Natural Falls State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Natural Falls State Park
Natural Falls
Natural Falls State Park Location in Oklahoma
Location	Delaware County, Oklahoma, United States
Nearest city	West Siloam Springs, OK
Area	120 acres (49 ha)
Governing body	Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department

Natural Falls State Park is a cool place to visit in Oklahoma. It's a park owned by the state. The park covers about 120 acres (0.49 km2) in Delaware County. You can find it in the beautiful Ozarks region. It's also very close to the border between Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Before 1990, this land was private. It was called Dripping Springs. The people who owned it before made it a fun stop for travelers. They even had a swimming pool and gardens! The park was also a filming spot for the 1974 movie, "Where the Red Fern Grows".

Discover the Amazing Waterfall

Natural Falls State Park is famous for its stunning waterfall. This waterfall is 77 feet (23 meters) tall! It tumbles down through cool rock formations. At the bottom, it creates a peaceful, hidden spot. It feels like a secret garden.

You can see the falls from an observation platform. There's also a picnic area nearby. If you want to get closer, a deck with seats is at the bottom. As the water falls, it cools the air around it. This makes the valley a perfect home for many plants. One study found over 18 types of ferns here! To protect these special plants, swimming is not allowed.

Fun Things to Do at the Park

Natural Falls State Park has lots of activities for visitors. You can enjoy a picnic with tables and grills. There are also campsites if you want to stay overnight. The park has 44 spots for RVs and 27 spots for tents. There's even a comfort station with showers.

Try Glamping in a Yurt

For a unique overnight stay, try "glamping" in a yurt. A yurt is like a round tent. At Natural Falls, yurts sit on wooden decks. They come in different sizes. Some can fit two people, others up to eight. Each yurt has beds, a fridge, a coffee maker, and a microwave. They even have skylights and air-conditioning! The park has five yurts you can rent.

Explore and Play

The Red Fern Reunion Center is available for groups. You can also hike on a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) nature trail. The park has a picnic shelter, volleyball, and horseshoes. There's a basketball court too. You can also enjoy catch-and-release fishing. Kids will love the playgrounds. There's even a formal garden area. Remember, pets are welcome but must be on a leash.

Plants and Animals of the Park

The park is a great place to see different plants and animals. Hikers will walk through a thick forest. You'll see maple, chinquapin, and white oak trees. The forest floor is covered with beautiful plants. These include flowering dogwood, sassafras, and redbud. You might also spot coralberry and pawpaw.

The waterfall creates a moist environment. This is perfect for ferns, mosses, and liverworts to grow. It's like a natural greenhouse!

Oklahoma's Tallest Waterfalls

The 77-foot (23-meter) waterfall here is one of Oklahoma's tallest. It's as tall as Turner Falls in the Arbuckle Mountains. Locals used to call it Dripping Springs Falls. But the state renamed it Natural Falls. This helps avoid confusion with other places. The park can even pump water back to the top of the falls. This makes sure the waterfall is active all year long!

Getting to the Park

Most people drive to Natural Falls State Park. There isn't public transportation in the area. The park is right on U.S. Highway 412. There's a parking lot about 150 feet (46 meters) from the main viewing platform. The park is set up to be easy for everyone to visit. This follows the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 rules.

Park Entrance Fees

To help keep the park nice, there's a small fee to enter. This fee started on June 15, 2020. It helps pay for park improvements. The cost is per vehicle. It's $10 per day for most visitors. If you live in Oklahoma, it's $8 per day.

Some people don't have to pay. This includes honorably discharged veterans. Also, Oklahoma residents age 62 and older, and their spouses, can enter for free. You can also buy passes for three days or a week. An annual pass for all 22 state parks that charge fees costs $75 for out-of-state visitors. For Oklahoma residents, it's $60.

Here are the 22 state parks that charge fees:

• Arrowhead Area at Lake Eufaula State Park
• Beavers Bend State Park
• Boiling Springs State Park
• Cherokee Landing State Park
• Fort Cobb State Park
• Foss State Park
• Honey Creek Area at Grand Lake State Park
• Great Plains State Park
• Great Salt Plains State Park
• Greenleaf State Park
• Keystone State Park
• Lake Eufaula State Park
• Lake Murray State Park
• Lake Texoma State Park
• Lake Thunderbird State Park
• Lake Wister State Park
• Natural Falls State Park
• Osage Hills State Park
• Robbers Cave State Park
• Sequoyah State Park
• Tenkiller State Park
• Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park