Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center

We visited Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center in January and even though it was chilly in the 30s it was still one of the most beautiful and peaceful outdoor experiences we have had. The park was very clean and well maintained with plenty of space to explore even though there were some other visitors enjoying the trails and scenery. We hiked part of the Friends Trail which winds through the woods and along the river and it was a great way to see the natural beauty of the area, with lots of spots that felt quiet and untouched even in winter. We saw families and kids out enjoying the trails and even some people stopping to try fishing along the river. Even in the cold the crisp air and scenic views made it a perfect day in nature, and we absolutely loved our time there.

Although more popular and crowded than it used to to be it’s still worth it! Beautiful fall leaves during this time of year. (Second week of November) The parks and campground restrooms are well maintained still. Love all the nature! The river, the trails, and the look out from the bridges.

Our first time visiting, and it was such a great experience! We got a little turned around at first, but the receptionist was super helpful - she gave us a map and even drew directions to all the trails we wanted to hike. The trails were well maintained, clearly marked, and had amazing views. We also enjoyed fishing while in the park as well. Can't wait to come back and visit!

First time coming here and we are definitely coming back! There is so much stuff to do! We stayed at a cabin and it was very relaxing listening to the birds and insects at night. Great way to escape! Word of advice, we could not get service while we are at the park so make sure to download your maps so you can still find your way around.

River side very scenic however we were surprised that we couldn't put our kayaks, wade in water ect. because of Hydro water release, the siren sounded when water was being released. We had to drive our motor home about 2 miles put in enjoy the paddle up stream port around another bridge for a 4 hr excursion (total) that quenched our desire to paddle very beautiful.

This is a beautiful park with lots of hiking opportunities. There are a lot to do for everyone. It's dogfriendly and a great park for children all ages. The only thing I found a little difficult was following the hiking trails. You won't get lost but we once lost the trail and the other time we endet up on three different trails in one hike without even trying. It was partly hard to find the markers for the trails. We weren't the only ones, we run into others who had the same problems.

What a fantastic trip to Beavers Bend State Park! The kayaking and paddle boating were absolutely amazing, and we also loved hitting the hiking trails. The scenic views on both the Cedar Bluff Trail and Friends Trail were breathtaking and well worth the trek. We also made sure to visit both the dam and the spillway, which are two different but equally impressive sights. This park is definitely worth a two-day visit to see all it has to offer!

Omg so beautiful and relaxing. Definitely want to try for a longer visit and to hike more. Very clean and tall trees. Other hikers were so nice. Such a beautiful view of God's handiwork!!!

What a great time at Beavers Bend State park. It's a beautiful time of year with small crowds. The area is very accessible from Hochatown. If you are in the area it's worth it to check it out!

We did the Friends Trail and loved it!! It was so fun, a lot of it is uphill, not saying it's hard but it could be challenging for those with issues in the cold or just knee issues So beautiful thought, we came for my bachelorette trip and had a blast.

Beavers Bend State Park is a beautiful park. We enjoyed driving around and seeing all the beautiful sights. The lake is a pretty good size and there are lots of areas to camp/bring your RV out or cabins you can stay in. Places to eat and souvenir shops. This is a great weekend getaway!

Beavers Bend State Park as the absolute best thing about Hochatown. The hiking, kayaking, camping and fly fishing is top notch here. The Forest Heritage Center provides an amazing look into the lumber industry that was the background of the economy of McCurtain County for many years.

Did the Friends Trail with a dog, 4yr old, 10 and 12 yr old; plus 4 adults. Some spots were harder than others with the kids and dog, but it was a great hike with beautiful views.

We have had two visits here, and both left us with great memories of beautiful trails and hikes. You can get some amazing views of the river and the surrounding rock formations. It is easy to lose yourself here and just amble around. I mean, don't try to actually get lost here, because that wouldn't be good. I meant it figuratively. There are quite a number of trails, and you can get plenty of info at the visitors center regarding their locations and skill levels. The staff here is very helpful, and if you are a veteran or active military, make sure to ask about getting a statewide park pass that waives entrance fees. Well worth the signup process.

If you are in the area you have to make a stop and hit the trail. The views are beautiful.

Such a beautiful place! There is a lot to do here, but so far on my two visits to the park, we have visited the lake and hiked the Friends Trail. This trail goes along a river for about half the time, and the other half is through the woods. There are a lot of areas to get in and enjoy the water. Hold on to your shoes though, the water is moving pretty swiftly! There is a small waterfall area, which is very pretty. The trail is pretty steep in places when you are in the woods part. The lake offers some swimming areas, great fishing (at least my son and husband have had lots of luck!), and boating. I like just being on the water and enjoying the scenery. There are several camping sites and many other activities. A wonderful place to visit with family!

