Sunlight Bay

Nestled between the Ouachita and the Ozarks lies the Sunlight Bay recreational area and campground. This all-year campground stretches on the shores of Nimrod Lake and Dam, a popular recreational spot of many campers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The campground offers 29 spacious campsites and one group shelter that can hold up to 50 visitors. All campsites are paved, back-in sites with plenty of shade, equipped with electric and water hook-ups, picnic tables, grills and fire rings. Each site can hold a single RV up to 72 ft in length, and a tent (or two tents.) The sites are available on first come, first serve basis, but because of this campground’s popularity, this is only offered outside of reservation season.

The campgrounds have a boat ramp and playground, as well as access to showers, flushing toilets, dump station, and pay phones. Because fishing is one of the most popular activities here, there’s also a fish-cleaning station available. The lake is abundant in bluegill, bass, catfish, and crappie. Other popular campground activities include boating, tubing and water skiing, and hiking along the nearby trails.

Wildlife is abundant around the campsite, making it a prime location for wildlife spotting and seasonal hunting. While staying there, you are likely to spot rabbits, quails, turkeys, deer, foxes, minks, black bears, rabbits, squirrels, and waterfowl. Even though it’s a popular hunting spot, hunting is not permitted near or in the recreation areas. Nearby attractions also include the National Scenic Byway on State Highway 7, Hot Springs National Park, and Mount Nebo State Park.

As a pet-friendly campground, it’s popular with families with dogs. The ground rules when bringing your dog along are to keep them leashed and at their best behavior, and to make sure you clean up after them for the enjoyment of other park users. Since wildlife is so abundant, it’s also important that your dog doesn’t disturb any of the native creatures, so excessive barking is not allowed.