Best Hiking Trails in Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Broken Bow hiking trails are a great example of the beautiful hiking trails around the country that every year, more than 34 million Americans enjoy the Across the country. People flock to gorgeous wilderness areas like the Broken Bow hiking trails in southeastern Oklahoma.
And who could blame them? Hiking comes with a long list of physical and mental health benefits, including controlling your weight, strengthening your muscles, lowering the risk of a number of diseases, and boosting your mood. Not to mention that it gives you the opportunity to get outside in the fresh air and sunlight!
Broken Bow, OK is full of incredible opportunities to do just that. With gorgeous state parks, a crystal lake, and countless hiking trails, you might find that you never want to leave southeastern Oklahoma.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast and want to get out into nature, we have more than a dozen hiking trails within a twenty-mile radius of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Let’s check out some of the trails you just might want to hike this summer!
Broken Bow Hiking Trails
Much of the hiking in this area is located in the Beavers Bend State Park, but there are a handful of trails that are located outside of the park in Broken Bow. Both Bee Branch and Caney Creek are accessible trails for all skill levels, so these can be wonderful places to start on your journey exploring the wilderness of the area.
Bee Branch Trail Loop
Length: 4.2-mile loop trail
Difficulty: Easy
Bee Branch Trail Loop is a lightly trafficked trail where people of all skill levels can see wildlife and enjoy nature. This trail is mostly used for nature trips, running, hiking, and walking. While dogs are allowed to join you on your hike, they must be kept on leash.
Caney Creek Waterfall Trail
Length: 0.9 mile out and back trail
Difficulty: Easy
Caney Creek Waterfall Trail is a fun hike for people of all skill levels. It is mostly used for running, hiking, and walking. On this hike, you will experience 42 feet of elevation gain over the slightly less than 1-mile journey.
As a part of this hike, you’ll be able to enjoy a small waterfall and stream.
Beavers Bend Hiking Trails
Beavers Bend is a state park that’s located along the shores of the Mountain Fork River and Broken Bow Lake. There are tons of recreation opportunities here in addition to hiking, including:
- Trout fishing
- A golf course
- Biking trails
- Volleyball and tennis
- Paddle boats
- River float trips
- Nature Center activities
- Waterskiing
- Hayrides
- Training rides
- Horseback riding
- Canoeing and bumper boats
- Miniature golf
- Picnic sites
On top of that, you can also find a restaurant, grocery store, gift shop, and amphitheater on the site, along with the Footage Heritage Center.
Friends Trail Loop
Length: 1.5 mile loop trail
Difficulty: Moderate
The Beavers Bend Friendship Trail, also referred to as the Friends Trail Loop, is very popular and heavily used. Featuring a river, this hike is of moderate difficulty with 282 feet of elevation gain. The trail is mostly used for nature trips, running, and hiking.
It is a good idea to bring a map with you, as some people find that this trail is not well-marked. You can either download an offline map or bring a printed-out version. This can help you navigate the large number of diverging trails you’ll meet along the way.
On the trail, you will encounter some steep climbs. This is one of the newest trails in Beavers Bend State Park and is well-maintained compared to some of the other trails. Part of the trail runs parallel to the Lower Mountain Fork River and you’ll have lovely views of the river and a waterfall along the way.
Skyline Trail
Length: 9.5-mile loop trail
Difficulty: Advanced
If you’re looking for a more adventurous hike, check out the Broken Bow Skyline Trail in Beavers Bend State Park. A little under 10 miles long, you’ll experience over 1660 feet of elevation gain during this hike.
This trail is recommended for more experienced hikers, as there are a number of water crossings that can be quite difficult, particularly after heavy rains. It can also be easy to lose the trail along the way, so you’ll want to stay very attentive to trail markers.
Lookout Mountain Loop
Length: 2.9 mile loop trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Looking Mountain Loop is another popular Broken Bow hiking trail. Best used between the months of April and October, you can find people walking, hiking, bird watching, and taking nature trips on this trail.
You’ll get to enjoy scenic views along the way and get your heart-pumping with 574 feet of elevation gain. It’s very steep at points, so consider this trail to be of moderate-to-hard difficulty!
Tree Trail
Length: 1.2-mile loop trail
Difficulty: Easy
This is another nice, easy trail for hikers of all skill levels. You can start this trail at the Forest Heritage Center Museum and be lead past a large Native American sculture.
On this trail, you’ll be taken along the Beaver Creek floodplain, across a bridge, and loop back around to the Heritage Center. Along the way, you can find informational signs that relay the history of the region.
While on the path, keep an eye out for trees marked in white. These are the markers that tell you that you’re still on the path. You will encounter a few moments where you will need to do a bit of climbing, but otherwise, you’ll find this to be an easy trail.
Cedar Bluff Nature Trail
Length: 0.9-mile loop trail
Difficulty: Moderate
The Cedar Bluff Nature Trail is best used between the months of March and October. Starting across from Dogwood Campground and near the kayak rentals and miniature golf on the Lower Mountain Fork River, this is an easy-to-moderate hike.
