Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Chickasaw National Recreation Area

This is one of our favorite tent and trailer camping locations in Oklahoma. It is quiet with all the hookups you need plus restrooms and showers within in a close walk on Loop C where reservations are required. Great sunset views over the Lake of the Arbuckles, great hiking in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, and close shopping in Sulphur.

This is a beautiful COE campground on the Lake of the Arbuckles near Sulphur, OK in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. There’s a variety of tent and RV sites from lakeside to sites enclosed in trees. 50, 30, 20 amp service with water, mostly level and easy to back-in. The shower house was clean though a little dated. The dump station worked as it should and had easy access.

I like Rock Creek campground in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. It is my second favorite on that side of the lake behind The Point campground. It is clean and well maintained.

The camp sites are large with a lot of tree cover. There are some nice rock formations and good hiking trails. This is a solid campground. I not would consider this a vacation destination but would make a fun weekend trip.

Nice family campground close to ‘Little Niagara Falls’ where the kiddos can play in the Creek and falls. We went on weekend and it was very busy. No camp host but the NPS rangers were very active and responsive. No alcohol at this park. Within driving distance to lake nearby. Several camping areas closed during September within the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Overall fun with lots of young families enjoying the outdoors.

Cold Springs group camp is a first come first serve campground. What is nice is that the self pay station is automated with a credit card machine. This is an awesome feature. It really stinks to show up to a campground, not have enough money, and then have to find an ATM to pay the camp fees. This has happened to me before.

The campsites are decent and set up for tents. The campground is decent but I prefer The Point Campground or Rock Creek to camp in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Central is the smallest of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area campgrounds. It is meant for groups but honestly, it is pretty average. It is right next to the main road and just doesn't have a lot to offer. There is a lot of open space and the campsites are pretty boring.

The positive is that it is very clean and the campground itself is surrounded by trees. If you are desperate for a group campground then it will work, but it is not nearly as spectacular as The Point campground in the same National Recreation Area.

I really liked the Point Campground in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. There are great walk-in campsites. They are not far from the parking lot but they have great shade and nice level platforms for your tent. If you have a hammock there are great trees for hanging out.

There are great camper and RV sites with electricity. The bathrooms are modern but could be kept a little cleaner. That is why I didn't give it 5 stars.

The lake is beautiful and there are several campsites along the lake with awesome views. The scenery and hiking trails make this a great stop.

This was our first time staying at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area and we loved it! Our site was wonderful and about 50ft from the water. The site itself was well shaded throughout the day and was fairly surrounded by trees. We noticed nearby campsites were more open and not as shady throughout the day. There were no signs indicating swimming rules but we did swim at this location, as did a few surrounding campers.

We did not fish but heard quite a few fish jumping around in the early morning so there’s no doubt this is a great area for fishermen.

The bathrooms and showers were very clean, which was a really nice surprise!

We hiked the Bromide Hill and Bison Overlook trails for some really nice views. Nearby swimming areas at Little Niagara and Travertine Creek were very packed during the day, so we only visited during the early morning when the water was very cold.

Beautiful area, just be sure to bring water shoes!

I spent a very relaxing week at The Point Upper Campground at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Because my reservation was for seven days, I didn't have a very good choice of sites, but mine was clean, level and had good utilities.  The dump station was easily accessible. Only one complaint is that the wash out hose did not have a threaded hoses connection to attach to my tank flush on my trailer. No big deal, but it would have helped. The Park Service personnel kept the area clean and mowed and had a very good presence in the campground. I checked in on a Sunday and was pretty much alone except for one other site near me until Friday evening when the place filled up QUICK. I'm glad that I checked out the next morning because it was really busy with traffic, kids in the road having fun, and lots of background noise. The Main area of the Rec Area is right off of the main thoroughfare in Sulphur OK where there is a nature center, trails, waterfalls and great swimming holes on the creeks. The Bison herd was in the East pasture and was easily accessible from the Veterans Trail. The herd is small now, but they were expecting some "red dogs" and mamas in the next few days when I was there. Glad to have a new bison herd in Oklahoma. 

The Point Campground is close (5 miles) to fuel, groceries, beer, ice and of course a Wal-Mart. I would recommend this campground. There are several others in CNRA too, and the whole experience is worth the cost of the campsite. Be sure to visit the Nature Center Area, it is located near the waterfalls and creeks. A good side trip, along with the Bison Herd nearby.

