Bard Springs — Hotel in Mena

I'm going to rate this 5 stars based on previous experiences with the area, but it is pretty much "closed" right now due to storm damage.

There are two entrances into the area, the first that you would come to if coming into the area from the direction of Shady Lake is the day-use only area. The second entrance is a bit further down and is where the camping sites and shelters are located.

It is important to note, however, that sometime in the first half of 2020 (I believe), a bad storm came through the area and knocked down A LOT of trees, and much of the former beauty of this area was demolished. Several of the Adirondack shelters have had their roofs torn off while others have trees lying on them that have utterly destroyed them. The drive into the area is completely blocked by more than one massive tree that have fallen into the roadway. The best way, otherwise, to explain how many trees have fallen is that once you got past the informational billboard on the camping side, the canopy of trees were thick enough that at night, you could barely see any stars. Now, the camping area has one of the most open clearings and views of the sky anywhere within a few miles.

The camping portion of the area was hit the hardest, while most of the day-use only area is still intact. Many of the trails and paths leading to other parts of the area and Blaylock creek are blocked by massive trees.

It's probably too soon after the storms to say for sure whether or not this area will be cleared and repaired, especially with all of the COVID-19 related restrictions, but it was a beautiful spot before with plenty of camping sites that were reasonably spaced out. It had basic needs met while still retaining enough of the feel that you were still out in the middle of the forest. I really hope that this will eventually return to its...

Great campground. I couldn't get the fresh water pump to work, but otherwise it's clean and beautiful.

Not much dead wood on the ground nearby tho.

Good flat spaces for tents or small campers, good trees for hammocks.. Many if not all the spaces have shack type shelters that are a great place to keep...

I would put the terrain closer to adapt or advanced. Very beautiful. Lovely nature spots all over. Great camping grounds. You are int the mountains, no phone signal, you are in the mountains, tough terrain, tight curves. A regular "CAR" won't cut it. Medium suv and up. Drive slow when you...