Cabins near Wolf Pen Gap · Mena, ArkansasThree Cabins.
One Magical Forest.
Secluded retreats deep in the Ouachita National Forest — where sunsets are best watched from a porch, adventure starts at the front door, and the stars are worth staying up for.
Choose your
Ouachita escape.
Three distinct cabins — each handcrafted, each secluded, each unforgettable. All located deep in the Ouachita National Forest near Mena, Arkansas.
Available
Sunset Cabin
Pour a glass of wine. Watch the forest glow.
A handcrafted timber-frame retreat with a stone fireplace, soaking tub, and a front porch made for watching the sun set over the forest and the pond. ATV trails from the doorstep.
Available
Stargazing Cabin
No light pollution. Just you and the Milky Way.
Deep in the Ouachita wilderness where the night sky is truly dark. Disconnect completely, look up, and experience the stars the way they were meant to be seen.
Now Open
Nightfall Guest Cabin
Game room, guest house, and your crew's basecamp.
A converted garage turned ultimate retreat. Video games on the big screen, sofa lounge, full kitchen, and a frozen-drink machine — a cozy basecamp for guests who want more than just a place to sleep.
One property.
Up to 18 guests.
All three cabins sit on the same secluded property, just steps from one another. Book two — or all three — for family reunions, riding crews, weddings, and group getaways. Everyone stays together, everyone gets their own space.
The whole property books as a single Airbnb listing — one reservation, all three cabins. Prefer a pair? Sunset + Nightfall book together (sleeps 10), or email us for other combinations.
Every reason to come.
A hundred to stay.
Arborium Cabins sit at the crossroads of the Ouachita's best outdoor experiences — whether you're here to pedal, ride, paddle, fish, or just walk until the world gets quiet.
Wolf Pen Gap ATV & SxS Trails
One of Arkansas's most celebrated off-road playgrounds, the Wolf Pen Gap ATV trail system is right outside our door. Load up the SxS or ATV and ride directly from the cabin to miles of twisting forest roads, ridgeline runs, and creek crossings. This is the kind of riding you plan your whole trip around — and Arborium Cabins give you the best seat in the house for it. Plenty of parking for rigs of all sizes directly at each cabin.
Read our full Wolf Pen Gap trail guide →
Hiking the Ouachita Forest
The Ouachita National Forest stretches across nearly 1.8 million acres of ancient ridges, hardwood hollows, and spring-fed creeks. From the cabin, step onto trail and go — to Bard Springs waterfall, to Shady Lake, to ridge summits with views over an unbroken sea of trees. The forest trail network is also excellent for mountain biking, with a variety of terrain to suit all skill levels well before the Trails at Mena reaches full scale.
Fishing & Kayaking at Shady Lake
Built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Shady Lake is a 25-acre mountain gem tucked in the southern Ouachita — one of the most serene stretches of water in all of Arkansas. No motorized boats are allowed, which means the only sounds you'll hear are paddle dips and birdsong. Fish for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bream from the bank or a kayak, or spread out at one of the stone-built CCC picnic areas beneath the hardwoods. A 3.1-mile trail circles the shoreline past historic stone bridges listed on the National Register of Historic Places, before climbing toward Tall Peak and the Caney Creek Wilderness.
Shady Lake Recreation Area →_1.jpg?width=800)
Gem & Crystal Hunting
Arkansas quartz ranks among the finest in the world — and the Ouachita is full of it. Wade into creek beds, scan exposed hillsides, and dig through hollows hunting for quartz crystals, wavellite, garnet, agate, and amethyst. Native Americans prized these same crystals for tools and arrowheads — Hernando de Soto documented their use as far back as 1541. The Ouachita National Forest permits free personal-use rockhounding with no permit needed for surface collection (up to 25 lbs/day). For a dedicated dig with the family, Board Camp Crystal Mine is just 10 miles east of Mena: $20 per adult, free for kids under 16, open March through October in an all-natural mine with no heavy equipment — just you, the earth, and whatever you find.
Visit Board Camp Crystal Mine →
Bass Fishing
Cast a line in the on-property bass pond or explore Shady Lake and the national forest creeks. No drive needed — fish steps from your cabin door.
Sunset at the Vista
Golden hour at the Vista is something guests return for again and again. Watch the sun dissolve into an ocean of Ouachita treetops — a moment that never gets old.
Creek & Waterfall Exploring
Wade through crystal-clear Ouachita creeks, discover hidden swimming holes, and chase the sound of falling water to Little Missouri Falls — one of the most beautiful cascades in the region. Bard Springs is close by too.
Wildlife Watching
Deer at dusk, turkeys at dawn, and black bears spotted on the property. This is their forest — you're just lucky enough to be visiting.
Side-by-Side
Rental
No rig? No problem. Arborium Cabins offers a 6-seat Yamaha Viking VI side-by-side for guest rental — so your whole crew can hit the Wolf Pen Gap trail system from day one, without trailering a thing. Reach out to us directly to check availability and rates.
Available
Ranch Edition
- Seats 6 — bring the whole crew in one vehicle
- 686cc fuel-injected engine
- Ranch Edition — premium trim & comfort
- Hard roof, windshield & full LED light bar
- Power steering · independent suspension
- Perfect for the Wolf Pen Gap trail system
Ready to ride?
The Viking VI is available exclusively for Arborium Cabins guests. Rates, availability, and trail recommendations provided on request — we'll make sure you're set up and on the trail from the moment you arrive. Bringing your own machine? There's ample parking for rigs of all sizes at every cabin.
Contact Us About the RentalDeep in the
Ouachita.
All three cabins sit far from the noise of everyday life — exactly as they should. Plan your route and come prepared for the ultimate forest escape.
- Near Mena, Arkansas in the Ouachita National Forest. Exact address provided after booking.
- SUV or truck strongly recommended — gravel and forest roads lead to the cabins. Worth every mile.
- No cell service at the properties. Fast Starlink Wi-Fi provided for streaming, calls, and remote work.
- Ample parking for vehicles, ATVs, motocross bikes, and side-by-sides directly at each cabin.
- Nearby: Wolf Pen Gap ATV Trails, Bard Springs, Shady Lake, Ouachita National Forest hiking.
Exact address and driving directions provided after booking. Open in Google Maps →
Loved by every
guest. Every stay.
"The cabin is awesome!! The remote location is easy to find and you get so much outdoor space… Definitely worth the drive from Dallas to spend 4 nights and 3 days riding SxS. Its location allows you to get to everything you want to ride. Host is awesome and really communicates at a high level."
"The Stargazer cabin in the woods was a perfect place to relax and enjoy the Ouachita National Forest all around you. It was quiet, peaceful and provided direct ATV access to the trail system. The cabin was very clean and stocked with all the essentials… perfect size for 2 couples and 2 kids. The host Simao was very attentive and responded to our questions quickly. We would definitely recommend this cabin."
"The property was very pretty and clean, tons of space… the creek right behind the cabin has lots of cool rocks and crystals! The kids had a lot of fun fishing in the pond and catching bass. They also really enjoyed the trampoline and the zip line. The cabin itself was beautiful inside… They had everything you could need in the kitchen. We had a fantastic time and the host was very responsive. I would definitely go back!"
Common Questions
The forest is
waiting for you.
All three cabins book directly on Airbnb — and together they sleep up to 18, perfect for reunions, riding crews, and group getaways. Weekends fill fast.