Overall a great park! Pine Ridge spots are nice! Placement of the grills is awkward and the playground could be 100% better like the one over by the train depot. We chose Pine Ridge specifically to be close to a playground but were let down.

Beautiful park. Nice facilities. The lake is one of the prettiest I've seen in Oklahoma. The hills and islands are unique. Trails are plentiful and well maintained. Definitely coming back.

4.5 stars. Reasonable price, not overly crowded, staff was helpful and the park is maintained well. The Forest Heritage Center and useful exhibit was a great learning experience. The art work is beautiful as well as so many beautiful wood pieces.

Nice place, quick walk from the Cypress, even Acorn campgrounds. Learn local history and geology, see some stuffed animals. The Segway rides are a must. You have to book at the reservation center a mile up the road if you can't get online. 35$ for 2 hours includes training and an amazing ride by the river to the dam and amongst campsites. Blake was a great guide ! Friendly, patient, personable.

Beautiful one of the prettiest quiet and laid back places I've ever camped at! The views are stunning.

This is a fantastic area with so many things to do including shopping, trail rides, hiking and many more. While here we explored The Lodge and found it as a great alternative to cabin rentals. Each room has a balcony that overlooks the lake. Next to the lodge are 3 trail heads, easy and intermediate. The trails have fields of quarts rock embedded in the trail. Deer sightings are plentiful. Staff is super friendly and helpful.

This state park is beautiful! We went during "dry" season so there wasn't much water but the views and trails are breathtaking i definitely recommend if you are a young couple looking for an adventure, wouldn't recommend kids unless they are up for all the walking and hiking :)

Water is crystal clear and ice cold. Relaxing and beautiful place! Small beach area with picnic tables and restrooms for convenience.

Amazing and breathtaking views. This place helps just unplug. The air is very clean and you will definitely feel the difference.

What a great place to visit! A little too commercialized now with the crowds but still lovely. Lots of wildlife. Clean park with lots to see and do.

I absolutely love this park. Perhaps it's the ti of year, but the views were amazing, and the hikes were great. The park staff was very hospitable, and we loved our stay. I honestly can't believe we have to head back home tomorrow. This is now officially my families favorite state park in Oklahoma now.

Let me start by saying that I've been here several times and enjoyed it. It's a beautiful park and place to camp and paddle along the river. ...But we just camped there this past weekend and after a good trip, were greeted with a pretty sucky experience when we stopped by the Heritage Center to pay on the way out. Our group of 4 adults and 1 toddler camped at a single campsite at Hickory campground that consisted of a fire ring, a picnic table, and a charcoal grill with a vault toilet nearby. My wife and I put up a small 3 person tent and the others slept in a 6 person tent. We also put up 3 hammocks in a few trees next to the tent. In every camping experience I've ever had until this point, that would be considered a single site. Pretty standard stuff right? But when stopping by the Heritage Center to pay what we expected to be $14/night ($28 total) we were told that it would be $42/night ($84 total) after they asked us how many tents and/or hammocks we had. When presented with that price we clarified that it was only 4 adults and 1 toddler but they said that each hammock or tent is classified as a unit and that each unit pays $14/night. This was not even correct according to the document they handed us with pricing and yet they charged it. I believed this to be a clerical error but then others in the office agreed that $84 was the correct price for a single site for 5 people on a primitive campground. I will update if they correct this and issue a partial refund but as of right now I'm not sure I will visit the area again if this is truly their new rate. Overall it's a great place to visit but unless they get their pricing sorted out I'm not sure it's worth what they might ask you to pay (they never charged me like this in previous visits).

For a short weekend trip, we didn't get to see much. We only had time to check out the overlook and the dam. But both spots were great and had such amazing views. The rock formations are amazing at the overlook. We stayed there for quite a bit just trying to skip small rocks into the water. Kids had a great time. Bring some snacks and drinks and picnic. There's a fee for parking but it's for the whole day.

We stayed at the lodge. Beautiful and tranquil. They just finished a multi year remodel. The only negative was they don't have any tv service yet. They have nice new tvs but no cable or satellite. We brought our fire stick. We didn't come for the tv service though. The views of the lake from the rooms is stunning. The beds are new comfortable memory foam mattresses. The internet averaged 15 meg up and down (I worked from the room for the week)

I absolutely loved the temporary art displays in the museum as well as the mainstays of the museum. Considering this was a free exhibit, this is definitely worth your time. We hiked about 2 miles of the park today and it was incredibly clean, and gorgeous, a must see if you are in this area.

