Best Cabin Camping near Pawhuska, OK

What a neat little park in Northeastern Oklahoma! What I really liked was that most of the park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Depression and New Deal eras. Many of the buildings were still in use including shelters and cabins. What I didn't like were the terribly short hours of the office- open 8:00-4:30, although no one was around as late as 8:30 in the morning. Back to the positives, the tent sites were separate from the RV sites by a good 1/4 mile so no worries about generators. I camped in site Q which was on the interior of the tent loop, but the prime spots were on the outside of the loop. If you can get site R you will be in heaven!. Each site had a picnic table and fire pit and there were nice level places for tents on all sites. There is a nice overlook in the tent loop to watch the sun rise over the valley. The bathhouse was clean and had electric. There were two shower stalls, but no doors or curtains, so best not be modest. The RV sites seemed well spaced and well maintained. There were several nice trails in the park, with one that left from the tent loop, but they weren't really well marked and it was difficult to find any trail maps. There is a pretty little lake near the entrance that you can rent canoes to take a spin around the lake, but again, it depends on whether someone shows up to man the office. Apparently I wasn't the only one struggling to deal with the office hours as someone just dumped their boat paddles and PDF's in front of the office door since there was no one to turn them in to.

Beautiful old, but refurbished campground in Northeast Oklahoma, built by the CCC! Our last night of a 16-day trip is quietly coming to a close. We made reservations on-line (that's another story!), and when we got there around 8 p.m., the RV campground was about 1/3 full. There are only electric hookups and community water is scattered through the campground. There are tent cabins to rent, and separate tent camping area, also where the overlook is, although it was overgrown and not easy to see the view! There are newish shower and toilet buildings scattered around and my hubs said they were nice and clean... shower water warm only. There is a swimming pool opening early June and nice walking trails. Lots of history if you go that route!

New weekend-- new lake! Took a couple of extra days and spent an extended weekend at Lake Keystone State Park about 30 minutes west of Tulsa. 

The park has two campgrounds with full hookups... Green Country and Lake Country. The former has probably twice as many full hookup spots, but the latter is more picturesque. The view for most of Green Country is the boat shop and the marina. However, Lake Country campground overlooks a cove with easy access to the water. The park features a couple of trails that are good for walking, hiking, and running. Both are connected to the Lake Country campground and one of them will take you to the General Store near the park entrance. Don't expect to find groceries at the store but you can get ice, pop, candy, souvenirs, and ice cream bars. 

Green Country campground features Pier 51 Marina. The marina store rents boats and tubes if you're looking for something to do on the water. In front of the store is the Pier 51 Cafe-- Winn's on the Water. Nice little restaurant with outside dining on the dock. Thursday nights are$1.50 tacos and$2 Tecates. Friday is karaoke night. And Saturday night usually features live music from local/regional artists. 

The cove is pretty rocky but there is a swimming area and a couple of good areas to launch/land a kayak. The cove stays pretty calm since it's, well, a cove and due to it being a no wake zone because of the marina. If you head north on the water about a mile or so from the cove and go around the point you'll find a nice sandy beach across the way. 

The Lake Country campground was clean and seemed to be taken care of well. Although, when we pulled in our site hadn't been swept or blown off and was covered in cotton from the cottonwood trees. The fully modern sites have nice, level concrete pads with picnic tables and grills. However, they are close together and the little strip of grass in between each site is kinda scrubby. Due to the small sites there aren't any fire rings by the pads but there is a community fire ring nearby. If you like more space and don't need sewer hookups then look at the sites closer to the water. 

All in all, while the sites weren't perfect it was a nice campground and will probably warrant another trip.

Nestled in the beautiful hills of the Osage Hills Nation, located between Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Pawhuska, Oklahoma is Osage Hills State Park. I brought three of my grands who all had a blast! This 1,100 acre park offers swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, & even has a tennis court. The clean restrooms were a plus! Cabins, RV & Tent camping available. There is a small private lake with kayaks (Lookout Lake), many hiking trails, a swimming pool, and playground. We saw white tail deer, armadillo, & wild Turkey. There is a lot to do in the area. Woolaroc, Frank Phillips Mansion, The Pioneer Woman, The Dewey Hotel Museum, Tom Mix Museum, Kiddie Park.

We tent camped here at Tent Hill site C. Had a grassy site which was nice. It was kind of close to D but we had good neighbors. Also, one of the benches at the picnic table was gone. Maybe it was an ADA site. Had a fire ring and lantern pole. Just across the road from the bathroom.

There are some good trails here. But they are in the process of making some changes and the maps are only partially accurate for the time being. We hiked to the old CCC camp and saw some old buildings and stuff.

There is a playground at the bottom of the hill. It’s a bit of a trek back up.

I suggest hiking down to the “waterfalls” on the river and spending some time.

Osage Hills State Park is tucked away in the rolling hills and tall grass prairies of NE Oklahoma, and home to over 1100 acres of forest, lakes, creeks, trails, and fun. The park offers 20 fully-outfitted RV campsites, 8 rustic cabins, and over a dozen designated tent-camping sites. Advance reservations are recommended, but not required (if the designated camping areas are not full). The park also has a swimming pool, ball field, tennis courts, and an abundance of heavy concrete picnic tables available.

For the more adventurous, the park has easily-accessible lakes and creeks, hiking trails (easy-to-moderate in difficulty for the average, able adult), mountain biking trails, and scenic overlooks.

Wildlife is abundant throughout the park, but in my many experiences, have never been invasive of the camping areas. Depending on the season, ducks, geese, wild turkey, deer, squirrels, and many other forms of wildlife can be seen in proximity, with relative ease. Fishermen will enjoy the park's waterfronts, at Lookout Lake & Sand Creek, where plentiful bass, perch, crappie, and catfish can be had.

My family and I have made many great memories at Osage Hills over the years, it's a great place to get away for a weekend & enjoy nature. My favorite time of year to go would be early-mid fall, as the foliage can be truly brilliant & breathtaking. Highly recommended!