The Happiness Function

We’re sharing all the details, so you know what to expect hiking the Burnt Cabin Cliff trail at Lake Tenkiller!

We live to find spectacular day-hikes close to home in northeast Oklahoma. We especially enjoy finding trails close to the water and tucked away in rocks. That is precisely what we found while hiking the Burnt Cabin Cliff trail at Lake Tenkiller!

The emerald, blue water against dramatic cliffs is quite the surprise and makes for the perfect morning or afternoon hike. If you’re looking for a fantastic day hike with remarkable rocks and a lake as the backdrop, then this is your trail.

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Hiking Burnt Cabin Cliff Trail at Lake Tenkiller Oklahoma

Located near Burnt Cabin Marina, the Burnt Cabin Cliff trail wanders through the oak trees along an old dirt road that jets out onto a peninsula next to Lake Tenkiller. Towards the end of the peninsula is where the beautiful rocky cliffs begin.

You can also kayak to this point if you don’t want to hike!

The trailhead is not marked. The trailhead is located across from Burnt Cabin Marina along the east side of the boat launch. There is a little scrapyard area – head past the scrapyard, and the trail begins – follow the dirt road.

This is an easy trail to hike. There are no big hills to climb, and the trail is around 2.2 miles round trip.

Lake Tenkiller is a beautiful emerald-green color, which makes for awesome photos with the cliffs. There are plenty of rocks to sit on and enjoy the view.

Trip tip: There was some trash along the trail; bring a bag to pick up a little trash if you feel inclined. Always practice Leave No Trace.

Leave No Trace Tips While Hiking

• Dispose of human waste and trash property
• Leave natural things found alone
• Respect wildlife and watch wildlife from a safe distance
• Be considerate of other people recreating in the area
• Pack out all trash and waste
• Be quiet and enjoy nature
• Be respectful of the land
• Acknowledge Native American territories and tribal lands

Best Time to Visit Burnt Cabin Cliff Trail

Since Oklahoma has mild winters, visitors can hike this trail year-round.

The best time to hike is in the spring (April) through late fall (October) to see all the foliage. Fall is particularly a nice time to hike and take photos in Oklahoma.

Depending on the time of year hiking the trail, hikers may encounter mud – there was a little mud when we hiked in October.

What to Bring Hiking Burnt Cabin Cliff Trail

Since it is a short hike, we recommend bringing the basics: good hiking shoes, a camera, water, snacks, a day pack, and comfortable hiking clothes.

Hiking Shoes. We have both been loving Oboz this summer. Pablo was gifted a pair of Oboz Sawtooth II low-top hiking shoes that he has barely taken off.  And I have been wearing the Oboz Mid-Leather for fall hikes. We can both attest to the instant comfort of the Oboz brand. They are breathable and waterproof. Both are great street to trail shoes and worth the investment. Did I mention they were ridiculously comfortable?

Reliable Camera. If you don’t have a cell phone with a good camera, we highly recommend investing in a reliable camera. We started our blog in 2020 with some of our older equipment and can honestly attest to how big of a difference having quality camera equipment is when shooting memories. We are currently using the Sony a7iii with a 28-70 mm lens. It is worth every penny.

Water Bottles. We prefer insulated water bottles. We like Hydro Flask because they aren’t as heavy as some of the other brands. And orange is my favorite color, so I’m showing you my favorite water bottle – aaaand if you live in Oklahoma, you more than likely love orange or crimson red! I didn’t go to school in Oklahoma, but I love every excuse I can find when it comes to orange gear.

Day Pack. A small day pack will do the trick to hold all your camera equipment, snacks, and water. Pablo and I divide and conquer the load. I typically hike with a hip pack or my favorite Kavu rope sling bag, and Pablo carries the camera equipment in a separate backpack.

Burnt Cabin Cliff Trail Details

• Trail Distance: 2.2 miles
• Elevation Gain: 144.4 feet
• Difficulty: Easy

Is there a bathroom close by the trail? Yes, at Burnt Cabin Marina.

Is the trail on the AllTrails App? Yes, download the Burnt Cabin Cliff hike.

Is there cell phone reception? Cell phone reception is hit-and-miss driving to the area, but there is some reception.

Epic Viewpoints

How to Kayak to the Cliffs if You Don’t Want to Hike

It is easy to kayak or boat to the cliffs at Lake Tenkiller if you don’t want to hike here.

Launch your vessel from the Burnt Cabin Marina, and head to the left when you’re facing the lake. Paddle or boat around the peninsula, and you’ll get to the rocks.

It took us about 2 hours to paddle from the Burnt Cabin Marina to the cliffs and back. We swam near the rocks for a little before heading back.

Lake Tenkiller is a great place to paddle in Oklahoma when the weather is warm!

Conclusion

We hope you enjoy this awesome day-hike to the cliffs at Lake Tenkiller or kayaking adventure!

It’s a great place to explore the outdoors in Oklahoma. It makes for the perfect day trip to get away from the city and reinvigorate yourself in nature.

Thanks for reading.

Ashlee & Pablo

Have you hiked the Burnt Cabin Cliff Trail? What was your experience? Tell us all about it in the comments below.

More Oklahoma Adventures

You might enjoy our other articles about Oklahoma:

• 27 Easy Road Trips from Tulsa – Just Go!
• How to Spend One Perfect Day in OKC
• Oklahoma State Parks You Didn’t Know Existed
• Outdoor Weekend Getaways & Day Trips from Tulsa
• 12 Best Hiking Trails Near Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Ultimate Tulsa Bucket List from a Local
• Best Coffee Shops in Tulsa Epic Local’s Guide
• How to Spend 48 Hours in Tulsa Local’s Guide
• Fun Things to Do in Tulsa Outdoors for Couples
• Ultimate Guide to Quartz Mountain State Park
• Plan the Perfect Weekend at Beavers Bend State Park
• How to Float the Mountain Fork River in Broken Bow

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