Bull Shoals-White River State Park in Arkansas, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-01. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bull Shoals-White River State Park in northern Arkansas combines a dam overlook, wooded trails and river camping. The visitor center and campground have separate arrival addresses. Choose the overlook for exhibits and views, or the riverside entrance for an overnight stay.

See the landscape from above and below the dam

Begin at the James A. Gaston Visitor Center for exhibits, a theater and views across the lake and river landscape. Then choose a trail suited to your group. The river is a managed trout fishery with conditions affected by dam releases.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Expect sudden changes in river level

Hydroelectric releases can raise the White River suddenly. A warning horn sounds when water levels change, but weather can make it difficult to hear. Do not rely on hearing the horn to judge river conditions. Fishing, boating and wading are prohibited within 100 yards of the dam. Some areas lack fences or warning signs, so supervise children closely.

Check the rules for the actual fishing reach

Arkansas requires anglers to hold the fishing license required for their age and activity. Fishing must follow the applicable seasons, size restrictions and catch limits. Review the AGFC tailwater information and confirm current trout rules before fishing. November 1–January 31, the reach from the trout-dock wing dike to the park’s downstream boundary requires release of brown trout, barbless artificial lures or flies, no natural or scented bait, and no chumming. Fishing stops 30 minutes after sunset and cannot resume until 30 minutes before sunrise. The specific trout-water rules also limit tailwater anglers to one attended rod, with a single hooking point for bait fishing.

Register before occupying a campsite

Use the booking link on the official park page or call staff to choose a site and confirm current prices. Campers must register before occupying a campsite. When the camper-registration center is closed, arrange check-in with staff. Reserve group pavilions before use.

Keep the two visitor destinations separate

The visitor center is at 153 Dam Overlook Lane, Bull Shoals, AR 72619, and has no camping access. The camping area is at 129 Bull Shoals Park, Lakeview, AR 72642. Enter the appropriate address before driving.

Two separate local parks

Lakeview Park is a separate Bull Shoals Lake campground reached from Highway 178 via Boat Dock Road. Its address is 450 Boat Dock Road, Lakeview. Roy Danuser City Park has its trailhead by the playground on Marilyn Avenue in Bull Shoals.

Choose an interpretive walk or a climb

• The half-mile Heritage and Habitat Trail is rated easy and ADA accessible. It explains how land disturbed during dam construction returns to forest.
• Big Bluff Trail is a 1.75-mile loop. Its first section follows an old construction tram route, but the route climbs after crossing a paved road. Allow about two hours for this more demanding walk.
• For fishing, first choose your legal access and check release conditions. A trout-fishing reputation does not make every river location suitable for wading.

Exhibits, campsites and seasonal river services

Camping choices include sites with utility hookups and tent sites without hookups. The visitor center offers a gift shop and meeting rooms. Winter marina service is reduced: November and February opening is Friday–Tuesday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m., and it closes in December and January.

About the Ozark river park

Recreation after dam construction

The park was designated in 1955. A former tram route used to deliver construction materials now forms the start of Big Bluff Trail.

Cedar glades and returning forest

Big Bluff Trail crosses cedar glades, mature deciduous woodland and streams. Its habitats support Ozark wildflowers. The Heritage and Habitat route adds a closer look at forest regeneration.

Contact

Call 870-445-3629 or email [email protected]. Consult the official park page for booking and current services. The park brochure and map shows the lake and river areas.