## Overview

 Birch Cove is located at Birch Lake in Osage County, Oklahoma. Cradled in valleys surrounded by rolling, forested hills, the lake is a perfect setting for nature lovers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The lake is small yet scenic and offers several excellent outdoor recreational opportunities for year-round enjoyment, such as fishing, boating, swimming, horseback riding and picnicking.
## Recreation

 Birch Lake is popular for fishing and hunting, as well as family fun and relaxation. Fish species available for the angler include largemouth bass, walleye, spotted bass, smallmouth bass, hybrid striped bass, black and white crappie, channel and flathead catfish and sunfish. Principal game species for hunting enthusiasts include bobwhite quail, mourning dove, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit and whitetail deer.
## Facilities

 With a boat ramp, fishing dock, playground, and a swim beach, Birch Cove has something for everyone. All campsites are on the waterfront or within a short walk from the lake. There are also two group camping shelters that can be reserved; one shelter accommodates 6 rv/trailers, 100 people and 21 vehicles, and the other accommodates 4 rv/trailers, 60 people and 11 vehicles. 
## Natural Features

 Birch Cove Campground is forested, and most sites have a mix of sun and shade. The 1,137-acre lake is part of Birch Creek, a tributary of Bird Creek. The shoreline ranges from gentle to steep slopes with numerous rock outcrops. The hilltops and upper slopes are generously forested with small hardwood trees, primarily post oak, blackjack, other oaks, hickory, hackberry and elm. Numerous species of grasses and wildflowers bloom in spring and fall. Forests, tallgrass prairie and shrub ecosystems surround the lake area.

Birch Cove

This is a nice, newer feeling recreation area with a large lake for boating, fishing and water sports. The campground is large with several loops and sites on and off the lake. Most of the sites on the lake were taken by RV'ers, with most tent campers choosing sites up the hill away from the lake (and lake noise). I was in site 44 which backs up to the woods (making it easier to gather downed wood for my fire and cooking). I thought I was going to have the back end of the loop all to myself, but lucky me, someone with a camper decided to be my next-door neighbor. Sigh. It was a fairly nice site with a paved parking pad, picnic table, grill, and fire ring, with plenty of level space for my tent and trees for my hammock. The trees provided a nice wind break from the relentless Oklahoma winds. The shower house on my loop (there was one on each loop and it seemed like a few spare mixed in) was clean and maintained daily. The actual shower portion had two stalls, one handicap accessible, and both with a few resident spiders. Speaking of wildlife, there were plenty of deer in the field in the evening and several turtles and snakes hanging out in the late afternoon. All sites had electric and there was a shared water pump for every two sites. The Recreation Area had a manned gate house and the campground host manning it was very nice and helpful. There weren't any hiking trails in the campground, but then again, its main claim to fame is the lake. If you are looking for things to do in the area, Pawhuska is home to Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman from the cooking channel. Her store and restaurant are in Pawhuska and its a pretty good place to get breakfast or lunch.

Birch Cove Recreation Area

hammock and tent camping.  few skeeters and flys and a friendly coon.  great weekend.

nice quiet little cove.  been a blast for a two nighter.

We had a spectacular spot with nothing in our view except hardwood forest. The road in front of our spot was a little busy as it was the main road to the fishing dock and it was a nice hill for kids to ride scooters and skateboards on. But all in all it was quiet and relaxing. 

Birch Cove Campground 

The northern most part of the campground is closed for the winter months but the southern end close to the boat ramp is open with just a few sites.  There is a park host onsite.  I rode through and did not see a bathhouse or bathroom.  The  camp is a bit further south than is depicted on the maps.  It is south of the dam and well marked.