This was the first time we camped in Loop C, which is reserve only. It was in January, so the Loop was about 1/3rd full with mostly RVs. Loop D, first come, first serve, had less campers. RV sites have water & electric & tent sites have shared water. The restrooms were very nice, clean and heated. We stayed at site 81C, which was a challenge to back into because of trees that were close to drive. The pad was fairly level & the picnic table/fire pit pad was separated from the RV pad. I could only imagine how secluded this site would feel with vegetation on the trees. This loop also had many tent sites and all the tent & RV sites are well sized & spaced. Some RV sites closer to the water look like they would be a challenge to level, but most sites have fairly level pads & all sites have very level picnic/fire pit pads for an area that has some generally steep slopes. There was only one lake view RV site in Loop C, 56C, that had the hookups on the side that pointed the front door towards the lake, but all had a gorgeous view from the picnic/fire pit pads. Absolutely love the Chickasaw National Recreational Area because of the many activities this park offers & its history.

Sites are concrete and level. Bathrooms and showers were big and clean. Nice big dog park. The pool did not look to be very clean and the out door showers by the pool were not working. Wish we could have seen the game room, but they lock it up after they close.

This RV park is one of our favorites. The amenities are amazing, concrete pads, full hook ups, a fishing pond, great pool, volleyball, basketball, and dog park made our 10 day stay incredible. I didn’t use them, but my husband said the bathrooms/showers were the cleanest he’s ever seen. Aside from how great the actual park is, the staff is amazing, best customer service ever and they do all they can to make you feel welcome. 

The park is minutes from the marina, a fishing pier, and great hiking. We just left and are already booking another trip this summer.

Chickasaw National Recreation Area- Buckhorn Area Oklahoma. 

Site 36 Loop B 

Continuing our late spring journey west…we ventured to Chickasaw NRA. 

Stopping in at the beautiful Visitor’s Center at the edge of town, those that assisted us at the information were extremely gracious and helpful, having never visited before. Taking their advice we travelled 7.5 miles south on Rt 177 and turned west on Buckhorn until arriving at the Buckhorn Area campground loops off to the south. 

Anxious to get out of the car, we settled too quickly on Site 36 Loop B before surveying the three other Loops. There are some really nice and spacious sites out there…especially on C and D. Site 36 Loop B is located amidst six other sites in an open area on Lake of the Arbuckles. Upon setting up camp, we were the solitary campers in Loop B(Tuesday night mid-June) other than the host. 

Later, another family arrived choosing a nearby lakefront site. It should be noted that this is a busy lake. Powerboats raced from end to end like today was their last day on earth and their choice of blaring music may not be to your liking. So it is not always quiet and tranquil. Pretty popular with the fishermen as well. I witnessed a lot of fishing but not a lot of catching. Once the power boaters, personal watercraft and tubers call it a night, lake of the Arbuckles is supremely tranquil. 

The lake was as warm as bath water on June 15th, which was surprising…days were 90’s with nights in the 70’s and cloudless skies. 

Personally, I would choose a more shaded site if we were to spend more than one night. Each Loop B site had a level gravel horseshoe shaped pad. Tents must be within that area. 

• Each site has a grated fire ring, a lantern pole and a movable picnic table. Tent sites were clearly marked. 

• Numerous lakefront sites are in a cleared area below the shower house/restrooms and Check-In kiosk…each are visible from the other we no understory or foliage to provide privacy. Those nestled in the woods along the outside perimeter offer much more privacy.

• Water spigots are sporadically spaced for easy access in the“primitive” loops.

• Electric/water sites obviously offer those amenities are a bit deeper, more spacious and some have two parking spots. Most of those on Loop D were taken.

• The loops are separated substantially so that other campers are not seen nor heard from loop to loop. Surprisingly, I could not even locate trails that led from loop to loop.

• Shower-house/restrooms were very clean and well stocked. Loop B had one shower for the entire loop in both men’s and women’s restrooms…as well as one family shower between the two. On our visit the electrical outlets were not working in the restrooms. Facilities are modern and showers are warm and on a push button timer to conserve water.(men’s-2 sinks/2-stalls, 1-standup, 1-shower)

• Milton, Our Loop B host, was a pleasant gentleman that was a full time RVer and very knowledgeable of the area.

• The Check-In Kiosk(located in each loop) was an easy, painless affair IF you have a credit card.

