Whether you enjoy boating, fishing, skiing, or canoeing Dequeen Lake has everything you need. There are three campgrounds, six boat ramps, three swimming areas, many picnic areas, and three picnic shelters. Please remember whatever your recreational interest – play it safe at the lake.

Boating

Launching ramps are provided in the park areas for easy loading and launching of boats. Boating on DeQueen Lake is in accordance with Arkansas State boating laws and Corps of Engineers regulations. Regulations governing operational requirements of boats may be obtained at the DeQueen Project Office near the dam. Operate your boat in a controlled, safe manner. Stay away from buoyed areas. Diving areas are marked by a red flag with a white diagonal stripe.

Fishing

The region in which DeQueen Lake is located offers outdoor sportsmen excellent opportunities for year-round enjoyment of the project. Fish species available for the angler include large mouth bass, small mouth bass, spotted pass, black and white crappie, channel and flathead catfish, and various species of sunfish. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have stocked hybrid striped bass in the lake.

Hunting

Opportunities for hunting on project lands are as equally good for the hunting enthusiast. Except for developed recreation areas and lands in the vicinity of the dam and other project structures, all project lands are open to the public for hunting. Principal game species include bobwhite quail, mourning dove, turkey, squirrel, cottontail rabbit, and deer.

Picnicking

Picnicking areas are available at many of the sites on Dequeen. There are many designated picnicking areas and three picnicking shelters, which is great for family reunions. The picnic shelters are lighted and equipped with barbeque grills and electricity.  They are also very close to the lake. Picnic areas and shelters are located at Glen Canyon, Rolling Fork, Storey Creek, Oak Grove, Pine Ridge and Bellah Mine. These shelters may be rented by contacting the Oak Grove/Pine Ridge gatehouse at 870-642-6111 or the Bellah Mine gatehouse at 870-386-7511.

Swimming

There are three designated swimming areas on DeQueen Lake. They are located at Oak Grove, Rolling Fork, and Storey Creek. Users must pay a day use fee or they may purchase an annual pass for use of the swim beaches.

Please remember:

• Never rely on toys such as inner tubes and water wings to stay afloat.
• Don’t take chances by overestimating your swimming skills.
• Swim only in designated swimming areas.
• Never swim alone.
• Never dive into lakes and rivers. Every year in diving accidents more than 8,000 people suffer paralyzing spinal cord injuries and another 5,000 die before they reach the hospital.
• Remember, it only takes a few seconds for a small child to wander away, so please watch your children at all times.
• More than half of all the people that drown have consumed alcohol prior to their accident, so don’t drink alcohol if you are planning to have fun in or on the water.