2024 Map of Polk Creek Mountain

About this map

The Caddo Mountains and Cossatot Mountains dominate this section of the Ouachita National Forest, where the headwaters of several major river systems originate. The terrain is defined by prominent ridges like Statehouse Mountain, Bearden Mountain, and Polk Creek Mtn, which separate the drainage of the South Fork Ouachita River to the north from the Caddo River and its southern tributaries. Evidence of early settlement persists through several family and community burial grounds, including Mount Gilead Cem and Stover Cem. The small settlement of Alf and the presence of historic routes like the Albert Pike Rd indicate the established footprint of mountain communities. Water sources such as Big Hill Creek and Lick Creek carve through the deep valleys of the Fodderstack Range, illustrating the complex drainage patterns of the Arkansas Ouachitas.