• Multi-use trails are aplenty in various parts of the NRA. Some lead you by bison, others to waterfalls, and some simply through serene forest. The terrain is undulating so be prepared…especially by bicycle.

• Traveling north on 177 there is a Bison Viewpoint trail, and if the bison cooperate you’ll be rewarded.

• Several springs and 1930’s CCC built dams exist creating small waterfalls and refreshing swimming holes on many. There are some springs that are posted“no swimming.” The Travertine Nature Center is also worth a visit providing numerous wildlife dioramas and several live exhibits. NP Rangers possess great knowledge and eager to answer any park questions.

• Dump station turnoff is 9/10 and 7/10 of a mile from thr campground entrances Primitive campgrounds also exist near the numerous falls and Travertine River closer to the city of Sulphur. Campsites appeared close to the park roadway as we traveled toward the Nature Center.

• All in all, a wonderful park that needs several days to fully explore.

For tent camping only, no electric hookups, no water hookups, there are toilets with running water but no showers and pets are allowed.

Check Out The Campground: CLICK HERE

VIVO BareFoot: CLICK HERE

My Full Video Review Of The The VIVO Barefoot Primus Trail SG: CLICK HERE

Campground Review

Pulling into the Chickasaw National Recreation Area several camping options jump out just begging for you to choose them. I selected the Cold Springs Campground on this trip because its great location and access to the many falls of the area.

Along this turn out you can find many of the most popular stops for cool waters, hiking and natural beauty including most arguably the best stop to take a cool dip on a hot day, Little Niagara, a spring fed waterfall system which traverses some 2 mies downstream. With this being one of the first campgrounds in the area you are also just moments from the Chickasaw Cultural Center, a location which hosts many Native American educational events, stomp dance exhibitions and festivals for the community of Sulphur.

The campground has been partially modernized in comparison to other camps around the state, with a digital kiosk pay station as you enter camp, you can come any time, find a site and easily pay using any payment method. By far this surpasses the traditional honor box system which sometimes can be a bit tricky when you don’t bring exact change.

I found that campsites were large and welcoming when pulling into this camp. Big enough for RVs but ideal for tents, a variety of campers could call this space home with 65 campsites. In addition to this being the perfect site for individual campers, a group camp is located just a few hundred yards away for those needing a bit more.

The site I selected was right inside the opening loop, close to the restrooms, shaded in the rear from the road and with a large flat pad for my tent. The pad was constructed from small gravel and took little to no time to clear from fallen debris.

While the sites are dry camping, there are water spigots scattered throughout camp. Sites are equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grill and lantern post, pretty typical of any government site, however these did look to be much more well maintained than others I have visited in the area. Restrooms at this site were well maintained and had nice flush toilets.

The only downside I found to the particular site I selected was its proximity to the gate itself and the influx of in and out traffic. Typically I would select something a bit further into the campground for privacy, but this site was so welcoming I went against my gut and with it. But for only $14 you could not beat the feeling this place offered with the woods engulfing your site and in the evening the deer roaming around ever so cautiously.

A few things to remember about this campsite:

• Seasonally open from May through September.
• Pets are welcome here but do require a leash at all times.

Rating:

I would give the Cold Spring Camp a 4 of 5 for its proximity, overall spaciousness and amenities. This site was only a short 5 minute drive from the Nature Center, had access to many hiking trails in the area and was secluded from the major highway just enough to make it feel much further away from town than it actually was.

Product Review

• Name: VIVO Barefoot Primus Trail SG
• Retail Price: $150.00
• Size: 7.5
• Color: Olive

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I am sent items to test from time to time to give real feed back about how these items work within my active lifestyle. On this trip I was closing out my review cycle for the VIVO Barefoot Primus Trail SG shoes. These shoes are a part of the vast line of minimalist shoes VIVO Barefoot has released utilizing recycled bottles and other materials to keep in line with a Vegan outlook. The shoes are the “soft ground” version of their outdoor line, designed to grip comfortably the ground below you and provide both support and traction when running, hiking or simply walking.

Shipping:

I placed my order for these shoes and within 5 days they arrived at my home. Shipping for the package arrived in a VIVO red reinforced bag with bold branding on the outside. Inside the box was a hefty box containing materials about the shoe, shipping receipt, 1 pair of shoe laces, 2 insoles and the shoes neatly wrapped in branded tissue paper.

