Steel Creek Ranger Station
Facility · Arkansas ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Buffalo National River (National River) · Open Access
- 992 ft
- Elevation
Steel Creek Ranger Station is open in the summer on an intermittent basis as rangers are available.
The Steel Creek Ranger Station is located in the Valley Y Ranch Historic Area of Steel Creek Campground. Please call before you visit to ensure that staff will be available to assist you: 870-861-2570.
Getting there
From Ponca, AR take Hwy. 74 E. for approximately 1.5 miles OR from Jasper, AR take Hwy. 74 W. approximately 12.6 miles until you see the entrance sign for Steel Creek Area. Turn onto the Steel Creek Road and follow it for approximately 1 mile into the valley. When the paved entrance road turns to gravel, take the first right and follow the road past the horse camping area until you reach the ranger station on the right side of the corner.
36.03853, -93.33833 · 36°2'18.7"N 93°20'18.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 85°F in Aug, down to 43°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 43 | 48 | 57 | 66 | 72 | 81 | 85 | 85 | 78 | 67 | 55 | 46 |
| Low °F | 25 | 28 | 35 | 44 | 54 | 62 | 66 | 65 | 59 | 48 | 37 | 28 |
| Precip in | 3.3 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 10.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Steel Creek Ranger Station
- Can you reserve a site at Steel Creek Ranger Station?
- No. Steel Creek Ranger Station is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Camping near Steel Creek Ranger Station
- Steel Creek Campground 0.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ozark Campground 10.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Kyles Landing 3.4 mi · Facility
- Boen Gulf Trailhead 10.2 mi · Facility
- Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area 11.8 mi · Facility
- Kapark Trailhead 14 mi · Facility
- Dahl Memorial Trailhead 16.4 mi · Facility
- Carver Campground 17.1 mi · Facility
- Sams Throne Recreation Area 19.8 mi · Facility
- Richland Creek Wilderness 24.7 mi · Facility
- Haw Creek Falls Point of Interest 25.4 mi · Campground
- Woolum 26 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone (870) 861-2570
- Email buff_information@nps.gov
- Info 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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