car strategy

    Devil's Den is in the Lee Creek valley near Winslow, off a winding mountain road south of Fayetteville and West Fork.

  2. Car strategy

    A car is required, and the descent into the hollow on State Highway 74 is steep and narrow, so large RVs and trailers should check the recommended route before committing.

Pair this with lodging: choose the base that keeps the reservation or permit pickup from becoming the hardest part of the day.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best hike at Devil's Den State Park?

The Yellow Rock Trail, about 3 miles round trip, is the must-do for first-time visitors and leads to one of the best overlooks in the park above the Lee Creek valley.

Is there an entrance fee at Devil's Den?

No. Arkansas State Parks do not charge an entrance fee or vehicle permit at Devil's Den. Camping and cabin fees apply separately, and cabin bookings carry a non-refundable deposit.

Can you stay in a cabin at Devil's Den?

Yes. There are 17 cabins built by the CCC in the 1930s, updated inside with full kitchens, heat, and air conditioning, plus six simpler camper cabins. They book out for peak weekends, so reserve early.

Keep planning