Tompkins Bend Day-Use

Tompkins Bend Day-Use Area on Lake Ouachita is a great spot to get away for the day. The combination of lush mountain scenery and wildlife makes this quiet location an ideal place for a family gathering, reunion or group retreat. The Day-Use Pavilion has electrical hook-ups, picnic tables and lighting. Other amenities include a bathroom facility, a playground, and a grassy wooded scenic view. Water skiers, jet skiers and anglers can all enjoy the crystal clear waters of the lake, while hikers enjoy the area's location on the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT), which meanders across the south end of the lake. Wildlife enthusiasts can find everything from bobcats to black bears and deer in the forested mountains surrounding the lake, and bald eagles are often spotted in winter. Lake Ouachita is fed from the cool waters of the Ouachita River in central Arkansas. Surrounded by the Ouachita Mountains and National Forest, its crystal waters span over 40,000 acres and extend for 30 miles, making it the largest lake completely within the state of Arkansas. Head to Hot Springs National Park and discover how it earned the nickname "The American Spa," or take a scenic drive through the 1.8 million acres of Ouachita National Forest, where off-roading enthusiasts can take on the Wolf Pen Gap Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System.