BUCK CREEK (MO)

OVERVIEW Relax in the shaded campsites at Buck Creek, on the Arkansas side of the massive Bull Shoals Lake. Here, there's plenty of opportunities for water sports, hiking and picnicking. The Peel Ferry, the last remaining state-operated ferry in Arkansas, leaves from Buck Creek. It connects Highway 125 from Arkansas to Missouri for convenient access to the lowers stretches of the lake. RECREATION Bull Shoals Lake has great appeal to jet skiers, water skiers, fishermen, birders, hikers and those who just want to "get away from it all." Fall foliage in the area attracts lots of visitors for an annual celebration called the Flaming Fall Revue. FACILITIES All but two of the 38 sites have electric hookups. The campground caters to kids with a playground and swimming area, and campers with boats can make use of the launch ramp. NATURAL FEATURES Bull Shoals Lake, spanning upwards of 71,000 acres, is fed from the White River. The river flows from northwest Arkansas to south-central Missouri, and then loops back into central Arkansas where it eventually flows into the Mississippi River. The lake is lined with hardwoods and cedar. NEARBY ATTRACTIONS Visit the Bull Shoals-White River State Park and explore its two hiking trails. The Big Bluff Trail presents views of the White River below Bull Shoals Dam, and the Lakeside Trail meanders along the shores of the lake.