7 Unique Oklahoma State Parks To Add to Your Bucket List
You don’t have to travel far to find an adventure within Oklahoma State Parks.
Oklahoma is more than just the state where tornadoes happen! It’s also home to several incredible state parks that you may not have heard about before. Our article looks at these hidden gems and provides some tips on planning your next visit. If you love being outdoors, then this article is for you.
7 Epic Oklahoma State Parks
Oklahoma’s state parks are some of the most underrated and best-kept secrets in the country, perfect for folks looking for a weekend getaway.
Oklahoma is a land of hills, valleys, rivers, and lakes. So, it might be surprising that there are some hidden gems in the state, with not many people knowing about them, which include salt flats, sand dunes, caves, and waterfalls.
Continue reading find out more about these unique state parks you probably didn’t know existed.
1. Salt Plains State Park
Salt Plains State Park is a unique area that has been called one of Oklahoma’s best-kept secrets. From its rolling hills to salt flats and nearby wildlife refuge, it makes for an excellent place to explore the great outdoors. In addition, with easy access to a nearby lake, it’s one of the best places in Oklahoma for birdwatching! There are over 300 species of protected birds living in the wildlife refuge.
The park is out of this world as far as diverse landscapes go. An ocean once covered Oklahoma, and the salt plains are left over from prehistoric times.
Visitors can dig for selenite crystals if you’re up for a different kind of adventure.
This is the only place on the planet where hourglass selenite crystals are found.
Salt Plains: Best Time of Year to Visit
The salt flats in Oklahoma are open to the public from April 1 – October 15 daily.
Visit when it is cooler, as it gets hot and humid during the summer and there is no shade once you’re on the salt flats.
We visited during mid-July and it was incredibly HOT.
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The salt flats are softer than the surrounding area, so you’ll want to be careful walking or driving so you don’t get stuck.
If you plan on digging for crystals, bring a shovel, sunscreen, water, and food. The area is extremely rural.
Restrooms are available near the dig area and at the main state park area.
Dogs are allowed.
The entrance fee is $10 per car or $8 for Oklahoma residents.
2. Little Sahara State Park
Little Sahara State Park is another one of Oklahoma’s best-kept secrets (not to be confused with Utah’s Little Sahara Recreation Area). With incredible views of sand dunes that tower 25 to 75 feet into the air, Little Sahara State Park looks like it came straight out of a movie set.
The state park consists of over 1,600 acres of dunes from when the Cimarron River flowed over the area during prehistoric times. The park is located near Waynoka in northwest Oklahoma.
Today, the park provides visitors with an excellent place to spend the day walking around, camping, and enjoying the scenery of this unique area. In addition, it is a popular ATV, dune buggy, off-road vehicle, and dirt biking destination.
If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience, then this is definitely the place to go.
Camping is available but limited, and there is no shade at the campgrounds. Be sure to reserve your spot ahead of time, especially if visiting during popular times of the year.
Little Sahara: Best Time of Year to Visit
The park is a popular place to visit in the late fall and early spring.
However, we wouldn’t recommend visiting in the middle of summer because it’s extremely hot, rural, and there is no shade once you’re on the sand dunes.
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Restrooms are available near the campgrounds.
Dogs are allowed.
3. Gloss Mountain State Park
Gloss Mountain State Park is a great place to go for rock scrambling, hiking, and exploring. The park contains diverse landscapes, including cliffsides with spectacular red rock views and various types of terrain.
Visitors can hike the Cathedral Mountain Trail along a designated trail composed of rocks, wood, and metal stairs with some handrails. The trail is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
It’s one of the more unique parks in Oklahoma since most state parks in Oklahoma focus on water-oriented activities and scenery.
Gloss Mountain is a great place to go if you’re looking for an excellent adventure that exposes you to nature in all of its glory. Just when you think Oklahoma is only prairie land, you find a red rock desert-like oasis that transports you to a Sedona-like atmosphere.
Gloss Mountain: Best Time of Year to Visit
Visitors will enjoy hiking the Cathedral Mountain Trail during cooler months of the year.
It is not a very busy park during the middle of the week, which is great since visitors share a narrow hiking trail to the top of the mountain. So visit during the week to beat any crowds.
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There is no camping here. There are restrooms in the parking area.
Dogs are allowed.
Trip tip: Little Sahara State Park and Gloss Mountain State Park are roughly 30 minutes apart if you’d like to see both destinations in one day!
4. Robbers Cave State Park
Robbers Cave State Park is another unique park located in Oklahoma’s Sans Bois Mountains (and one of our personal favorites). It is home to a huge cave which visitors to the area can explore. Inside the cave is a relic of the past that has been known to stir up debate among residents and other visitors in the area. Tt was a former hideout for wild west outlaws such as Jesse James and Belle Starr.
Robbers Cave State Park and the surrounding Wildlife Management Area are made up of over 8,000 acres. The area is home to plenty of wildlife and a beautiful forest. People travel from all over the state of Oklahoma just to venture inside this incredible cave full of history and stunning hiking trails.
You’re in for a real treat if you decide to visit Robbers Cave State Park. With plenty of activities such as rappelling, hiking, camping, kayaking and unbeatable scenery, it’s an excellent place to go on a weekend getaway in Oklahoma.
Robbers Cave: Best Time of Year to Visit
You can visit the area year-round. However, if you’re planning to visit during the summer, plan hiking early in the morning to beat the heat. The trail parking area to Robbers Cave opens at 8 am.
