Lake Wedington
Fayetteville, Arkansas · Ozark National Forest
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Lake Wedington
Lake Wedington is a 102-acre lake within a 424-acre U.S. Forest Service recreation area in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, about 13 miles west of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Built by the WPA in the 1930s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this swimming hole has an official, wheelchair-accessible designated swim area alongside camping, cabins, boating, and hiking and biking trails, making it a natural pick for a lake to swim in near Fayetteville. As of late July 2026 the entire recreation area, including walk-in access, is closed to the public for a water line construction project with no announced reopening date.
The recreation area sits in the Ozark foothills of Washington County near Savoy, centered on a small WPA-built impoundment lake surrounded by forest, with historic 1930s stone-and-timber structures (six cabins, a lodge, and a picnic pavilion) reflecting its Depression-era construction. A roughly 7-mile trail network winds through the surrounding woods, and the site is popular with mountain bikers as well as campers and anglers.
Swimming at Lake Wedington
The lake has an official designated swim area described by the Forest Service/Recreation.gov as accessible (wheelchair-friendly) but unsupervised ('swim and boat at your own risk'). It suits casual, calm-water lake swimming near a beach/bathhouse rather than deep-water or current-driven swimming; pets are excluded from the swim area itself.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Fayetteville, take Arkansas Highway 16 (Wedington Road) west approximately 13 miles to the recreation area entrance at 15592 Lake Wedington Entry Rd, Fayetteville, AR 72704; the road is described as passable by camping trailers.
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the swim beach, which is a drive-up, dedicated swim area accessed from the day-use parking near the boat launch. The recreation area does have a separate roughly 7-mile trail network used for hiking and mountain biking, but it is not a route to the swim beach.
Walk from parking to the designated swim area is short (described as accessible/wheelchair-friendly); no distance in feet/yards was specified in sources found.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The official designated swim area is described by Recreation.gov as wheelchair-accessible, but there is no lifeguard on duty ('swim and boat at your own risk'); pets (except service animals) are excluded from the swim beach. No official source found describing water depth, bottom type, or shallow-entry conditions at the beach itself.
Parking
Paid
Recreation.gov confirms a day-use pass is required and is sold at a self-serve pay station located next to the boat launch (adjacent to the swim/day-use area); the exact dollar fee amount could not be confirmed from sources found. General vehicle parking is available in the recreation area.
Restrooms
Yes
A bathhouse (with flush toilets and showers) sits in the main day-use area near the lodge, boathouse, and pavilion; two additional smaller bathhouses serve the campground loops. Exact proximity of a specific restroom to the swim beach itself was not confirmed.
Hours
Status as of this check is mixed across sources: the U.S. Forest Service's July 2, 2026 alert stated the entire recreation area, including walk-in access, was closed to the public for a water-line replacement project with no announced reopening date, while the Recreation.gov listing (checked same period) states camping, cabins, and reservable buildings remain closed indefinitely but that trails and the boat launch (which serves the swim area) remain open on a day-use-only basis. Visitors should confirm current access status directly with Recreation.gov or the Boston Mountain Ranger District before a trip.
On the water
Restrictions: Motorboats limited to 10 hp or less; no lifeguard, swim/boat at your own risk; off-road vehicles prohibited.
Recreation.gov explicitly lists kayaking, canoeing, and boating (motor ≤10 hp) as permitted via the boat launch. Stand-up paddleboards are not explicitly addressed by any official source found, though non-motorized craft generally launch from the same ramp.
What regulars say
Visitors describe Lake Wedington as scenic and quiet, with families noting the lake is 'just a few steps away' from campsites and praising friendly staff and large tent pads. One visitor recommended coming when the lake is full to see the dam spillway overflow, which they described as looking like a 'waterfall.' No firsthand reports on clarity, crowds, or other tips could be gathered.
Backstory
Built in 1936-38 by the Works Progress Administration (architect Paul Young); the Lake Wedington Historic District (170 acres within the larger 424-acre recreation area) was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 11, 1995. The facility closed in 2019 after a well failure; a 2024 federal appropriations bill allocated $4.7 million for water system repairs, with construction connecting the site to the Washington Water Authority beginning June 29, 2026.
Lake Wedington: FAQ
Does Lake Wedington charge a fee?
A Lake Wedington Recreation Area Day Use Pass is sold (via self-serve station and Recreation.gov) for day-use access; the exact fee amount could not be confirmed from sources found.
Is Lake Wedington kid friendly?
The official designated swim area is described by Recreation.gov as wheelchair-accessible, but there is no lifeguard on duty ('swim and boat at your own risk'); pets (except service animals) are excluded from the swim beach. No official source found describing water depth, bottom type, or shallow-entry conditions at the beach itself.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake Wedington?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake Wedington?
Recreation.gov confirms a day-use pass is required and is sold at a self-serve pay station located next to the boat launch (adjacent to the swim/day-use area); the exact dollar fee amount could not be confirmed from sources found. General vehicle parking is available in the recreation area.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Wedington?
Recreation.gov explicitly lists kayaking, canoeing, and boating (motor ≤10 hp) as permitted via the boat launch. Stand-up paddleboards are not explicitly addressed by any official source found, though non-motorized craft generally launch from the same ramp.
What are the rules at Lake Wedington?
Per Recreation.gov: swimming and boating are at your own risk with no lifeguard; boat motors limited to 10 hp or less; off-road vehicles and hunting are prohibited; pets must be leashed and are barred from the bathhouse, swim area, playground, pavilion, and cabins. As of July 2, 2026, the U.S. Forest Service has closed the entire recreation area, including walk-in access, to the public for a water line construction project, with no stated end date.
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