With temperatures rising across the country, and record- breaking heat setting in this summer, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism & Recreation is sharing Oklahoma’s best watering holes, beaches and caves to help stay cool this summer.
“Now is the perfect time to discover the breathtaking shorelines and unexpected places within Oklahoma’s state parks,” said Shelley Zumwalt, Executive Director at OTRD. “These hidden gems are adored by locals and visitors alike. Whether you love the rush of cascading waterfalls or the serene atmosphere of watering holes, there are plenty of options to cool off and beat the heat.”
More details on each location below.
Southwestern Oklahoma: Foss State Park Water activities include kayak rentals, boating, fishing and a swim beach that is perfect for cooling off.
Quartz Mountain State Park
This state park is located right on Lake Altus-Lugert, meaning there are plenty of waterfront activities that are perfect for keeping cool. Quartz Mountain State Park also has a swimming pool open to lodge guests.
Western and Northwestern Oklahoma: Gage Artesian Beach This watering hole is unlike any other swimming hole in Oklahoma! This natural swimming hole has cement-lined walls with a sandy beach-like bottom.
Alabaster Caverns State Park Stay cool by exploring one of the largest natural gypsum caves in the world located in Western Oklahoma. The Alabaster Caverns are open to the public and best of all, the internal temperature remains steady around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Roman Nose State Park Cool off in one of three natural springs. You can also relax in the fully restored Civilian Conservation Corps swimming pool, complete with a climbing rock wall and slide for the kids.
Northeastern Oklahoma: Grand Lake State Park Located on the shore of Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, one of Oklahoma’s largest lakes with 46,500 surface acres and 1,300 miles of shoreline. This park is great for fishing and a variety of water sports.
Eastern Oklahoma: Tenkiller State Park Tenkiller State Park, known for its breathtaking Lake Tenkiller, is every water enthusiast’s dream. Water sports located in the park include water skiing, fishing, boating, tubing and scuba diving. Along with the wide variety of sports, there is also a swimming pool that includes a splash pad and water slide, perfect for families to visit.
Southeastern Oklahoma: Lake Wister State Park Lake Wister offers 7,300 surface acres of water across Lake Wister State Park, making it the perfect destination to keep cool from the Oklahoma heat. This state park features swimming, boating, water skiing, a swimming beach and a water spray park. Lake Wister State Park has 115 miles of shoreline throughout the park, which means there are plenty of places to swim or to just sit back and enjoy the serene waterfront.
Broken Bow Lake at Beavers Bend State Park Beavers Bend State Park offers the Beavers Bend Lodge, situated along the shores of Broken Bow Lake, featuring breathtaking scenic views of the water. Visitors can enjoy water recreation along 180 miles of shoreline and 14,220 surface acres of lake. The lake offers plenty of coves and clear water for fishing, boating, canoeing and scuba diving.
South Central Oklahoma: Lake Murray Beautiful spring-fed Lake Murray features 5,700 surface acres and is one of the clearest lakes in Oklahoma. Water activities include fishing, water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing and more.
