I got to spend the day down at Chickasaw National Recreation Area near Sulfur Oklahoma. It’s a great trip just 1 hour 15 minutes away from Oklahoma City and located very near I-35. It is an idyllic park and a real gem located in south-central Oklahoma. I will break down what I did that day and what are some of the things that you can do there to enjoy a great fall or spring weekend! Don’t forget there are many campgrounds in the old national park and around the lake that I didn’t visit. I’ll be returning soon!
Useful Links
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area Official Website
- Sulfur Weather Station Oklahoma Mesonet
- Arbuckle Lake Level
- Bison Pasture Trail
- Buffalo and Antelope Spring Trail
Hiking, Trekking, and Springs
There are several different areas to hike and trek all around Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The trail I traveled was the Buffalo and Antelope Trail near the nature center on the eastern side of the park. It starts near the Little Niagara swimming area and the nature center. The trail is a well-established gravel walking trail. It is about 1 mile one way from the nature center and follows the Travertine Creek. The first spring I found was Antelope Spring. It emerges directly from the rocks and creates a small stream that flows into the creek. There’s a nice sitting area and the water is nice and cool!
The next area is Buffalo Spring and this spring is much more contained and maintained. The Civilian Conservation Corps from the depression era built up the stone well around the spring. Originally, the buffalo would bathe and wallow in the spring as it bubbled up through the ground. The spring is now encased by stone and flows out on side of the stone sitting area. The area is very tranquil. There were plenty of people sitting and reading and running about when I visited. The forest was quiet and I would recommend a visit to the spring to enjoy a weekend afternoon!
There are several other hiking areas and trails throughout the park. There are trails in the center and western part of the park and around the lake. The Bromide Trail area is on the western side and follows along a small cliff area and has some wonderful views of the park and surrounding area. There are several spring houses found all around the park. Many of the spring buildings have a fun 1930s vibe because they were built by the CCC in a unique style of the time.
Little Niagara Swimming Area
Another great area that I visited but wasn’t able to fully enjoy was the Little Niagara swimming area. The Civilian Conservation Corps built several small dams that created pools for people to swim and enjoy the cool waters on warm days. On the day I visited a few people were swimming even with the outside temperature was 75 degrees. If you’re ever in Oklahoma on a hot day in the summer, you should swing by Little Niagara and cool down!
A view of the top-level dam and a shallower upper pool at “Little Niagara”. 
A view of the swimming pool at “Little Niagara” in Chickasaw National Recreation Area. 
The water flowing over the upper dam at “Little Niagara” swimming area.
This is a beautiful time in Oklahoma. Click the link below to learn about the fall foliage on the Talimena National Scenic Byway in southeastern Oklahoma. It’s only a few hours away from Sulfur Oklahoma and worth a drive!
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