This article on Oklahoma state parks is brought to you by Mountain House, whose freeze dried backpacking food like the Fusilli Pasta meal is the perfect addition to your freeze dried food supply for your next OK adventure.
When you’re thinking of your next vacation destination, your mind might not jump to the state of Oklahoma. If Oklahoma has never made it on your list, it’s time to revisit your summer adventure plans. The Sooner State state boasts over 30 state parks, featuring boiling springs, and natural caves. Oklahoma State Parks offer visitors a chance to get to know the state’s wilderness while indulging in its rich history.
These 7 Oklahoma State Parks Showcase the Best of the Sooner State
We’ve narrowed down some of the top attractions for experiencing the weird yet wonderful side of Oklahoma camping.
1. Catch a Trophy Fish in Beavers Bend State Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Katie K.
Interested in the more rugged side of Oklahoma? Beavers Bend State Park offers everything from fishing to biking to river float trips. The streams are stocked with trout year-round. This state park includes an unprecedented two catch-and-release trophy areas, which draws visitors from all over the state.
Complete with a lodge on-site, Beavers Bend is an optimal option for outdoor access year-round. It also offers some of Oklahoma’s best variety of adventurous activities. Camping at Beavers Bend includes 393 campsites for both RVs and tent campers, along with 47 cabins spread throughout the park.
2. Climb and Rappel in Red Rock Canyon Adventure Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Annie C.
Located in Hinton, Oklahoma, Red Rock Canyon Adventure Park is a former state park. Itcontains 300 acres of red rock cliffs formed from 260-million-year-old soil deposits. In addition to being a safe haven for the Plains Indians during the harsh winters.
The park was a major landmark on the California Road in the 1800s, just prior to the Gold Rush. Hiking up to fantastic views of the surrounding landscape. The cliffs that surround the park provide excellent climbing and rappelling opportunities.
The campground at the park includes 30 tent camping sites with full amenities (a picnic bench, charcoal grill, and a fire ring) as well as 30 campsites without fire rings, spread between three locations.
3. Stand Underneath an 80-foot Waterfall in Natural Falls State Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Chad K.
At the border of Oklahoma and Arkansas rests one of the Sooner State’s most epic natural wonders. Nestled in the Ozark highlands, the iconic 77-foot waterfall that gives Natural Falls State Park its name creates an oasis of its own at the bottom of a narrow valley. The park offers two up-close viewing platforms, one overlooking the falls and one at the base of the falls (with seating!).
The forest around the falls is just as magnificent, featuring dense clusters of maples, white oaks, and chinquapin. It also includes a variety of local vegetation that thrives in and around the moist environment created by the falls.
Along with a campground offering 44 RV sites and 17 tent sites, Natural Falls State Park offers five yurts fully stocked with all the amenities of a cabin or lodge.
4. Camp (and Golf) Amongst Wild Turkeys in Lake Eufaula State Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Dusty G.
Located in Lake Eufaula State Park is the largest human-built lake in Oklahoma. The 2,200 acre Arrowhead Area offers an abundance of outdoor activities, including boating, camping, and hiking.
The Arrowhead Hiking Trail is a three-mile trail that is recommended for advanced hikers due to the elevation gain. But the trail offers visitors the chance to travel between the two campgrounds in the Arrowhead Area. Frequently spotted in and around the Arrowhead Area’s more remote campsites are a few species of wildlife. You can see the deer, wild turkeys, and rabbits that make their home amongst the hilly terrain.
The park also contains a full 18-hole golf course, which provides an excellent view of the lake and access to water activities. The campground at Arrowhead Area includes 91 tent sites and 91 RV sites, including 20 that offer full hookups. For those with horses, the park even offers a number of equestrian sites, including hitching posts, water and electric hookups.
Feel like flying in? The Arrowhead Area offers an airstrip for visitors who’d like to enter the park in style.
5. Visit a Natural Flowing Spring in Boiling Springs State Park
Boiling Springs State Park is located on the plains of Oklahoma in Woodward, though that doesn’t mean it’s dry. Named for the natural “boiling” spring that still flows today, the park is one of the seven original state parks in Oklahoma.
Though it’s a naturally-occurring spring, the water only appears to be boiling. In reality, the sand above the underground inrush moves with the water. In reality, the water is quite cool. Hundreds of year ago the area was explored by some of the earliest Spanish expeditions, and used as an encampment for Native American tribes in the area. Today, the boiling spring is showcased at the on-site interpretive center.
There are 40 RV sites within Boiling Springs State Park, as well as 12 tent sites and a larger group site. Four cabins are available for rent at $105 per night with a two-day minimum on holidays and weekends.
6. Go Spelunking for Treasure in Robbers Cave State Park
Covering more than 8,000 acres, Robbers Cave State Park is the second largest of the 41 Oklahoma state parks. While the intricate network of caves is perfect for spelunking, rappelling, and climbing, the caves themselves are also rich with mystery.
Before Robbers Cave was the most notorious of Oklahoma state parks, it was an infamous hideout for criminals. Including Belle Starr—“Queen of the Oklahoma Outlaws”—and ever-notorious outlaw Jesse James. Rumors still circulate that, in certain less-travelled parts of the park, there might even be treasure left behind by outlaws on the run.
Those interested in camping in the footprints of the famed Oklahoma bandits can find a variety of spots available. This includes 80-some RV sites with electrical and water hookups, and 86 primitive camping sites, all of which are located along the secluded trails that run through the park. In addition to the campgrounds, Robber’s Cave State Parks offers 26 cabins with park views to boot. Equestrian sites are available as well.
7. Swim Along 225 Miles of Shoreline in Sequoyah State Park
Located in Hulbert Oklahoma, Sequoyah State Park features the most extensive water network of all of Oklahoma’s state parks. Including both 225 miles of shoreline and over 19,000 surface acres of water. The park is a must-see for lovers of boating, fishing, and all other water sports, and includes several excellent beaches from which more casual visitors can watch the flurry of surface activity.
Given the popularity of the park, Sequoyah includes a lodge with 104 rooms and 45 cottages. In addition, it features campgrounds with 48 full hookup RV sites and 80 water and electric sites. Two additional campgrounds on the property include 124 additional sites for RVers. There are 150 tent sites spread throughout the park, all of which are first come, first served.
Have your own wild, wonderful, and weird experience at one of these Oklahoma state parks? Let us know on The Dyrt!
This post was brought to you by Mountain House
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Related Articles:
- Trans-America Trail
- Float Trips in Missouri
- Robbers Cave State Park
- Glamping in Texas
- Ouachita National Forest
Related Campgrounds:
- Marval Resort, Gore, OK
- The Point Campground (Ok) Chickasaw Nra, Sulphur, OK
- Beavers Bend Camping, Broken Bow, OK
- Lake Murray Campgrounds: Elephant Rock near Ardmore, OK
- K River Campground, Moyers, OK
- Roman Nose State Park, Watonga, OK
- Natural Falls State Park, West Siloam Springs, OK
