Cove Lake Recreation Area

$15.00/night

19 COVE LAKE LOOP
PARIS, AR 72855

Overview

The Cove Lake Recreation Area is a perfect summer getaway and an ideal place to camp, picnic or recreate. It envelops the shores of a 160-acre mountain lake near the 2,700-foot-tall Mount Magazine, the highest point in the state of Arkansas.

Recreation

Popular activities include swimming, fishing, hiking, water skiing and scenic drives. A boat ramp is available and an on-site concessionaire provides boat rentals and other equipment available for purchase.

The lake is home to catfish, large mouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie and perch. It is stocked every other year, although a small amount of catfish are stocked annually and just prior to a yearly kids' fishing derby hosted at the lake.

Facilities

The recreation area provides picnic areas, campsites and a group shelter, as well as multiple activities, including miniature golf, canoe and paddleboat rentals. The campground offers multiple single-family sites for tent or RV camping.

Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible flush toilets, hot showers and drinking water are also provided. Multiple picnic areas are available on the lake shore, including a picnic shelter that has electricity.

Natural Features

The recreation area is situated in a mixed forest of mature trees and is located in the Arkansas River Valley in the Ozark National Forest.

Nearby Attractions

The recreation area is about 15 miles south of the town of Paris, in Logan County, Arkansas. A scenic route to the top of Mount Magazine is a beautiful 10 mile drive north from Havana, Arkansas.

Camp site features

Across 36 camp sites:

Fire pit: all 36 sites
Picnic table: all 36 sites
ADA accessible: 1 of 36 sites
Longest RV: 68 ft
Largest party: 6 people

Fees

January 01, 2019 - December 31, 2019 (Peak Season) Picnic Pavilion $35 Day

Directions

From Paris, take Highway 109 south, then turn southeast on Highway 309 for 9 miles.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

75 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Kelly S

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 13 days ago

Beautiful area but TERRIBLE MANAGEMENT. Do not stay here. I booked a two night stay at this campsite, only to find that the spot was double-booked when I arrived. Management was nowhere to be found and unable to be contacted. I called the number on the campsite's sign no less than 15 times and got nothing. I had no choice but to find somewhere else to stay. Then, I submitted a refund request within the timeframe specified on the website and heard nothing back. If you want to go camping near a lake, then I'd recommend Lake Dardanelle State Park instead. It's WAY better and is actually managed properly.

Kathleen L

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Pit toilets were not cleaned at all and running out of toilet paper. You could tell animals were in the pit toilets and using the paper. Another camper ran his generator from morning until 10 pm all day long. The sound was just okay, but the fumes were overwhelming at times. I am not sure what the rules are but I come to nature camping to get away from noise and pollution. Some people just don't see it the same way.

Barbara B

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

It was a great experience. The whole family had a blast.

Roy L

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Be aware that there are no showers or flush toilets at this site. When I book it, the agent on the phone said that there would be showers, but that is not the case.

Cherie D

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 4 months ago

We love cove have been going here for years. The ground care takers that have been there the last couple years don’t do a good job at taking care of the camping area. The bathrooms are nasty the fire rings aren’t cleaned. People run generators past 10 because they never come check the area and dogs in the swimming area. They have kids cleaning and taking care of things or pretending too. Even the showers in the men’s bathroom doesn’t work properly. And adults aren’t making sure things are actually being done. Like I said we love Cove the views and the piece and quite when someone generator isn’t running 80% of the time.

ron j

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 5 months ago

Still a nice primitive campground. Despite showing almost booked up, we had the place virtually to ourselves.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Popularity: Very quiet

Busiest in November, when about 1% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 2 years of reservations.