Gillham Lake

About Gillham Lake

The calm waters of Gillham Lake, surrounded by mountains and enchanting forests, bring peace and quiet to visitors. Although not originally created as a recreational lake, it is known as Cossatot's Bright Spot due to its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and entertains visitors to the lake with a variety of activities including fishing, swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, camping, fishing and more.

Gillham Reservoir is located in Howard and Polk counties and was created by the construction of Gillham Dam. The project was approved by the Flood Protection Act in 1958 and the dam was completed in 1972. Today it is owned and maintained by engineers from the US Army Corps and serves as a reservoir for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Cossatot River is a major kayaking attraction and brings visitors to the area around Gillham Lake, also known as the Ouachita Mountains. With the name of the river from the Indian, where "Coss atot" means "skull breaker" "It is no wonder that this river is considered one of the most scenic and scenic rivers in America in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Cossatot River is not recommended for beginners, but those who want to enjoy the beauty of the river on foot will enjoy its natural beauty and the forest that surrounds it. The river starts where it flows through the Ouachita Mountains and ends at Gillham Lake, offering calm waters for just one paddle.

Hiking trails are located in Cossatot River State Park, which also offers primitive camping and picnic areas. The trail is located at the southern end of Gillham Lake, near the entrance to State Park.

While kayaking on the Cossatot River is fun, the clams in the waters of Lake Gillham are more popular with anglers. Sport fish are abundant and include spotted perch, flathead catfish, bluefish and white perch. The wildlife is also abundant and hunting is open to the public, so fishermen and boaters will find a number of boat ramps around the lake.

Wild animals include black bears, wild turkeys, mourning pigeons, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and other wildlife.

Visitors to the lake can enjoy Gillham Lake by kayaking, fishing, canoeing, swimming, boating, camping and fishing. There are many activities that everyone will like and campers will enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, picnicking, mountain biking and camping. This page contains all electrical and non-electrical connections as well as links to all facilities and amenities of the park.

For visitors who like a relaxing dip, there is a beach area for sun worshippers and if there are no houses near the lake, you can buy or rent properties in the area. The land around Gillham Lake is owned by the Engineering Corps and is one of the largest private land holdings in Arkansas.

The sleepy town of Mena is located in the middle of the Ouachita National Forest and although most of the houses bought in Mena are used as holiday or second homes, it is not difficult to find charming hidden huts.

Just a short drive from Gillham Lake is Ouachita National Forest, which covers more than 3,500 square kilometers. If you enjoy what GillHAM Lake has to offer, you might want to visit some of the attractions nearby.

Explore the beautiful Ouachita Mountains with nature - related activities such as hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

The trails can be used for hiking and horse riding on foot, by bike or on horseback, as well as for mountain bikers. Visitors are captivated by the rides, while an extensive network of paths offers pedestrians a slow view of the landscape.

Other recreational activities include hunting, fishing and camping, and Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge is also nearby. The public is welcome in the refuge, where you can observe wildlife and take pictures.

Gillham Lake is a holiday destination that can be enjoyed by the whole family, and whether family vacations or just one, away from the beautiful lake, visitors can enjoy the beauty for themselves and look forward to more fun and relaxation.