Black Fork Mountain Wilderness is a protected, relatively remote section of the Ouachita National Forest along the Arkansas-Oklahoma line, created by Congress in 1984 and managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Stretching thirteen miles along the mountain’s main ridgeline, it is known for rugged backcountry with steep cliffs, scarce water, few trails, and none in its Oklahoma portion. Its most notable natural asset is extensive unlogged old-growth forest, including post oak, shortleaf pine, hickory, and a small grove of sugar maple. Protected under the 1964 Wilderness Act, it supports wildlife such as black bears and deer and is also remembered for a 1973 airline crash that killed eleven people.