And I thought Texas had good state parks. This place is down right beautiful. It has some of the nicest trails I've seen, including flat rocks across rivers and super steep trails that embody struggle. Even just driving in here is great because the forest is thick and lush, and the hills go up down and side to side for a pretty 3D driving experience. I could see a car commercial being taped on the roads here and I could see a John Muir type waxing poetically on about the natural beauty here. I would give it six stars if I could.

It's absolutely beautiful here! The tiny cabins are perfect size for my family of 6. Love that there is so much to do without having to leave the park. Definitely plan on coming back year after year.

Gorgeous state park. Very quiet and clean. Cabins are quaint and situated in the trees. Restaurant is closed down because of the contract scandal with the Gov, but there is a gift shop by the office. Truly beautiful place.

No handicap access for wheel chairs or walkers. Explored most of the south end of the lake and really only found 1 spot we could take my 77 year old dad. Also checked with the guides and only 1 guide could take us out, due to no handicap access for the other guides who do not use a pontoon boat. This is really sad for such a great nature park! This should really have more access for all!

This is the most beautiful lake and state park that I have ever visited! They have so many things to do from swimming, boating, hiking, zip lining, camping, putt putt, kayak and canoe rentals, horseback riding, fishing, a little train you can ride, and more. This is a gold level state park and we will definitely be back! We started out with a nice 2 mile hike. The trail was well defined, but still challenging . It made a nice loop and showed us some beautiful scenery. Next we rode the little train at the depot at the very back of the park. It was a lot of fun and we got to see numerous deer that came right up to the train tracks. We were able to swim in the lake which is extremely clean water and has just magnificent views. The water was warm and perfect. They also have a swimming area in the river that runs through the park. This water was cold, but still clean and had a little beach area. We rented a canoe and went out on the river. It was only $8 for all 4 of us. Hard to beat that! There were some fantastic areas for camping and a huge rv area. If you are outdoorsy you could easily spend a whole week at this State Park and have a grand time. This is definitely worth the drive and an awesome vacation!

Beavers Bend is clear and beautiful. We see deer and Grey Heron every time we go out there. It's usually clean and well maintained.

What a place! This lovely place was in the most amazing location, and provided many things to do for my rambunctious family of 7!! The lake was the most refreshing spot for my family to cool down in. There was a large swimming area, and then a section of the lake that contained people on kayaks, paddle boards, and paddle boats, which are available from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. This lake was the most refreshing thing for my family to partake in, since it was so hot outside! It wasn't particularly crowded, but even if it was there would still be plenty of room!! The lake had a nice beach area, and also included multiple picnic tables covered with umbrellas. The view is absolutely beautiful, and I 10/10 recommend!!

My family decided to have a break from staring at the walls at home due to Covid and have a mini vacation. The park is great, the accommodations are clean. My only complaint is the restaurant next door to cabin 36 ruins the peacefulness of " camping". They have a large flood light off the back of their building that shines directly into the living room of the cabin. The popular restaurant patio makes it hard to enjoy the cabin outdoor fire pit/patio as it is quite noisy. Had it not been for the restaurant, and construction work across the road from the cabin it would have been a pleasant trip. (Be prepared to wake up to the reverse signal beeping of tractor/bulldozer). Definitely not worth the price given all the intrusion of commercialism.

