Beavers Bend State Park is by far one of the most beautiful parks I’ve seen in Oklahoma! I spent the day there while enjoying a wonderful weekend away from Oklahoma City. The park left a pretty solid impression on me and I’m ready to make my return even though my recent visit was just a day trip. It really has it all – camping, trekking, swimming, and trails! I’ll tell you more now!
Useful Links
- Broken Bow Lake Levels and Spillway Discharge: https://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/BROK.lakepage.html
- Beavers Bend State Park Website: https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/beavers-bend-state-park
- Friend’s Trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oklahoma/friends-trail-loop
- Trout Fishing Regulations: https://visitmccurtaincounty.com/activities/watersports/fishing/trout-regulations/
- Top 5 Oklahoma Camping State Parks: https://campingandtrekking.com/top-5-oklahoma-camping-state-parks/
Beavers Bend Friends Trail
I decided to go on an easy trail that was well marked and known since this was just a day trip. I decided on the Friends Trail which starts in the center of the park and it’s popular. You can find the starting location here. I parked near the trailhead and decided to head down the walking path directly to the river to enjoy that first. That trail is just a blocked-off road and goes right to the river. You can park here and just enjoy swimming the day.
Friends Trail is an easy to moderate trail that is 1.5 miles long. You will follow the river for about half a mile if you stay towards the left of the Y in the trail. The river is readily accessible along that entire portion of the trail. I stopped several times to swim and enjoy the river along this part of the path. The trail is fairly easy during this portion but there are some steep sides and it does have sand and dirt that makes it a little slippery. This part of the trail is still navigable but just more rugged.
The Spillway Stream
There were several people swimming in the river along the path of the trail and I stopped several times. The first thing to remember is the water is very cool. You will have to get used to the cold if you have any chance of swimming in the river. The water is very brisk and refreshing once you make it in so don’t be afraid!
There is also a strong current in some places. There are also many hidden rocks and rapids throughout the river. Many people were tubing or on the side of the river to swim. You should have floats or rafts if you’re going to be away from the edge for your own safety. Also, be careful of any submerged rocks in the river and don’t climb on any rocks because they are slippery and falling and getting hurt will suck! You will be cool and having fun in the river and sun in no time if you follow a few basic rules of the water!
The trail then turns away from the river and runs up the hill. The hill is a decent rise and is sandy. The trail wasn’t extreme even with the steep hill after the river. When you get to the top of the hill you just have to follow the trail back to the starting point. The trail is a loop and wide open. It’s a good place to start your Beavers Bend adventure.
The Mountain Fork River
The Mountain Fork River is the river that runs through the state park. The Friends Trail actually runs across the spillway stream which drains into the Mountain Fork. The river then runs into the more populated areas of the park and the kayak and beach area. There are a lot of options for river fun and swimming along these parts of the river. This part of the river has a beach area too.
There are also several campgrounds along the river that people can enjoy the river and camp at the same time. Paddleboat rental area and the power plant fishing area is all within this interior area. There is also ample amounts of trout fishing along the entirety of the river throughout the park.
Beavers Bend Cabins, Trails, and Trout Fishing
The state park also offers cabins. The cabins can be booked on the park’s website reservation system. There are several to choose from scattered throughout the park. Find more details on the reservations website. The state park has removed cooking, eating, and drinking utensils due to COVID so make sure you bring those amenities with you if you rent a cabin.
There are also trails that start at the Forest Heritage Center in the central part of the park. The two main trails that start at the heritage center are the Tree Trail and the Lookout Mountain Loop. Tree trail is a good family trail but is busy since it’s near a popular parking spot. Lookout Mountain is a longer trail and more moderate intensity so it is less traveled.
There are 2 color-coded areas along the river for trout fishing requirements – red and blue areas. Please see the link to McCurtain County site to see a detailed breakdown of the fishing areas in Beavers Bend State Park and the rest of the Mountain Fork River. Or find the link here. There are different requirements even a few hundred feet separated on the river so know where you are and what you’re catching and what your limits are.
Beavers Bend State Park is beautiful! It is absolutely one of the top parks in Oklahoma and I even referenced the park in previous articles. One article about top camping state parks in Oklahoma is located here. If you’re ever in southeastern Oklahoma or want a fun weekend trip away from Oklahoma City or Tulsa, this is the place to go! Make it a family or romantic weekend and you’re sure to have the time of your life! Happy travels!
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