This Mysterious Arkansas State Park Was Once a Hideout for Civil War Deserters and Outlaws

Devil’s Den State Park, Arkansas

Devil’s Den State Park (northwest Arkansas), is 2,500 acres of striking rock formations, sandstone cliffs, historic buildings, and a network of trails that stretch 13 miles. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the park in 1933 and Native Americans found shelter in these caves thousands of years ago.

Early settlers named it Devil’s Den because they thought the caves and cracks in the rocks looked like places where devils might hide. Here’s why you need to visit this place.

Underground Caves & Streams

Streams run deep under Devil’s Den, sometimes coming up to the surface. Lee Creek flows through and around the cave systems, contributing to their formation.

You’ll stumble upon multiple crevice caves that extend into sandstone formations unique to the area. The underground caves have a consistent year-round temperature of approximately 54°F (12°C).

Two known troglobitic species include the spider Porrhomma cavernicolum and a rare type of grotto salamander that have adapted to the darkness in the cave environment.

Yellow Sandstone Cliffs from an Ancient Sea

The park’s yellow cliffs date back to the Paleozoic era when it was submerged by a warm ocean. These walls of sandstone rise 170 feet high and get their honey-yellow striations from the oxides.

You can find old sea creature fossils along the banks and within Lee Creek, including preserved shells and coral pieces. Water rich in minerals still seeps through these rocks, causing reflections between orange and dark red as seasons change.

Historic Stone Dam Built During the Great Depression

The park has a large stone dam that the Civilian Conservation Corps built by hand in 1934 as part of New Deal efforts during the Great Depression.

Workers used big blocks of sandstone from nearby cliffs to make this 208-foot-wide and a 25 feet high dam that spans Lee Creek to create Lake Devil. The lake’s design includes a swimming area and picnic spots and can still see the marks from the construction tools in the stone during a visit.

Protected Habitat for Endangered Bats

More than 2,000 endangered Indiana bats spend their winters in Devil’s Den’s cave system, three of which have been shut off since 2010 to protect the bat population against human disturbance and white-nose syndrome.

The Ozark big-eared bat population increased by over 80% after gating measures were implemented. Scientists use special cameras that detect heat to check on the bats without disturbing them.

Cedar Trees Growing in Solid Rock

The park’s diverse ecosystems include mixed hardwood forests interspersed with bands of eastern red cedar. The latter can grow right out of cliff edges with their roots slowly breaking apart the sandstone.

Eastern red cedars can live over 500 years in optimal conditions, especially in rugged environments. They also rely on their ability to extract nutrients from tiny soil pockets, breaking down rock particles over time.

Dog-Friendly Trailhead Along the Cliffs

The Devil’s Den trailhead, located on Hwy 74, is only a mile long and super dog-friendly. From the main trailhead, climb the stairs and take the loop to the right. You’ll pass a connecting trail from the visitor center on your right and another on your left.

From here you’ll walk through a hill, passing small bluffs and rock formations. Past the Devil’s Icebox crevice, the trail swings slightly to the left, then comes to the Twin Falls at around the 1-mile point.

Hidden Moonshine Production Sites in the Caves

During Prohibition in the 1920s, people made illegal moonshine in the park’s remote caves. They chose these spots because of the steady water supply from the underground springs.

In 1983, researchers found an old moonshine operation with copper pipes, clay jugs, and leftover corn mash, including air vents and secret escape routes.

Today, the Moonshiner’s Cave Trail takes you through these connected caves to a bluff shelter with a waterfall.

Ancient History Preserved in Stone

The park’s rocks contain footprints from sea creatures, such as crinoids (sea lilies) that lived 300 million years ago in the ancient seabed. Fossil Flats Trail is ideal for spotting fossils embedded in rock formations.

The Arkansas Archeological Survey has recorded six prehistoric sites within Devil’s Den State Park connected to Native American activity. The park’s rock shelters also protect Native American carvings and ceremonial sites made between 500 and 1,500 years ago.

CCC Era Structures Got a Makeover

While some CCC-era structures have been lost, the park is one of the most complete and best-preserved. The park was occupied by the first CCC company in 1933 and later disbanded in 1942.

The rustic log-and-stone bridge that crossed Lee Creek washed away in a flood and was replaced by a modern highway bridge still in use today.

Another cabin was destroyed by fire around 1967, and the logs of the rustic overlook shelter rotted and were replaced with new lumber.

Unique Plant Communities at Water Seeps

Water constantly drips from some rock faces in the park, creating special areas called spring seeps that support a variety of ferns, including rare plants like the Southern Lady Fern and Ozark Spikemoss, which grow nowhere else in Arkansas.

The largest seep garden lies along the Butterfield Trail. This ecosystem maintains a constant 58-degree temperature year-round and provides a home to more than 30 types of moss.

Rich Variety of Butterfly Species

The Ozark Mountains are home to several butterfly species that depend on native plants like milkweed and wildflowers for survival. Scientists have found more than 50 butterfly species here, including Arkansas’s state butterfly, the Diana Fritillary.

Park staff have noticed that some species now arrive earlier in spring than they used to using lightweight tracking systems, a direct correlation to climate change and its effects.