Stretching 22 miles into the Ouachita Mountain country, Broken Bow Lake is an unusually beautiful and scenic destination for nature lovers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Sitting within densely forested mountainous terrain, this US Army Corps of Engineers park is located about eight miles northeast of Broken Bow in Oklahoma and can be easily accessed by recreational vehicles and cars.
Recreational opportunities abound at Broken Bow Lake and campers get to take their pick of what they’d like to do for fun. Boating and depth-finding are activities that campers engage in on the park’s waters. Fish species such as walleye, crappie, flathead catfish, and bass abound in the lake and present exciting angling opportunities for anglers. Game species such as turkey, deer, and feral hog are also present within the park’s areas for hunting enthusiasts to go after. The two nature trails that are designed for adults and children at the park are also nice to explore. You should also go for a swim at the designated swim beach in the park to feel refreshed.
RV and tent camping options are available in the campgrounds by the lake, with electric hookup options as well as facilities and amenities for primitive and regular camping. Additional camping and fun opportunities are available at Beavers Bend State Park and Ouachita National Forest.
Access to Broken Bow Lake from Broken Bow is via US Highways 259 and 259-A. The park is located northeast of Broken Bow and can be easily driven to in RVs, trailers, and other motorized vehicles. Vacationers at this park can get RVs and trailers at the nearby Beavers Bend State Park and Ouachita National Forest.
There are parking spaces available for campers and visitors at and around Broken Bow Lake. Vehicle and RV/trailer parking is only allowed in designated parking spaces. Overnight parking is also available.
There are no direct public transportation services to Broken Bow Lake.
Sitting on the western shore of Broken Bow Lake, Carson Creek Campground is a pet-friendly campground that features campsites for available RVs and tents. Reservations are not accepted at the campground as the campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.
There are electric and non-electric campsites within the campground, as well as picnic tables, fire rings, and restrooms. Other facilities include boat ramps and pavilion. RV length limit is 50 feet.
Stevens Gap Campground, located on the west side of Broken Bow Lake, features more than 200 pet-friendly campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some of the campsites are equipped with electric hookups and consist of fire rings, picnic tables, dump station, restrooms, and trash cans. Potable water is also available within the campground.
RVs and trailers up to 50 feet can be accommodated in the campground. Fly fishing and horseback riding opportunities are available nearby.
Boating is a wonderful activity to engage in at Broken Bow Lake. One unique thing to do as you boat on the lake is to measure the water depth. This is because the terrain features that exist above the surface in the park also exist below the park’s water, so that boaters will find that the water may rise from depths exceeding 50 feet to very shallow islands and submerged hills. So, as you visit the lake, ensure you have a depth finder to enjoy this exercise. Also, you are required to always wear your personal floatation device on the park’s waters.
There are plenty of fishing opportunities available at Broken Bow Lake. Anglers often catch a wide variety of bass species ranging from largemouth bass, to smallmouth bass, sand bass, and hybrid striped bass. In addition, walleye, crappie, and flathead catfish are other fish species that attract anglers to the park. Trout is also present in the tailwater area of the lake. Moreover, rainbow trout and brown trout are present at several locations in the water and are stocked year-round by State wildlife officials.
Hikers at Broken Bow Lake will enjoy the use of two nature trails – the Big Oak Nature Trail and the Beaver Lodge Nature Trail. The Big Oak Trail is about 0.25 miles long and is suited to less mobile campers and little children. The Beaver Lodge Nature Trail, on the other hand, is a beautiful and rugged trail that takes campers along a clear stream through a valley that is surrounded by hills covered with pine. More hiking opportunities are available to adventurous hikers at Beaver Bend State Park.
Broken Bow Lake offers abundant hunting opportunities for hunting enthusiasts who visit the Army COE park. Several game species are present in the park’s areas, some of which are turkey, deer, and feral hog. Other small game populations are also present in the hills that surround the park. So, campers and visitors who fancy hunting have a lot of places to pursue their interests. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation guides hunting regulations.
Your trip to Broken Bow Lake is not complete without a visit to the designated swim beach at the Stevens Gap. This swimming area at Coyote Drive offers excellent spots to sit and relax before and after you take a dip in the crystal-clear water of the lake. An added feature of this swimming beach is the beautiful backdrop that the park offers in this area, so you can count on feeling relaxed and being refreshed within a beautiful setting.
The recreation areas at Broken Bow lake offer several scenic vistas for memorable sightseeing opportunities. So, campers and visitors usually have their cameras to take beautiful photographs of spots that interest them. Besides, these beautiful landscapes and sceneries can also be seen from Highway 259-A that leads to the park. There are a number of facilities and amenities at both recreation areas – Carson Creek and Stevens Gap – that make relaxation enjoyable for visitors and campers.