The fall is another incredible time of year to visit with the hardwoods changing colors.
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Robbers Cave was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
There is lots of camping available shaded by the oak-pine forest.
There are restrooms near the campgrounds and at the trailhead for the Robbers Cave and Rough Canyon hikes.
Dogs are allowed.
The entrance fee is $10 per car or $8 for Oklahoma residents.
Trip tip: We personally love hiking through the oak-pine forest and exploring the granite rock formations. The hike to Robbers Cave is incredible! You simply cannot miss doing the short hike to the cave.
5. Natural Falls State Park
Did you know Natural Falls State Park was featured in the movie Where the Red Fern Grows?
Natural Falls State Park is well known for its incredible 77′ waterfall called Dripping Springs.
Natural Falls State Park is also home to some gorgeous scenery you might not expect in Oklahoma, including rolling hillsides with plenty of rocks strewn about them. It’s an excellent place for hiking or just exploring the natural wonders of the area.
The park is close to the Oklahoma-Arkansas border in Colcord, Oklahoma, in the Ozark Mountains. It’s a great pit stop to take photos and do the short hike to Dripping Springs on your next road trip through Oklahoma or Arkansas.
Natural Falls: Best Time of Year to Visit
Since Oklahoma has relatively mild winters, you can visit this state park year-round. The hike to Dripping Springs is short, and you can even hike during the middle of the summer. In addition, the trail has some shade.
More Details
You might be wondering if you can swim at Natural Falls State Park. Sorry to disappoint, but no swimming is allowed.
Dogs are allowed.
There is a campground.
The entrance fee is $10 per car or $8 for Oklahoma residents.
6. Greenleaf State Park
Greenleaf State Park is a wonderful place to go for hiking, exploring, camping, and swimming. With plenty of trails that lead you through the woods with lake scenery, it’s easy to see why so many people enjoy this park.
But this isn’t just any old state park in Oklahoma; here, you can experience something unique – a swinging bridge.
It might be one of the things that sets Greenleaf State Park apart from all the others in Oklahoma. It is magical to hike the Ankle Express Trail through the woods to reach the swinging bridge!
Greenleaf State Park also has one of the longest backpacking trails in Oklahoma – The Ankle Express.
Plenty of other activities can keep you busy when you go to Greenleaf State Park. You can stick around the area and take in a swim, kayak, fish, or you might prefer to hike one of the other trails instead.
The park has wonderful campground areas, so be sure to plan a camping trip along the water. Our favorite campground area is Cypress Row.
Greenleaf State Park: Best Time of Year to Visit
The best times of the year to visit Greenleaf State Park are spring and fall. However, if you’re planning to hike, we recommend waiting for cooler temperatures.
Most of the campground is in the trees, and you can get away with summer camping and lake activities if you don’t mind the heat.
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Dogs are allowed.
If you plan to hike during warmer weather, you’ll definitely want to bring bug spray for the mosquitos and ticks.
The entrance fee is $10 per car or $8 for Oklahoma residents.
If you’re camping, the entrance fee is covered by the campground reservation fee.
7. Quartz Mountain State Park
If you are looking to get away into Oklahoma’s beautiful and remote Wichita Mountains, Quartz Mountain State Park has something that will interest any outdoor lover. The scenery at this destination is second-to-none, with hiking trails winding throughout the park.
Camp beneath stars so thick they seem to be threading their way across an open book. The area is remote, so there is barely any other light pollution.
And if sunbathing by the lakeside isn’t quite enough for your taste, no problem. There are also rock–climbing opportunities and a short, paved bike path to explore.
Quartz Mountain: Best Time of Year to Visit
Visitors can explore Quartz Mountain State Park year-round. If you’d like to hike, we’d recommend visiting during the fall, winter, and spring. If you’re there to play on the lake, then summer is a great time to visit.
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There are a few different camping areas with water and electric hookups. The restrooms are older, but there are flushing toilets and showers. Visitors can make camping reservations online.
The hikes are some of the best in the state.
This is one of our absolute favorite state parks to hike in Oklahoma!
Final Thoughts
The state has 38 state parks waiting to be explored by any outdoor adventurer. From hiking trails, mountain biking, and camping, these parks have something for everyone. You won’t regret taking your next adventure here.
We hope you have fun exploring.
Ashlee & Pablo
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I often like the look of State parks even more than their more famous sisters, the national parks – probably because they seem less busy, bust just as beautiful! These Oklahoma state parks all looks great fun for hikes – and it is pretty amazing how varied the terrain is!
I LOVE the look of the salt flats and the Robbers Cave!
Hi Josy! Thanks for reading. We agree – state parks are so spectacular and often less crowded. Oklahoma State Parks are awesome!
These parks sound like such great hidden gems that I’d never think to find in Oklahoma! I’d love to visit them some day!
Hi Sue! Thanks for commenting. We hope you get to see some of Oklahoma’s awesome State Parks someday!
didn’t realize Oklahoma had so many great spots!
Hi Alex – Oklahoma State Parks are incredible. There is so much diversity in the state.
I had no idea that there was so much varying landscape in Oklahoma! Also had no idea there were salt plains there, or massive sand dunes. So glad you wrote this post, it’s inspired me to travel to this state!
Hi Krista! So glad you found our article. We hope you can visit Oklahoma someday. It is really an underrated state with a lot of neat places to explore.
I had no idea there were salt flats in Oklahoma!! So cool! So many fun options to explore!
Hi Julie! The salt flats in Oklahoma are really neat. You’ll have to visit sometime.