The largest wilderness area in Arkansas, set deep in the rugged heart of the Ozarks.
Leatherwood Wilderness
Leatherwood Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest of north-central Arkansas. Covering roughly 16,838 acres, it is the largest wilderness area in the state and protects some of the most rugged, broken terrain within the entire Ozark region. The area is defined by deep creek drainages, sheer cliff faces, cave systems, and mixed hardwood forest, with old-growth pines and cedar glades adding ecological variety.
The wilderness takes its name from Leatherwood Creek, the principal waterway running through the area, and from the leatherwood plant (Dirca palustris), a streamside shrub that is common along Ozark watercourses. Established by Congress in 1984 and managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Leatherwood offers a remote, trail-less backcountry experience oriented around backpacking, dispersed camping, and wildlife watching in one of Arkansas's most physically dramatic landscapes.
Its combination of steep ridges, deep hollows, and relatively undisturbed forest makes the Leatherwood Wilderness an important refuge for Ozark wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, black bears, and bat populations. The area's isolation and minimal development have helped preserve habitats that increasingly stand out in a region long shaped by logging, agriculture, and small-scale settlement.