Here is a great park that is in the Southeast Oklahoma and just a 3 hour drive from Dallas, Texas. It's so close to the big city and yet such a short drive with such a great change in the vegetation and terrain. If your in Dallas and you like fly fishing this park is for you! The park has rolling hills and lush vegetation. There is lots of wildlife in this fantastic park! The wildlife is on the up swing, keep your cameras ready! The park is built for fly fishing, hiking, camping, kayaking, backpacking, bird watching, and all kinds of nature things! *Side note... *Hint: Want to learn on about fly fishing? Start out with some free classes from the Dallas Orvis stores have their 101 and 201 free classes. You learn a great deal about fly fishing and casting. The 301 class costs about $150, they take you up for the day to fly fish and guide you on the water the Beavers Bend State Park. Orvis may now have other fly fishing adventures as well. The day trip guide is such a fantastic way to learn and have a wonderful way to have an inexpensive way to learn a great deal! Back to the park, What a wonderful great looking park. The park is well kept and repairs are done pretty fast. Remember when visiting any park, "trash in, trash out," so take any trash back out of the park. The park does have some dumpsters as well, so please help keep this park clean! So close to the big city, yet such a great way to save money and get back to nature, big time! I have hiked through a number of trails and have seen lots of wild life. Do check in to the from gate when you arrive, it's a great place to pick up some detailed info and maps on the area! If you are fly fishing, and it's a last minute decision, the state of Oklahoma lets you buy your fishing license on line. This is great if you have those fly fishing friends that like to take off at a moments notice. Fly Patterns of the Lower Mountain Fork: Species ~ Time ~ Size ~ Color ~ Fly *Caddis ~ Jan-Feb ~ 16 ~ Black ~ Elk Hair Caddis *March Brown Mayfly (Adult) ~ Feb-March ~ 12, 14 ~ Mottled Brown ~ Parachute P.T., March Brown *Caddis ~ Feb-May ~ 14 ~ Gray ~ Elk Hair Caddis, Davey's Caddis *Hexagenia Mayfly ~ June, July, August ~ 6, 8 ~ Pale Yellow ~ Hex Dry, Yellow Stimulators *Tan Dun Mayfly ~ Late Summer, Fall ~ 14, 16 ~ Light Tan ~ Light Cahill *Rusty Dun Mayfly ~ Fall ~ 16, 18 ~ Rusty Brown ~ Parachute P.T. Year round Fly Patterns: *March Brown Mayfly (nymph) ~ All Year ~ 12 ~ Mottled Brown ~ P.T., Wired Hare's Ear *Caddis (nymph) ~ All Year ~ 16 ~ Olive or Amber ~ Spillway Creek Caddis *Midge ~ All Year ~ 20, 22 ~ Black or Cream ~ Midge Dry, Griffith's Gnat *Midge (nymph) ~ All Year ~ 20, 22 ~ Red/Maroon ~ Disco Caddis, Red Hot, Thread Midge, Brassie *Sulphur Mayfly ~ All Year ~ 14, 16 ~ Yellow ~ Sulphur Dry *Blue Wing Olive Mayfly ~ All Year ~ 16, 18, 20 ~ Olive w/ Gray Wings ~ BWO Dries, Adams *Caddis ~ All Year ~ 12, 14 ~ Tan ~ Elk Hair Caddis, Davey's Caddis *Gray Dun Mayfly ~ All Year ~ 12, 14 ~ Gray ~ Adams *Pale Morning Dun ~ All Year ~ 14, 16 ~ Tan/Yellow ~ PMD Dry Some of the things to double check before fly fishing: ~ Fishing license is on hand ~ Water bottle & a power bar ~ Extra tippet and leaders This park is just fantastic! It's well kept, not too far from a major city! With so many fun options, it would be a sin not to visit!

my wife and I have visited many times, going back to when we first started dating 40 years ago. The area has grown since then including small town that has many shops and places to eat. The park like many in OK were built post war and have that throw back rustic feel of yesterday when technology didnt exist. The mountain's, forest, lake, river collide and burst with break taking beauty, if you give it chance. Fall is spectacular. We love to fish and found the bass are plentiful and fresh to eat. In the summer its warms up and water in the lake is clear and perfect for tub and skiing. Over the years we have taken our daughter with us and she now has 5 year old. We are planing summer trip to share with her the hiking trails that the City of Dallas Can not compare. We just purchased new RV and will report back on the new RV park once we get back home. Till then George Martin

Only drove through and went to the gift shop as well as the "wood museum." These were great experiences alone. The views are absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait until I can go back and bring my whole family!

Great state park. Tons of trails, nice facilities & fishing. Even the easy trails have a lot of roots, rocks, up and down so be prepared if going with older people/young children.

A local business owner told me that all the land prior to entering Beavers Bend State Park has been purchased by the Choctaw Indians. Very soon they will complete the construction of a new casino, an upscale hotel, bowling alley, movie theater and 11 new bars & restaurants. I'm thinking, this will certainly change the "status" of Hotchatown Oklahoma. Meanwhile we enjoyed our visit to Beavers Bend. The winding roads through the forests of Beavers Bend was amazing. Must have been trout season because there were dozens of fly fisherman in this special area. It was interesting to watch such passion & talent for this kind of fishing. The Forest Heritage Center Museum (visitors center) offered information about the area from a human being at the front door, a small (but dated) museum, indoor bathrooms and a tiny gift shop. This is where you will find the famous totem pole of the Indian titled: "In remembrance to a proud & noble people...". We drove through some of the camp grounds, looked at the cabins along the river and visited the restaurant. The area was clean and well maintained but very dated. Gave it 4 stars because a few roads were closed due to bridge/ roads washed out but no notifications anywhere telling you this. Absolutely no Internet signal at any time while in Beavers Bend made it impossible to post to social medias and use GPS. And there are no areas (extremely limited) to pull over to enjoy the vista or photograph the breath taking views!!

