Red Rock Canyon State Park (Oklahoma) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Rock Canyon Park |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Red Rock Canyon Park
Location in Oklahoma
|
|
| Location | Caddo County, Oklahoma, United States |
| Nearest city | Hinton, OK |
| Area | 310 acres (130 ha) |
| Governing body | Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department |
Red Rock Canyon Park is about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Hinton, a town in Caddo County, Oklahoma. This park is a special place with a long history.
Long ago, before Oklahoma became a state, Native American tribes like the Plains Indians used this canyon as a warm place to stay during winter. Later, pioneers traveling west on the California Road would stop here. They would get fresh water and fix their wagons before continuing their journey. You can still see the marks left by their wagon wheels in the park today! This canyon is also special because it's the only place where you can still find native Caddo maple trees growing naturally.
Fun Things to Do at Red Rock Canyon
At Red Rock Canyon Park, there are lots of fun things to do! You can try rappelling, which is like climbing down the canyon walls with ropes. There are also easy nature trails for walking and a more challenging rocky trail for hiking. If you like fishing, you can do that too!
The park has nice picnic areas, including big shelters for groups. Kids will love the playground and the swimming pool with a bathhouse. If you want to stay longer, you can camp in a tent or an RV right inside the canyon. In the fall, the trees around the park turn beautiful colors, making it a great place to see autumn leaves.
Who Manages the Park?
In 2017, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation faced some budget challenges. This meant they had to look at how they managed state parks. Red Rock Canyon State Park was one of the parks that might have been affected.
However, in 2018, a great solution was found! The Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation made an agreement with the Town of Hinton, Oklahoma. Now, the town of Hinton helps run and take care of Red Rock Canyon Park, making sure it stays open for everyone to enjoy.
