Governing body U.S. Forest Service Nearest city Heavener | Area 30.35 km² | |
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Location Le Flore County, Oklahoma, USA Management United States Forest Service | ||
Beech Creek National Scenic Area is a federally designated National Scenic Area within Ouachita National Forest near Big Cedar, Oklahoma, USA. The 7,500-acre (30 km2) scenic area is administered by the U.S. Forest Service. The scenic area includes 32 miles (51 km) of hiking trails, some on former roads. The original designated area, the Beech Creek Botanical Area, remains, conserving mature beech trees near the headwaters of Beech Creek.
The National Scenic Area was established by Public Law 100-499, known as the "Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area and Wilderness Area Act", designating about 400 acres (160 ha) as the Beech Creek Botanical Area in 1988, and was expanded and designated Beech Creek National Scenic Area in 2007.
The trail system totals about 32 miles (51 km), with several different sections and varying degrees of difficulty for hikers:
Trail ratings
The U. S. Forest Service rates the trails as follows:
There are no restrooms along the trails nor are there any campsites. Campsites exist at Billy Creek and at Winding Stair National Recreation Area. Motorized vehicles and either pack or saddle animals are prohibited on the trails. Mountain bikes are not prohibited, but may be difficult to use because the trails are very narrow.