Oklahoma · best-of list
The 7 Best Outdoor Spots in Oklahoma
All 7 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Oklahoma, across 4 destinations, gathered in one list. 6 come with an insider tip, and 6 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
7 outdoor spots in Oklahoma, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Lake Hefner 3 picks
Lake Hefner Trail
Lake Hefner · On our Oklahoma City New Year's Eve route
A paved path around much of the 2,500-acre reservoir, popular for first-day walks, runs and bike rides.
Tip: The park is open 5 am to 11 pm; the east shore by the lighthouse has the most parking.
Martin Park Nature Center
Lake Hefner · On our Oklahoma City New Year's Eve route
City nature preserve with short wooded trails along a creek and a small nature center.
Tip: Closed Mondays; check Jan 1 hours.
Stars and Stripes Park
Lake Hefner · On our Oklahoma City New Year's Eve route
Lakeside park on Hefner's south shore with open lawns, picnic shelters and a stretch of the shoreline trail.
Wichita Mountains 2 picks
Charons Garden Wilderness
Wichita Mountains · On our Oklahoma Route 66 route
Rugged boulder-strewn wilderness area with scrambles and canyons.
Tip: Trails are faint; carry a map and water.
Photo: Mumen Rider · Google
Forty Foot Hole
Wichita Mountains · On our Oklahoma Route 66 route
Granite gorge and pool on Cache Creek reached by short trail.
Tip: Swimming not allowed; slick rocks after rain.
Photo: Matthew Matyjek · Google
Oklahoma City 1 pick
Myriad Botanical Gardens
Oklahoma City · On our Oklahoma Route 66 route
Downtown gardens around the cylindrical Crystal Bridge conservatory.
Tip: Grounds are free; small fee for the conservatory.
Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0
Tulsa 1 pick
Gathering Place
Tulsa · On our Oklahoma Route 66 route
66-acre free riverside park with gardens, trails and big playgrounds.
Tip: Free entry; weekday mornings are calmest.
Photo: 좀비 브렌다 · CC BY-SA 4.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Oklahoma?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 7 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Oklahoma has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Lake Hefner has the most (3 of 7), followed by Wichita Mountains (2) and Oklahoma City (1).
Are any of these free?
6 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Lake Hefner Trail, Charons Garden Wilderness, Gathering Place, Martin Park Nature Center, Forty Foot Hole, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Oklahoma
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Lake Hefner 3 on this list
- Wichita Mountains 2 on this list
- Oklahoma City 1 on this list
- Tulsa 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.