10,777 acres encompassing the upper watershed of the East Fork of Illinois Bayou.
The Overcup access point at 35.5882°N, 92.9148°W on the west side of AR27 doubles as a scenic overlook area for the Middle and North Forks of Illinois Bayou. There is a trail head sign on the east side of the highway.
The Sycamore Creek access point on the east side of the wilderness is at 35.5884°N, 92.8308°W, with a large parking area on the east side of the road and the wilderness on the west.
The Dean Ridge access point is also on the east side. You leave the road (heading west) at 35.5566°N, 92.8429°W and drive .6 miles across a pasture (private land) before crossing into the National Forest, with a parking area and the wilderness somewhere beyond. I became concerned about the road conditions and didn’t get all the way in here. A pickup truck or Jeep kind of vehicle might be required.
My map is a 2-page PDF that covers the entire wilderness area plus part of the Blue Hole Special Interest Area – at 1:24000 on 11×17 paper. Solo and Lost Corner quads.
Note that the trails in this area had been largely abandoned and unmaintained for many years but there is an effort underway, with cooperation from the USFS, to reclaim the trails. What is shown on the map is currently some combination of where I have verified the route of the trail and where the USFS says it used to be.
Last review/update:
The Compulsive Hiker 