| Beech Creek National Scenic Area | |
| Map: | USA |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | Le Flore County, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Nearest City: | Heavener, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates: | 34.5833°N -94.5167°W |
| Area: | 7500acres |
| Established: | 1988, expanded and designated National Scenic Area 2007 |
| Governing Body: | U.S. Forest Service |
Beech Creek National Scenic Area is a federally designated National Scenic Area within Ouachita National Forest. It is 6miles east and 5milessouth of the unincorporated community of Big Cedar in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, U.S. The 7500acres scenic area is administered by the U.S. Forest Service, a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The scenic area includes 32miles of hiking trails, some on former roads. The original designated area, the Beech Creek Botanical Area, remains, conserving mature beech trees near the headwaters of Beech Creek.[1]
The National Scenic Area was established by Public Law 100–499, known as the "Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area and Wilderness Area Act", designating about 400acres as the Beech Creek Botanical Area in 1988,[2] and was expanded and designated Beech Creek National Scenic Area in 2007.[3]
The trail system totals about 32miles, with several different sections and varying degrees of difficulty for hikers:[4]
The U.S. Forest Service rates the trails as follows:[5]
There are no restrooms along the trails nor are there any campsites. Campsites exist at Billy Creek and at Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area. Motorized vehicles and either pack or saddle animals are prohibited on the trails. Mountain bikes are not prohibited, but may be difficult to use, because the trails are very narrow. Roads are all covered with gravel[5]