Lake Des Arc is a 280-acre impoundment located 5 miles north of Des Arc, Arkansas. Created in 1966, the lake features an average depth of 8 feet with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Access is available via a boat ramp reached by taking Highway 11 North from Des Arc for 3 miles, then turning right onto Des Arc Lake Road.

Paddlers should be aware of numerous submerged stumps off the main creek channel, which can create hazardous conditions. The lake bottom consists of mud and silt, with rip-rap along the levee. Visible cover includes treetops, brush piles, standing timber, and islands. Aquatic vegetation includes American lotus and American pondweed.

The lake offers a handicapped-accessible fishing pier and primitive campsites along the shoreline, though no electrical hookups are available. The surrounding Bayou Des Arc Wildlife Management Area provides opportunities to observe wetland birds and Neotropical migrants. Great blue herons are commonly seen around the lake.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has installed various PVC structures throughout the lake to enhance fish habitat. These structures are marked with GPS coordinates available through the Commission's website. While primarily managed for fishing, the lake accommodates non-motorized watercraft.

The lake's location in Prairie County places it in a historically significant river town area. The adjacent 953-acre wildlife management area consists of bottomland hardwood habitat. Medical services and basic supplies are available in the nearby town of Des Arc.

For safety, all boaters must carry proper personal flotation devices. The lake is owned and managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and standard AGFC lake regulations apply.