Horseback riding trails extend throughout Heyburn Lake's northern and southern shores, offering riders varied terrain from wooded paths to lake access points. The area around Jenks contains several campgrounds suitable for equestrian use within a 30-45 minute drive. Water levels at some locations fluctuate seasonally, affecting both trail conditions and swimming areas.
What to do
Swimming options: Sheppard Point provides a sandy-bottom lake with a designated beach area. "The lake has a great swimming beach area - this seems to be a fishing lake, only a few jet skis were out besides fishing boats. Sandy bottom lake near swim beach," notes Megan B., who visited during summer.
Fishing spots: Lake levels affect catch rates, especially at Hawthorn Bluff where fishing docks provide stable platforms. "The fishing dock was very spacious and secure for us and the grandkids," reports Ron K., though he cautions that some sites require longer water hoses to reach potable water.
ATV trails: Municipal areas like Stroud Lake have added designated ATV courses in recent years. Sandy O. mentions, "They screwed up a lot of pristine wilderness area to try and attract ATVs," suggesting riders check current regulations before arrival.
Historical sites: The Dog Iron Ranch and Will Rogers Birthplace maintains camping areas within historic grounds. Jennifer D. explains, "You can tour the birthplace for free, there's an old barn to explore, you can go hiking, there's horse trails as well."
What campers like
Lakeside camping: Many campsites at Blue Creek feature direct water access. Elizabeth L. writes, "We camped in a spot near the water. The lake was beautiful at sunset. The bathroom was clean, our spot had a covered picnic table, grill and fire ring."
Recreational amenities: The Corps of Engineers maintains activity areas at several campgrounds. Lee D. reports, "Aside from fishing and boating, there are many activities you can enjoy here including volleyball, horseshoes, bean bag toss, and basketball. When the gate attendant is there, you can check out supplies for these activities."
Swimming facilities: Beyond natural swimming areas, some campgrounds offer structured water recreation. Melanie W. recommends Jellystone Park for families: "The camping includes the floating inflatables, paddle boards, kayaks, air-conditioned outdoor pool with water slides and splash pad."
Quiet weekday options: For those seeking solitude, many horse campgrounds near Jenks become significantly less crowded midweek. "We had the section with sites 36-61 entirely to ourselves," noted one Blue Creek visitor during a May weekday stay.
What you should know
Campsite leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have significant grading issues. At Sheppard Point, one camper reported: "My RV spot is so unlevel it's almost unusable. Front to back there is 2 feet in elevation difference and a foot from side to side."
Water hookup limitations: Seasonal availability affects services. Michael A. found: "This place was further off the beaten path than expected and was a beautiful location. I camped in late November so water was shut off but electric worked well."
Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds and seasons. One visitor to Hawthorn Bluff noted: "The bathrooms left something to be desired…but they're adequate if you've got to go."
Electrical variations: Power output fluctuates at some campsites. A camper documented: "The power pedestal, from the 120v 20amp receptacle, is putting out 134v. The neighboring spot's pedestal is putting out 103v."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access planning: For families with children, Taylor Ferry provides convenient swimming options. Linda D. comments, "It is clean and peaceful and quite and nice," while another visitor mentioned the "beautiful view" despite some highway noise across the lake.
Playground locations: Some campgrounds maintain multiple play areas. At Hawthorn Bluff, campers can access a swim beach and nature trails suitable for children of various ages.
Wildlife education: Morning walks offer opportunities to observe tracks and remains. Shawn L. reported: "Saw some really interesting paw prints and found a bunch of fish skeletons. One was an Alligator Gar and the rest were catfish of different types."
Separation from neighbors: Site spacing varies significantly between campgrounds and within sections. Blue Creek campers note that some areas provide much more privacy than others, particularly in the non-electric sections.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: For RVers seeking equestrian-friendly campgrounds near Jenks, Oklahoma, Claremore Expo RV Park offers level pull-through spots. Brittany M. notes: "Spots are level and have full hook ups. Spots all seem to be pull through and they stack you close when full. It's park yourself just remember your site number."
Seasonal operations: Check operating schedules before arrival. Jill W. advises: "We were here in early March. There was no water hook up but they did have 30 amp. Very quiet as we were the only ones there."
Water tank preparation: Due to inconsistent hookups, arrive with full tanks. Michael notes that despite beautiful location, he'd "definitely check it out again with a full fresh tank" after finding water turned off during his visit.
Dump station access: Some facilities close seasonally. Elizabeth B. recommends: "I do advise having a water filter system on your rig" and notes that some Corps of Engineers parks "stay open all year" with "two dump stations."