Field Testing:

I tested these shoes over 5 different wears over two weeks of doing typical things I do in my day to day life. With my stop at Cold Springs I put them to the final test, navigating on slippery rocks as I traversed the many waterfalls in the area, trekking through boggy wet grounds as I visited the neighboring Fall Festival at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, climbing on steep gravel banks and walking on various types of surface. I can only say that the shoes never seemed to miss a beat or make me feel the slightest bit uneasy in my footing.

For someone like myself, finding a shoe which suits my lifestyle is multi-fold. I have had issues with chronic sciatica over the years which has nearly grounded me from travel multiple times, my joints tend to build pressure and pop often and over time and though playing sports as a child I just wasn’t the most friendly to my body as I could be. I had seen information about minimalist shoes helping retrain your step and get your body more in line with its natural feel by extending the muscles you typically are shrinking wearing highly padded shoes, by allowing your toes to rest more naturally and less hindered while in the shoes and by allowing your joints to naturally cushion your walk. I didn’t know what exactly to expect from the shoes and was not expecting a miracle, but I was curious I will say.

Over the first 4 wears I noticed that taking the shoes off I did not experience the same pain after long days that I typically would in a standard pair of running shoes. Pain is perhaps a strong word, discomfort would be more appropriate. Instead I simply felt like I had removed the shoes. I know that sounds strange but considering I didn’t even know I had an issue it was a strange feeling indeed when I had the ah ha moment. Not only that I noticed following removal, typically I stand and stretch and hear my joint popping, however with the VIVO Barefoot shoes I didn’t have the tension release.

With these I can walk around feeling the ground below me in a comfortable way. On stones and uneven surfaces I feel like I can grip better with my feet to secure my balance and though they are taking a little adjustment I am really enjoying the overall feel of the shoes.

Pros:

• Water resistant - When I was walking on the rocks and around the waters edge at Cold Springs, I noticed that while I could feel the water, I didn’t feel like it was sloshing inside my shoes. They are water resistant, and while that does not mean I could fully submerge my foot I felt with the hiking around the rocks I was safe.
• Flexible - When you get this shoe you are inclined to test the shoes flexibility considering it is made from recycled plastic bottles, something I feel is much more rigid by nature than what I feel my shoe should be. They completely roll up end to end! Any shoe that will do that is a shoe I know will move and grip in any direction I am moving for sure.
• Tight Ankle - It was great for keeping debris out of my shoe and assisted in my shoe not slipping on my foot when I was wearing it throughout the day or competing with my sock.

Cons:

• Tight Ankle - It was very difficult to get onto my foot because it was not stretchy enough to easily slip on. Over time I know it will loosen a bit, but that by far is the worst thing about the shoe in my opinion.
• With or without insoles - Inside the box an insert insole is provided, to get the full barefoot experience you can opt to not use these or you can use them for a bit of cushion. I was a bit conflicted by the choice. Without the insoles the shoe slips on much easier but it also is a bit more of a rough ride feel when getting used to them.

Rating:

Of 5 stars I would give the VIVO Barefoot Primus 4 stars. I love the shoes but the process of putting them on being so difficult (almost 10 minutes the first time I put them on). I feel like it will continue to take some warming up to them to really know how I like that aspect. I have found that when using them to workout that tight ankle does make a small red impression on the top of my foot and while my feet themselves do not hurt, in the long run I would not want the to be the continued outcome. I will continue wearing them and testing them and I assume this will pass.

This is our 3rd campground to stay at Lake Murray and my least favorite. I was excited to have a pull-through site on the water. However, when we pulled up, someone had parked their fishing boat and pontoon boat right in front of our site at the shore. They could have moved it to the left or right between sites but no, picked right in front of ours. So instead of enjoying my lake view I get to stare at two boats. People here were not very respectful of pets on a leash, not walking through other’s campsites, and turning music down past 11 pm. The interior lots are very crowded, but thankfully I didn’t have to look at those. I can’t speak to the restroom facilities since I didn’t use them. Also, other sites had fire rings, but we didn’t. I will definitely be choosing to stay at one of the campgrounds on the opposite of side of the lake in the future.

We stayed at 62. Not far from most things. But our site was infested with ticks. We’re leaving early because of this. (We brought the dog) other than that, it’s a great place.

bathrooms was very clean and wasn’t all hot and mucky was nice and cool in there. Very clean and love that it’s dog friendly. I suggest anyone to come with your friends and family have a nice day cooking, kicking back and playing some games