List of Oklahoma state parks facts for kids
Oklahoma is a state full of natural beauty, and one of the best ways to explore it is by visiting its state parks! These special places are protected areas where you can enjoy nature, go on adventures, and learn about the environment. From sandy dunes to deep caves, and from sparkling lakes to tall mountains, Oklahoma's state parks offer something for everyone.
This page lists the state parks in Oklahoma, including those that are still open and those that have changed their management or status over time. Get ready to discover some amazing places!
Explore Current State Parks
These are the state parks currently managed by Oklahoma. They offer many fun activities and beautiful sights!
| Park Name | County or Counties | Size (acres) | Year Opened | Nearby Water | Cool Facts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabaster Caverns State Park | Woodward | 200 | 81 | 1956 | Home to the largest public gypsum cave in the United States. | |
| Arrowhead State Park | Pittsburg | 2,200 | 890 | 1963 | Lake Eufaula | Located on a peninsula in Lake Eufaula. It is now part of Lake Eufaula State Park. |
| Beavers Bend State Park | McCurtain | 3,482 | 1,409 | 1935 | Mountain Fork River, Broken Bow Lake | A popular park for outdoor adventures. |
| Bernice State Park | Delaware | 88 | 36 | 1970 | Grand Lake o' the Cherokees | Now known as the Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park. |
| Black Mesa State Park | Cimarron | 349 | 141 | 1959 | Lake Carl Etling | Near Black Mesa, Oklahoma's highest point. A nature preserve was created here in 1991. |
| Boiling Springs State Park | Woodward | 820 | 330 | 1935 | Named for its natural springs that appear to "boil." | |
| Cherokee Landing State Park | Cherokee | 146 | 59 | 1954 | Lake Tenkiller | A great spot for lake activities. |
| Cherokee State Park | Mayes | 43 | 17 | 1954 | Grand Lake o' the Cherokees | Offers access to the beautiful Grand Lake. |
| Clayton Lake State Park | Pushmataha | 510 | 210 | 1947 | Clayton Lake | A peaceful park centered around Clayton Lake. |
| Disney/Little Blue State Park | Mayes | 32 | 13 | 1966 | Grand Lake | A smaller park on Grand Lake. |
| Fort Cobb State Park | Caddo | 1,872 | 758 | 1960 | Fort Cobb | Located by the Fort Cobb Reservoir. |
| Foss State Park | Washita | 1,749 | 708 | 1961 | Foss Lake | A popular park for water sports on Foss Lake. |
| Gloss Mountain State Park | Major | 640 | 260 | 1977 | Known for its unique, shiny mesas that look like glass. | |
| Great Plains State Park | Kiowa | 187 | 76 | 1977 | Tom Steed Reservoir | A good place to enjoy the outdoors near Tom Steed Reservoir. |
| Great Salt Plains State Park | Alfalfa | 840 | 340 | 1952 | Great Salt Plains Lake | Famous for its salt flats where you can dig for selenite crystals. |
| Greenleaf State Park | Muskogee | 565 | 229 | 1954 | Greenleaf Lake | A family-friendly park with a historic stone lodge. |
| Honey Creek State Park | Delaware | 30 | 12 | 1954 | Grand Lake | Now known as the Honey Creek Area at Grand Lake State Park. |
| Keystone State Park | Tulsa | 714 | 289 | 1966 | Keystone Lake | Offers beautiful views of Keystone Lake. |
| Lake Eufaula State Park | McIntosh | 2,853 | 1,155 | 1963 | Lake Eufaula | A large park on Oklahoma's biggest lake. |
| Lake Murray State Park | Carter, Love | 12,496 | 5,057 | 1938 | Lake Murray | Oklahoma's oldest and largest state park. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. |
| Lake Texoma State Park | Marshall | 1,882 | 762 | 1951 | Lake Texoma | Located on the shores of Lake Texoma, a huge lake shared with Texas. |
| Lake Thunderbird State Park | Cleveland | 1,874 | 758 | 1965 | Lake Thunderbird | A popular park close to Oklahoma City. |
| Lake Wister State Park | Le Flore | 3,428 | 1,387 | 1953 | Lake Wister | Offers many outdoor activities around Lake Wister. |
| Little Sahara State Park | Woods | 1,600 | 650 | 1959 | Famous for its large sand dunes, perfect for ATV riding. | |
| McGee Creek State Park | Atoka | 2,600 | 1,100 | McGee Creek Reservoir | Known for its clear waters and great fishing. | |
