Several updates affecting Arkansas federal public lands were announced this week, including the reopening of a popular Ozark forest road, updated motor vehicle use maps for national forests, and temporary summer closures at a Corps of Engineers recreation area near Russellville.
White Rock Road Reopens After Four-Year Closure
Visitors to the Boston Mountains can once again access White Rock Mountain Recreation Area using Forest Service Road 1003, commonly known as White Rock Road. The Ozark-St. Francis National Forests announced that the section between Bliss Ridge Road and Wood’s Gap has reopened after extensive repairs following a major landslide that closed the route in 2022.
The reopened section restores direct access to one of the most scenic recreation areas in northwest Arkansas. White Rock Mountain Recreation Area includes a lodge, rental cabins, campsites, and access to several hiking trails and scenic overlooks.
According to concessionaire representative Amber Patton, visitors can enjoy panoramic bluff views, a loop trail connecting to Shores Lake and the Ozark Highlands Trail, and another trail that circles the mountain’s scenic rim…