10 Of Oklahoma’s Prettiest State Parks

These are just the tip of the iceberg of what to discover in Oklahoma.

With 11 distinct ecosystems—the most of any state in the U.S.—Oklahoma has terrain and landscape to fit any traveler’s desires. From tall grass prairie and rolling mountains to desert landscapes and deep verdant forests, Oklahoma’s lands are celebrated through its 32 state parks and recreational areas. Explore the state's caverns or lace up a pair of hiking boots. Fish for crappie and sandbass or stargaze in one of the darkest corners of the state. No matter how you like to enjoy the outdoors, Oklahoma’s diverse landscape and stunning natural resource will delight.

Read on to learn about some of the state’s most picturesque state parks, but with so many public lands to explore, these are just the tip of the iceberg of what to discover in Oklahoma.

Lake Murray State Park

Ardmore, Oklahoma

Lake Murray State Park near Ardmore in south-central Oklahoma is revered for its boating, fishing, and water sports, but it also promises outdoor adventure with its ATV area for off-road vehicles and equestrian trails. The park is home to an 18-hole golf course with a pro shop and swim beaches, but the Tower nature center historic Civilian Conservation Corp structures make Lake Murray one of Oklahoma’s most scenic lakes. Campers can choose between nine RV campgrounds and primitive tent sites, but the Lake Murray Lodge's 32 guest rooms or the park’s 56 cabins are also available to visitors.

Black Mesa State Park and Nature Preserve

Kenton, Oklahoma

Stargaze to your heart’s delight under the vast night sky of Black Mesa State Park and Nature Preserve. Known as one of the darkest spots in Oklahoma, Black Mesa is also the highest point in the state, reaching 4,973 feet above sea level. The Nature Preserve’s hiking trail reaches that point, rewarding the climb with views of where the Rocky Mountains meet the shortgrass prairie. Don’t be surprised to see a variety of wildlife at this park, including bighorn sheep and antelope, but the stars are what draw most visitors to this remote and beautiful park.

Beavers Bend State Park

Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Tucked within foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, Beavers Bend State Park is one of the state’s prettiest parks. With clear waters and one of the cleanest lakes in the region, Beavers Bend is known for its top-notch fly fishing for trout or bass fishing in the vast lake. Whether you hike the David Boren Trail or swing 18-holes at Cedar Creek Golf Course, this picturesque park has plenty of adventures to enjoy, including float trips and horseback riding.

Greenleaf State Park

Braggs, Oklahoma

Tucked in Oklahoma’s verdant and hilly northeast area, Greenleaf State Park ranks at the top of many Oklahomans favorite park. One of Oklahoma’s original seven state parks, Greenleaf State Park has 18 miles of mountain trails for hiking and biking, but is also known for its stellar fishing waters. Many of Greenleaf’s structures and cabins were built during the 1930s and 1940s by the WPA, but a stop at the park’s nature center and swim beach are well worth the effort.

Robbers Cave State Park

Wilburton, Oklahoma

Step back in time to the Wild West days at Robbers Cave State Park where notorious outlaws Jesse James and Belle Starr hid from the law. Besides its rowdy past, Robbers Cave State Park is located in the hilly Sans Bois Mountains where visitors can hike, rappel, explore equestrian trails by horseback or fish and boat along its 189 acres of lake. With RV sites, tent camping and the 20-room Robbers Cave Lodge, campers can spend days relaxing under the forest canopy or taking a leisurely canoe float on the calm waters.

Great Salt Plains State Park

Jet, Oklahoma

Once the site of an ancient sea, Great Salt Plains State Park has an 8,960-acre lake of saltwater. Only half as salty as the sea, the lake draws anglers from throughout the region for saugeye, white bass and hybrid striped bass. However, the surrounding 11,000 acres of white salt flats draw visitors the world over to dig for hourglass-shaped selenite crystals from April 1 through October 15. The Great Salt Plains Lake and Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge are also renowned for its wildlife and waterfowl, making it a favored spot for birdwatchers.

Alabaster Caverns

Freedom, Oklahoma

Alabaster Caverns State Park is home to the world’s largest natural gypsum cave that is open to the public, and the park is a popular destination for wild caving, spelunking and hiking. Alabaster Caverns has daily guided cave tours that are appropriate for all ages and abilities, but from March through September, groups of three or more can receive a permit to explore the park’s four caves through wild caving.

Roman Nose State Park

Watonga, Oklahoma

Explore Oklahoma’s canyon lands and gypsum cliffs at Roman Nose State Park, where you can bike, hike, or saddle up on the park’s multi-use trail system. Cool off after a day of outdoor adventure at Lake Watonga in the cold water streams or unwind with 18 holes at the park’s on-site golf course. Enjoy the redesigned Roman Nose Lodge. Opt for a more unique stay through the teepee rentals, which are available April through October.

Gloss Mountain State Park

Fairview, Oklahoma

Sometimes called the Glass Mountains due to its shimmer from the mountain’s selenite content, Gloss Mountain State Park features towering red cliffs, wide open skies and high plains landscape. A favorite park for RVers and motorcyclists, the park doesn’t have camping or lodging, but it is one of the best places in the state to take in one of the famous Oklahoma sunsets. Hike the Cathedral Mountain trail and take in the unique geological formations and high mesa scenery that makes this park so unique.

Boiling Springs State Park

Woodward, Oklahoma

Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Boiling Springs State Park is one of the original seven state parks in Oklahoma. Named for a burbling spring (that doesn’t actually boil), the park has an interpretive center, a public swimming pool, a seven-acre spring-fed lake and five hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as an 18-hole golf course.

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