| Natural Falls State Park | Delaware | 120 | 49 | 1990 | Features a beautiful 77-foot waterfall. | |
| Osage Hills State Park | Osage | 1,100 | 450 | 1935 | Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, with historic stone buildings. | |
| Quartz Mountain State Park | Greer | 4,284 | 1,734 | 1935 | Lake Altus | A scenic park with unique rock formations and a lodge. |
| Raymond Gary State Park | Choctaw | 263 | 106 | 1955 | Raymond Gary Lake | A smaller park perfect for a quiet getaway. |
| Robbers Cave State Park | Latimer | 8,246 | 3,337 | 1935 | Fourche Maline, Lake Carlton, Lake Wayne Wallace | Named after the cave where outlaws like Jesse James supposedly hid. |
| Roman Nose State Park | Blaine | 1937 | Lake Watonga, Lake Boecher | One of Oklahoma's original seven state parks, with beautiful canyons. | ||
| Sequoyah Bay State Park | Wagoner | 303 | 123 | 1954 | Fort Gibson Lake | Offers great access to Fort Gibson Lake. |
| Sequoyah State Park | Cherokee | 2,200 | 890 | 1953 | Fort Gibson Lake | This park was once known as Western Hills State Park. |
| Spavinaw State Park | Mayes | 35 | 14 | 1959 | Spavinaw Lake | Now known as the Spavinaw Area at Grand Lake State Park. |
| Talimena State Park | Le Flore | 20 | 8.1 | 1970 | A small park at the start of the scenic Talimena Drive. | |
| Tenkiller State Park | Sequoyah | 1,190 | 480 | 1953 | Lake Tenkiller | A popular park on the clear waters of Lake Tenkiller. |
| Twin Bridges State Park | Ottawa | 63 | 25 | 1954 | Neosho River, Spring River | Now known as the Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park. |
Parks That Have Changed
Some state parks in Oklahoma are no longer managed by the state. They might now be run by a city, a university, or a Native American nation. Here's a list of these former state parks:
| Park Name | County or Counties | Size (acres) | Year Founded | Nearby Water | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair Park (Stilwell, Oklahoma) | Adair | 25 | This small park is now owned and managed by the City of Stilwell. | ||
| Beaver Dunes Park | Beaver | 520 | This park, with its sand dunes, is now owned by the City of Beaver. | ||
| Boggy Depot Park | Atoka | 630 | Since 2011, this park has been owned and managed by the Chickasaw Nation. | ||
| Brushy Lake Park | Sequoyah | 90 | 1971 | Brushy Lake | Since 2011, the City of Sallisaw, Oklahoma has owned and managed this park. |
| Crowder Lake University Park | Washita | 22 | Crowder Lake | Since 2003, Southwestern Oklahoma State University has owned and operated this park. | |
| Dripping Springs Park | Okmulgee | 1,075 | Dripping Springs Lake | The City of Okmulgee has operated this park since 2015. | |
| Heavener Runestone Park | Le Flore | 50 | 1970 | Since 2011, the city of Heavener has owned and managed this park. | |
| Hochatown State Park | McCurtain | 1,713 | 1966 | Broken Bow Lake | This park was combined with Beavers Bend State Park and is no longer a separate park. |
| Hugo Lake State Park | Choctaw | 289 | 1974 | Hugo Lake | First built in 1974 as Kiamichi Park, it was renamed Hugo Lake State Park in 2002. |
| Lake Eucha Park | Delaware | 55 | 1967 | Lake Eucha | The City of Tulsa has owned and managed this park since 2011. The park is not directly on Lake Eucha. |
| Okmulgee Park | Okmulgee | 1,075 | 1963 | Okmulgee Lake | The City of Okmulgee has owned and managed this park since 2015. |
| Red Rock Canyon Park | Caddo | 310 | 1956 | This park was leased to the City of Hinton, Oklahoma in 2018. | |
| Snowdale State Park | Mayes | 15 | 1959 | Lake Hudson (Oklahoma) | Snowdale became the Snowdale Area at Grand Lake State Park. It closed in 2019 when the state decided not to renew its lease. |
| Walnut Creek State Park | Osage | 1,429 | 1966 | Keystone Lake | This park was permanently closed on October 1, 2014. |
| Wah-Sha-She Park | Osage | 266 | 1973 | Lake Hulah | This park is now leased to the Osage Nation and managed by a local non-profit group. |
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of Oklahoma state parks Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.