In 1686, Henri de Tonti established a trading post known as "Poste de Arkansea" at the Quapaw village of Osotouy. It was the first semi-permanent French settlement in the lower Mississippi River Valley.
DeGray Lake, AR, on the Caddo River, is known for its camping facilities and geological formations. Located in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, lake visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming and scuba diving as well.
Bull Shoals Lake, located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, is popular year-round, as each season unfolds a new panorama. Summer contrasts lush green hardwoods and cedar glades against towering rocky bluffs and unusual rock formations.
The Ozark National Forest covers more than one million acres, mostly in northwest Arkansas. The southernmost portion runs along the Arkansas River valley south to the Ouachita Mountains.
Located in west central Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma, the Ouachita National Forest offers visitors a myriad of opportunities for either 1-day trips or extended vacations filled with relaxation and enjoyment.