To stay on the trail, you’ll want to follow the blue trail blazes. This trail intersects with the Skyline Trail and Deer Crossing Trail, which are marked off with red trail blazes on the trees.
Deer Crossing Trail
Length: 3.9-mile out and back trail
Difficulty: Moderate
If you head down Deer Crossing Trail at the right time of year, you’ll be able to witness an incredible wildflower display. This moderate out and back hike will give you a good workout with 767 feet of elevation gain along the way.
Along the way, you’ll be able to enjoy a lovely lookout point to gaze at the river. On top of that, it’s called “deer crossing” trail for a reason! Prepare yourself for the potential of seeing some of these adorable undulates along the way.
Beaver Lodge Nature Trail
Length: 3 mile out and back trail
Difficulty: Easy
If you’re looking for a slightly longer hike that is still easy, you might check out this Broken Bow hiking trail. Accessible year round, this lightly trafficked trail is used for camping, hiking, walking, and nature trips. While you can bring your dog, you are asked to keep them on leash.
This trail doesn’t loop back to the trailhead, but rather it’s an out and back trail. You can choose to start this trail below the spillway or below the hydro-electric dam.
Beaver Lodge Trail is a fairly wide trail except for one section that branches between an area that suffered damage from a flood. The recommendation is to follow the flat, wide trail until it becomes either too steep or too narrow for you. Once that occurs, you can turn back around and head back the way you came.
The spillway runoff creek runs alongside the trail.
Pine Ridge Trail
Length: 0.7-mile loop trail
Difficulty: Easy
This is a lovely short loop trail that features beautiful wildflowers. Good for hikers of all skill levels, there is an elevation gain of only 65 feet. You can take your thoughts on this child but they must be kept on their leash.
Here you can find an abundance of wildlife, including lots of birds, rabbits, deer, and squirrels. This is a nice, fast hike that follows close to the river. You can also use this trail to access the creek for fishing.
You might encounter a number of large logs along the way that you’ll need to climb over. Otherwise, this is a simple walk through the woods where you can get away from it all.
Hochatown Hiking Trails
Beavers Bend isn’t the only beautiful spot to check out in the area. You’ll also want to visit Hochatown State Park, which wraps around the shores of Broken Bow Lake.
Lakeview Lodge Trail
Length: 3.5-mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate
This is a beautiful loop trail that features wildflowers at the right time of year. You can access the trail at year-round, and you can bring your dogs with you so long as you keep them on leash. On this trail, you will experience a very moderate elevation gain of 249 feet.
This is a nice peaceful trail with rolling hills and lake views from several different angles. This is a lovely way to get out of town for a little while and got some fresh air as well as some peace and quiet.
Lake View Lodge Trail Short Loop
Length: 1.4-mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate
This short loop trail is a truncated version of the Lake View Lodge Trail. This is a great trail for active families, as there are some rolling hills that keep it interesting but it isn’t full of steep drop-offs or uneven ground.
At times you will get to see nice views of the lakes. Some visitors do mention that there are often a number of trees down across the path, so you will have to be prepared to navigate around them. This is one of the more popular trails in Beavers Bend State Park, so you can expect to see some other hikers along the way on a nice, sunny day.
Things to Do in Broken Bow, OK
While there are plenty of hiking opportunities in Broken Bow, you can also fill your time with a number of other fun activities.
Boating is a popular activity on Broken Bow Lake. Tucked away in the Ouachita Mountain foothills, this lake covers 14,000 acres. With 180 miles of shoreline that is covered with lush trees, this lake is perfect for fishing, water sports, swimming, and boating.
Whether you’re canoeing or on a motorboat, there are a number of small islands throughout the lake where you can stop off to rest and enjoy the scenery.
When it’s time to refuel, there are a number of wonderful restaurants in the area. You can find Pizza at the Grateful Head Pizza Oven and Baker. If you’re looking for some surf and turf, check out Abendigo’s Grill and Patio.
In the mood for BBQ? Hochatown BBQ is your spot.
You can also hop on some brewery and distillery tours in Broken Bow. Both Mountain Fork Brewery and Beavers Bend Brewery offer tours and tastings of fresh craft beers.
If you’d like to check out the trails with the aid of a beautiful horse, there are also horseback riding opportunities. Both Glover River Trail Rides and River Man Trail Rides allow you to adventure through the forested mountain trails of this incredible area.
After a Long Day of Hiking, You’ll Want a Relaxing Place to Stay!
When you’ve spent the day climbing hills, navigating around downed logs, and enjoying the abundance of wildlife, you’ll need a place to put your feet up and relax.
Can you imagine a more perfect getaway than a cozy cabin with a hot tub, a fireplace, and wifi to recoup from your adventurous day? How about a cabin with river views to enjoy the peaceful retreat of your dreams?
At Cabins in Broken Bow, you can find the perfect cabin to create your perfect vacation. Click here to find the ideal spot for you!