Welcome to Thunder Mountain! With four miles of hiking trails, picturesque secluded river, outdoor bathhouse, and beautiful scenery, this “cabin-in-the-woods” may become your favorite place in Arkansas!
Hiking Trails
Four miles of trails wind through the 80-acre property. Most of the trails are wide and well-maintained. Some lead to meadows or deep into the forest. Some are loops, like the one-mile long Forest Trail and South Trails. A few wood benches are placed to provide occasional resting places. The trails help guests enjoy the entire property on both sides of the river. No ATV’s are allowed, but mountain bikes are welcome.
At the River
The river is always changing. Normal depths range from 1ft to 4ft in most places with a few swimming holes 6-7’ft. Droughts will reduce these depths by about 1ft. The deep spots change every time it floods but usually there are great places to swim up and downstream of the dock. Since the property extends to both sides of the river, it is usually very quiet and secluded. Occasionally a family will swim under the bridge or visit upstream off the property, but usually you will enjoy it all alone!
Outdoor Bathhouse
Have you ever relaxed in an outdoor tub surrounded by nature? Or enjoyed a rainfall showerhead while admiring the views of the Ouachita Mountains? Our unique outdoor bathhouse is secluded and private, while still being surrounded by nature. The antique tub is from an early 1900’s Hot Springs hotel! It was resurfaced in 2022. The shower is large and will be your favorite place to wash away the stress of normal life. Many of our guests tell us that they never want to bathe indoors again! (There is an inside bathroom too – but it’s boring)
Camping on the Mountain
Camping is a great option for guests who want to enjoy everything the property has to offer, but don’t need the expense of the cabin. We let the cabin calendar fill in first, then fill gaps between cabin guests and cleaning days with camping. Bring your tent or small camper and enjoy the decks, kayaks, bathhouse, trails, grill, and everything else except the inside of the cabin. (Note to our cabin guests: Camping guests may bring a dog as shown in some photos, but usually dogs are not allowed inside the cabin without a pet fee.)
Winter
Winter on Thunder Mountain is just like summer – except colder! Freezing temperatures are common overnight between late November and early March. Snow is rare but possible. The outdoor bathhouse can still be used by guests all winter long as long as they don’t mind performing a three-minute process of unwinterizing and winterizing. The boats are available to enjoy all winter too – just don’t fall into the cold water!
Springtime
Spring is one of our four favorite seasons on the Mountain! The tree buds and flowers start making their appearance in late March, and everything is green and beautiful by late April. But February and March are still great times to visit as you will enjoy the unobstructed views of the mountain and cold turquoise water. Swimming in the river is best after April and stays warm enough through October.
The Outhouse
Although there is an inside bathroom for cabin guests, the outhouse with flushing toilet can be enjoyed by camping guests and cabin guests who enjoy being outside as much as possible! There are few better places to sit and contemplate life. As one guest said in her review, “Who would have thought taking care of business in Nature could be so relaxing!”
Seclusion
With 80 acres surrounding the cabin on both sides of the river, it is very rare to see any other humans unless you venture to the boundaries of the property. A family may occasionally swim under the bridge or at the upstream edge of the property, but the vast majority of the time there is no one else anywhere nearby. Most guests choose Thunder Mountain for the solitude and quiet. Many are celebrating anniversaries, honeymoons, a solo sabbatical, or just want to be alone in a quiet place with their spouse. This seclusion is what sets Thunder Mountain apart from almost every other vacation rental out there! (Note: there are three outdoor security cameras. Guests are given instructions to turn them off.)
Thunder Mountain Cabin and Camping 