Our First Night in Ozark National Forest - Dispersed Camping

Our last video ended just as we crossed the state line into Arkansas. Today we continue on our way to Ozark National Forest hoping to find a dispersed campsite for the night. We have a couple minor scares along the way, but it all works out in the end. We ed the day in one of the most beautiful campsites we have stayed in yet.
Trip Mileage so far:
Day 1 - Home to Lawrence KS: 569 Miles
Day 2 - KS to Campinawe to Roaring River: 243 Miles
Day 3 - Roaring River to Ozark NF: 100 Miles

[@larryclark6786]

The music was awesome and I couldn't stop looking at the color of the water.

[@HEKNBAK]

Thank you! Tim still teases me about the water, lol! Of all the places we have ever camped, this is one of our top three campsites.

[@gregoryfoster8179]

That was nice. Video edited well with drone shots and good music. I have spent a lot of time in the Quachita National Forest kayaking the Cossatot River south of the Ozarks, just a little in the Ozarks. Very nice as well. Arkansas is my favorite get away from home base in Dallas. Happy travels.

[@HEKNBAK]

@@gregoryfoster8179 thank you! This was our first time in Arkansas and we loved it. We spent a couple days in this area of the Ozark and then spent a day exploring the Ouchitas. We definitely plan to do some more exploring there in the future.

[@survivalseamstress8980]

I'm from Northern Indiana and I love it down there so much I'm moving down there this year.

[@HEKNBAK]

That is awesome! We were truly surprised by how beautiful it is and how many places there are to explore there!

[@tonyalewis9053]

Ponk-ah; like you first stated. I live in SW Missouri and hike & camp in NW Arkansas frequently.

[@HEKNBAK]

Thanks! Great to know - I always second guess myself, lol! Such a beautiful area!

[@stephanierobison7528]

I know this area, and i cannot believe y'all were able to get that little camper thru....let alone the truck. 😅We go off-roading around here. My parents grew up in Limestone.....the little community at the bottom of that well-maintained dirt road that turns into a logging trail 😂

[@HEKNBAK]

I think this is probably our favorite place we have taken it so far! Such a beautiful area. We had so much fun down there and met some great people while we were there!

[@campinawe]

Wow! Looks like a great adventure with amazing views. Love the drone footage, thanks for sharing.

[@HEKNBAK]

Our pleasure! We heard some "knocks" in the woods across the river - Tim says it was a Sasquatch, so we were glad we had our Campinawe instead of the tent, lol!

[@TerryX2Explore]

We are really looking forward to exploring Arkansas! That's how winter should look! LOL Or at least that's how I want it to look... Wow, that mountain drive looks beautiful! We love stopping at overlooks... Sure is a gorgeous area! Yes, that water is sooo pretty! ;-) Beautiful campsite! Great exploring, guys!! 💙Terry and Terri

[@HEKNBAK]

When we were younger we always joked about how we would never move south, we're northerners, we can handle the snow, lol! Now that we are getting older we are laughing at our younger selves!

[@TerryX2Explore]

@@HEKNBAK We did the same thing! LOL

[@kevinaubuchon5979]

Looks like a good adventure. Nice video. I was surprised you could move the Campinawe so easily.

[@HEKNBAK]

I know, right? It takes a little bit of muscle but was definitely doable. This is definitely right up there as one of our favorite places so far. Thanks for watching!

[@frankbrowning4160]

thanks for sharing. would love to find some places like that. y'all inspire me to search some out.

[@HEKNBAK]

We are always a little bit nervous when we disperse camp in areas we are unfamiliar with, but you can't beat places like this - it is worth it!

[@papatravels61]

Nice, thanks for sharing. Getty up and go to colorado this summer with us...

[@HEKNBAK]

Thanks for watching! Colorado is on our list!

[@SendaDaniels-xr5nw]

The first pronunciation of Ponca was correct. My family lives on top of Shiloh Mountain.

[@HEKNBAK]

@@SendaDaniels-xr5nw this was our first time here. Such a beautiful area to live!

[@daisymae3511]

We are always looking for dispersed camping spots in the Ouachitas, and the Ozark Mtns. But, the road y'all ended up on was beyond where I would go. We have gone down some pretty bad roads here in state, but I applaud y'all!! 👋👋 whew! We do have some steep and windy roads. Took one some years back that was nearly strait down and almost met itself going back up the other side from one ridge to the next. Today is Wednesday the 25th: are you still in Arkansas?

[@HEKNBAK]

We loved driving these roads! We did some driving in the Ouachitas this trip too - that will be coming up. We drove up to some radio antennae's there. We are back home now working our "real" jobs, lol! Looking forward to the days we can travel full time. Thanks so much for watching and the kind comments!

[@SendaDaniels-xr5nw]

Jasper is my favorite place on earth ! That's where my family is from.