Had a great time at the folk festival that was happening when we were there. Will definitely go back hopefully when it's a little more warmer to do more hiking, etc.

My husband and I hiked the trails and spent a lot of time walking along the river. It was beautiful and incredibly scenic. We had a great time exploring and seeing what the park had to offer. The park was clean and trails were well marked. We didn't check out the restaurant or gift shop but when we come back next year we plan to do that! If you're in the area, you should definitely check out this beautiful state park!

Beautiful Park with a lot of choices to camp, we stayed in the Armadillo RV Camp. Concrete level pads on each site and set up as not to be invasive to your neighbor. It was very clean and we had full hook-ups. There was plenty of things to do if you wanted or just relax. Activities and restaurants were all close. My only complaint would be the Asian Beetles were horrible and were a constant battle but that's nature!! Would love to come back again this is a beautiful area.

Love this place. Spent the week here with my daughter. Can't wait to come back. Jet skis, boats, and swimming oh my.

Beautiful place and like the fishing but the cabin was not worth the money we paid. The door didn't fasten properly, crack in fireplace, Cobb Webb's, vents were dirty, porch light out. In need of a good cleaning and repairs

The park is awesome. No park entrance fees. Trails are very nice and great to navigate. Children's area with train and trail rides was a blast. The river areas are beautiful and full of fly fisherman. Tons of camping options throughout and a helpful park office (not labeled in the park as visitor center so a bit tricky on the first drive trough)

, , , . . . . . . A lovely nature reserve, beautiful hiking trails, a nice museum, a swim dream . We hired a pedal and a kayak. It was really fun. The price was fair. The water in Lake are cold. The swim erea is not big but it has picnic tables which is nice. There is a possibility to stay in a hut in the reserve.

Was absolutely breathtaking! This park was easy to follow, but definitely not for the faint of heart.

Mixed opinion. Have driven through the park and the area is absolutely beautiful, enticing enough to want to go back. However, has been next to impossible to speak to a person at the numbers listed on their website. They don't take reservations via phone, and only a few campsites can be reserved online; most are first come-first served. The reservation site showed the exact same site photo for all available sites. This is a very antiquated system, not user friendly but just frustrating. How can a campground expect folks to drive the distance & "hope" there's a site available? It isn't like folks are coming from just down the street. Surely there are better ways to run a campground. If not, there are other options.

Now this was a special treat to get to vacation here! First off ensure you come in the fall, there is a breathtaking view on your drive to the history museum - oh so many colors! The mission was to see a state park full of history and attractions, and that mission was a success. The museum is full of carved items and paintings from a famous artist but his name escapes me currently. It was a beautiful walkthrough of Oklahoma history - but stay tuned for the highlight of the trip to Beavers Bend State Park. We went on a scenic drive through another part of the park, yes we were looking for a Sasquatch - no we didn't find one (yet). Deep in the woods we stumbled upon a herd of wild fly fisherman, we had to ensure that we were quiet so that we didn't spook them in their natural habitat. Just beyond the land of fly fisherman we found a train that was bound for a ride through the woods. So on we went, but not before stopping to say hello to the resident kitten. As we boarded the train we were overcome with a sense of wonder, might we actually get to see a Sasquatch in its natural habitat?! The train slowly left the station and we were off into the vast unknown, as we round the first corner we are met with none other than......white tail deer anxious for snacks! Eugene the conductor didn't disappoint them and threw some corn for the chubby little deer to snack on. But there was one last treat on this little adventure....but you will have to go visit the Beavers Bend State Park to find out for yourself, it is a must see destination when you are in southeastern Oklahoma!

I remember coming to Beaver's Bend years ago as a kid and loving it - great memories with my Grandma. It is much more developed now and attractive to tourists. Great for the area! This time around I stayed in the RV Park on Stephens Gap Road in the state park in the winter. There's nice hiking trails and various outdoor activities that you can enjoy like fishing and kayaking. I hope to come back in warmer weather. I hear it books up pretty quickly so good luck! Check out Air Bnb listings too! Say hello to the deer for me :)

We stopped by on a cold rainy day looking for something to do. The ranger here was so nice and hospitable! Great job! Thank you!

Awesome awesome awesome. Everything from land and water fun. I recommend going first to the Forest Heritage Center which serves as the park office to get maps and brochures for things to do. Hiking is awesome- from easy to challenging trails- gorgeous trees and views. Water sports, cabins/camping/lodges are all awesome. Fun town area nearby.