9 Hiking Trails in Beaver's Bend State Park

Your guide to hiking trails in Beaver's Bend State Park:

Friend's Trail

All of the trails in Beaver's Bend State Park have their perks, but in our opinion Friend's Trail is one of the best!

The Friends Trail is the first new trail to be added to the park in 15 years. Friends Trail begins at Spillway Creek, below the dam and makes an approximate 1.5 mile loop.

Friends Trail is an intermediate trail where you can expect rugged terrain with rocky and steep inclines.

The Trail follows along the Lower Mountain Fork River and the views are stunning! Complete with waterfalls, this is some scenery you won't want to miss! And the trailhead sign makes for a super cute photo opp!

Lookout Mountain Trail

The Lookout Mountain Trail is approximately a 1.9 mile trek with a little rocky incline. The trail features a beautiful forest setting, with a hike that takes you up in elevation with stunning views from the top.

The trail is located in Beavers Bend State Park with access located off state highway 259A. The Deer Crossing Trail connects the Lookout Mountain Trail with the Cedar Bluff Nature Trail.

Forest Heritage Tree Trail

The Tree Trail is an approximately 1.1 mile loop that begins and ends at the Forest Heritage Center. The trail winds down the hill to Beaver Creek, running along the floodplain of the creek, over a covered bridge and around back to the Forest Heritage Center.

It requires a fairly easy walk with a couple of limbs to climb over. You will see informational signs on the trees at key points. These signs provide more information on the specific area you are walking in.

Beaver's Lodge Nature Trail

The Beaver Lodge Nature Trail is a one-way 3 mile trail that features a waterfall. The trail is primarily used for walking, hiking, camping and nature trips. You can start it either below the hydro-electric dam or just below the spillway. This is a wide trail except for a short section which connects area that suffered flood damage.

It is recommended that you follow the wide, flat, trail until it becomes too narrow and/or steep for you. At that point, turn around and come back the way you came. The trail follows the spillway run-off creek. As you walk this trail, you will usually hear the sound of rushing water.

6. Skyline Trail

Embark on the 8.6-mile Skyline Trail loop, a challenging route that takes about 5 hours to complete on average. This popular trail is great for camping, hiking, and running, so be prepared to meet fellow adventurers along the way. Open year-round, it offers stunning views no matter when you visit. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash.

As one of the longest and most well-regarded trails in Beavers Bend State Park, the Skyline Trail rewards hikers with beautiful scenery, but it also comes with some tough terrain, especially the steep inclines. Make sure to wear proper footwear and stay cautious near water crossings, which can be hazardous after heavy rain. The path can be tricky to follow in spots, so keep an eye out for trail markers. The trail loops back to the trailhead along a road.

Skyline Trail features a waterfall and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers.

7. Pine Ridge Trail

The Pine Ridge Trail, located in Beavers Bend State Park, is a figure-eight loop trail that is approximately 3/4 of a mile. The first loop begins right across from the tennis court, and branches to the right. It will lead you through pine and hardwood forests, by a sewage lagoon, then across the top of a ridge.

The trail will branch to your right, then to your right again, taking you through a bottomland forest and the floodplain of Beaver Creek. The trail is fairly easy to walk and includes two uphill and two downhill grades.

8. Cedar Bluff Trail

Located across from Dogwood Campground in the Beavers Bend State Park, the Cedar Bluff trail runs in an approximately 1 mile loop. The trail is designed to be hiked in a clockwise manner.

Begin to your left and at each junction turn right and you will come out where you started. The trail is marked with blue on white tree blazes. This nature trail is considered easy grade with a hill climb.

9. David Boren Trail

Named in honor of former Oklahoma governor David Boren, the David Boren Hiking Trail in Beavers Bend State Park is one of the best hiking options in the state. This trail is comprised of seven smaller trails that can be mixed and matched to suit your time limit and skill level. The Beaver Lodge Trail, Cedar Bluff Nature Trail, Beaver Creek Trail and Southpark Trail are all one mile long, while the Lookout Mountain Trail runs one and a half miles and the Deer Crossing Trail runs two miles. The Skyline Trail, which is formerly known as Big Oak Nature Trail and Dogwood Interpretive Nature Trail, runs five miles.

The southern 12 miles of the DBHT run from the low-water dam at the south end of Beavers Bend to the Beaver Lodge Nature Trail that runs from the hydro-electric dam to the spillway.