Cove Lake Recreation Area
Campground · Arkansas · 37 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Ozark National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 37
- Bookable sites
- 68 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 50
- People per site
- 2
- Accessible sites
- 1,002 ft
- Elevation
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.The facts
- Season: Year-round — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 37 bookable sites
- 1 site for day use only
- 2 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 68 ft
- Up to 50 people per site
- Loops: A, B
Site types
- 36 Standard Nonelectric
- 1 Group Shelter Electric
Amenities
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, pets allowed.
37 campsites at Cove Lake Recreation Area
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pavilion | — | Group Shelter Electric | Back In | Paved | Slight | Lakefront | — | 50 | ♿ |
| 001 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 35 ft | 6 | |
| 002 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 60 ft | 6 | |
| 003 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 44 ft | 6 | |
| 004 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 44 ft | 6 | |
| 005 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 40 ft | 6 | |
| 006 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 35 ft | 6 | |
| 007 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 45 ft | 6 | |
| 008 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 45 ft | 6 | |
| 009 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 40 ft | 6 | |
| 010 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 47 ft | 6 | |
| 011 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 48 ft | 6 | |
| 012 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 40 ft | 6 | |
| 013 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 30 ft | 6 | |
| 014 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 68 ft | 6 | ♿ |
| 015 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 50 ft | 6 | |
| 016 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 41 ft | 6 | |
| 017 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 60 ft | 6 | |
| 018 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 45 ft | 6 | |
| 019 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 60 ft | 6 | |
| 020 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 54 ft | 6 | |
| 021 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 42 ft | 6 | |
| 022 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 42 ft | 6 | |
| 023 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 45 ft | 6 | |
| 024 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 39 ft | 6 | |
| 025 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 42 ft | 6 | |
| 026 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 45 ft | 6 | |
| 027 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 43 ft | 6 | |
| 028 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 52 ft | 6 | |
| 029 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 54 ft | 6 | |
| 030 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 60 ft | 6 | |
| 031 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 60 ft | 6 | |
| 032 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 39 ft | 6 | |
| 033 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 39 ft | 6 | |
| 034 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 40 ft | 6 | |
| 035 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 33 ft | 6 | |
| 036 | B | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | — | 62 ft | 6 |
Getting there
From Paris, take Highway 109 south, then turn southeast on Highway 309 for 9 miles.
35.22444, -93.62250 · 35°13'28.0"N 93°37'21.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 92°F in Jul, down to 49°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 49 | 54 | 63 | 72 | 80 | 88 | 92 | 92 | 85 | 74 | 61 | 51 |
| Low °F | 29 | 32 | 40 | 48 | 59 | 67 | 71 | 69 | 62 | 50 | 39 | 32 |
| Precip in | 3.5 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 4.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 5.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Fees and stay limits
January 01, 2019 - December 31, 2019 (Peak Season) Picnic Pavilion $35 Day
From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Cove Lake Recreation Area
- Can you reserve a site at Cove Lake Recreation Area?
- Yes, Cove Lake Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Cove Lake Recreation Area have?
- 37 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Cove Lake Recreation Area?
- 68 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Also listed by
Cove Lake Recreation Area also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Cove Lake Recreation Area's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Campground $15/site/day. Cabins $35. Pavilion $35 full day; $17.50 half day. Day-use area $5/day. Boat Ramp $5.
Restrictions:
- "No Wake" restriction -
Camping near Cove Lake Recreation Area
- Waveland Park 8.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Outlet Area 8.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Sorghum Hollow 8.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Spring Lake Recreation Area 12.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Shoal Bay 12.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Spadra 16.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Aux Arc 20.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Piney Bay 21.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Horsehead Lake Recreation Area 23.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Sunlight Bay 25.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Huckleberry Walk-in Turkey Hunting Area 7.6 mi · Facility
- Jack Creek Recreation Area 18.3 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 479-963-6421
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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