[@HEKNBAK]

@@SendaDaniels-xr5nw we had such a great time exploring. I can see why it would be your favorite place, lol!

[@c-historia]

wonderful video! 🔝 Ozark 😍

[@HEKNBAK]

Thank you so much!! 😄

[@c-historia]

@@HEKNBAK have a great week😁

[@Regular_Gamer]

I live in Arkansas and Ponca is pronounced the first way you said it in the video. Pon-ka

[@HEKNBAK]

@@Regular_Gamer thanks for letting us know!

[@FrankGreenway]

That blue water was beautiful. My truck camper would be perfect for that road in and campsite.

[@HEKNBAK]

Yes, lol! We debated getting a truck camper before we bought the Campinawe. We couldn't believe how beautiful it was here!

[@lauraberry8679]

Welcome to Arkansas! Isn't it beautiful 😍

[@HEKNBAK]

I have to say that we were very surprised how beautiful it is. We didn't know what to expect - we loved it!

[@travisbanks9552]

Awesome vid! Thanks for sharing. What resources did you use to learn about the forest roads? It sounded like you were reading some great info about the technical grade and clearance.

[@HEKNBAK]

Thanks so much! We were looking at the descriptions on OnX Offroad. We were using Gaia too, but the trail descriptions were OnX.

[@irenemeno3585]

Would love to do something like that in that area too. All but 1 of our kids is in the mainland. I think if we told them we're on our way and we would love if we had a family camping adventure they would agree. We're from Guam. So different here for camping. It's doable but you really have to figure out so many factors. High heat, humidity, and tropic critters for starters.

[@HEKNBAK]

You should! What a great idea to get your family together! This was our first time in Arkansas and it was so beautiful even in December. We have never been off the mainland - at least not yet, lol!

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

Your figure it out is no different.

[@jwalker-bondfire]

The Campinawe handled those roads great! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us.

[@HEKNBAK]

It did and in tomorrow's video we take it down some even more rugged roads - it is getting a workout, lol! Thanks for watching!

[@JoseGarcia-cb5dz]

Just found yalls page I love the content ❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@HEKNBAK]

Thanks so much! We appreciate it!

[@adventureoverland1960]

Great video, lots of good spots around there. Thanks for sharing.

[@HEKNBAK]

Such a beautiful area! We'd love to get back there to explore more. Thanks for watching!

[@forevertexas76008]

Great vid guys. Thank you. Would you happen to have the coordinates?

[@HEKNBAK]

Unfortunately we didn't mark it. It was right on carwash falls road though. From the south you would turn off Hwy 123 near Haw Creek Falls Campground onto CR 5881 and follow that north for several miles. It will become 311. From the north you would take 311 south off Hwy 29. There were several campsites along this stretch of road - all with great views of the Big Piney.

[@shawnwood6473]

Was this Steelcreek or someplace else

[@HEKNBAK]

Where we ended up camping was Big Piney Creek - not too far from Carwash Falls, but the campground we drove into was Steel Creek. We weren't planning to camp at Steel Creek, but had a moment of panic when we saw the sign, lol! We aren't from the area, so we didn't know what we were getting into.

[@JoseGarcia-cb5dz]

It is ponka

[@ibsoonerfan]

Do you have the coordinates of where you stayed

[@HEKNBAK]

Unfortunately we hadn't started recording our tracks and locations at that point . It was right on carwash falls road though. From the south you would turn off Hwy 123 near Haw Creek Falls Campground onto CR 5881 and follow that north for several miles. It will become 311. From the north you would take 311 south off Hwy 29. There were several campsites along this stretch of road - all with great views of the Big Piney. There is some private property interspersed with public land, so it is good to use something like Gaia or OnX Offroad to make sure you know what is what.

[@jordanyang3066]

See any bears?

[@HEKNBAK]

No bears, lol, but sometimes Tim is mistaken for one!

[@Brenjen67]

I live here. Please, for the love of God...never come back. Never!

[@HEKNBAK]

@@Brenjen67 it is such a beautiful area. We can understand wanting to keep it for yourself. National forests are open for everyone to enjoy though. We do always try to leave it cleaner than we found it.

[@Brenjen67]

"National" is the problem. Everyone in Arkansas that matters had a meeting, we don't want the government owning land here, that's called crown land in other parts of the world and we already disposed of our king and we don't need the emperors that have followed. And yes we know it's beautiful and that's why we don't want visitors because then they move here and we've had enough neighbors since 1860.

[@Brenjen67]

​@HEKNBAK you two in particular aren't the problem as long as you spend money and leave 😂

[@HEKNBAK]

@@Brenjen67 ah! OK, we see where you are coming from. We have heard about this debate just recently.

[@HEKNBAK]

@@Brenjen67 well of course, lol! Money's always welcome. Glad to know it wasn't personal - we didn't think we were that unlikable!