Featuring more than 30 miles of shoreline and about 25 sq. miles of water and land, Copan Lake is a beautiful setting for refreshing holidays packed with recreational opportunities. This US Army Corps of Engineers park, located about 12 miles north of Bartlesville in Oklahoma, is an ideal spot for you to enjoy extensive opportunities to pursue water-based recreation, view the wonders of nature, and relax!
Activities to partake in at Copan Lake range from boating and paddling on the lake, to angling for a wide variety of fish species, and hunting for game within the wildlife management area in the park. Birds fly through the park year-round and present the chance for avid bird lovers and watchers to view their favorite birds soar over the park’s grounds. Moreover, wildlife viewing opportunities are also abundant. The recreation areas within the park are also open to a wide range of activities to keep you engaged during your stay. Attractions such as museums, Elk City State Park, Osage Hills State Park, and many more are located within driving distance of the park.
Tent and RV camping opportunities abound at Copan Lake with campsites equipped with electric and water hookups. Amenities such as restrooms, showers, playground, dump station, and boat ramps are also available.
Located about 12 miles north of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, off US Highway 75, Copan Lake is easy to access by RVs, trailers, and other motorized vehicles. There is ease of navigation for vehicles within the park too. RV and trailer rentals are available for campers without rigs around Bartlesville and at Osage Hills State Park.
There are parking spaces available for campers and visitors at Copan Lake with campgrounds that have parking lots. RV/trailer parking is only allowed in designated parking spaces and overnight parking is also available.
There are no direct public transportation services to Copan Lake.
Washington Cove Campground is sited on the banks of Copan Lake and is open to campers between April and October (Peak Season). This pet-friendly campground consists of 101 campsites that accommodate RVs and tents.
Electric and water hookups are available as well as amenities such as flush and pit toilets, potable water, showers, a day-use group picnic shelter, and a dump station. A playground and boat ramp are also available. Recreational activities to enjoy within the campground include fishing, hunting, picnicking, boating etc.
RV length limit at this campground is 75 feet.
Post Oak Campground is a pet-friendly campground on the banks of Copan Lake open between April and October (Peak Season) and in November (Off-peak season). The campground consists of 19 campsites that accommodate RVs and tents. Electric hookups are available within the campsites as well as amenities such as flush and pit toilets, potable water, showers, and a dump station. Recreational activities to enjoy within the campground include fishing, hunting, picnicking, and boating. RV length limit at this campground is 83 feet.
All campers and visitors who fancy boating pursuits can engage in this pleasurable activity at the park. Several opportunities are available at the park. However, all who wish to participate in the activity are required to operate their boats in a safe and controlled manner. This is because the lake has lots of underwater hazards that pose threats to paddlers’ safety. Along the shoreline and shallow water areas, look out for logs, fences, submerged stumps, and other obstructions.
Angling is an exciting activity at Copan Lake. Thanks to the large areas that are uncleared and the artificial fish shelters that have long existed in the area, numerous fish species call the lake their home. As an angler, get ready to catch fish such as largemouth bass, channel catfish, white crappie, flathead catfish and a wide variety of sunfish. A hybrid cross between striped bass and white bass is also commonly stocked in the lake.
A wide variety of bird species are found within Copan Lake, making the park a well-loved destination for RV campers and vacationers that fancy viewing birds. Some of the birds that campers enjoy watching include migrating sparrows, ducks, warblers, wild turkey, and brown thrasher. Other avian species that fly around in the park are woodpeckers, herons, and owl. In winter, bald eagles frequent this COE park in search of food, so they are commonly seen too.
A major portion of the lands within this US Army COE park is dedicated to managing wildlife, which makes the park a preferred destination for hunting enthusiasts. A collaboration between the Army COE and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation makes wildlife management within the park possible. Game species available for hunting in this lake park include deer, morning dove, waterfowl, bobwhite, and turkey. Cottontail rabbit and squirrel occur in good populations too.
A number of recreation areas are available on Copan Lake, all of which are equipped with picnic sites, fishing points, restrooms, dump station, and many other facilities. Copan Point day-use area, for example, is sited on the shore of Copan Lake with one group picnic shelter area, flush toilets, pit toilets, utility tables, potable water, and grills. A visit to any of the recreation areas in the park holds a lot of promise for fun for you and your fellow campers as you can enjoy picnicking, boating, fishing and many other activities.
Besides the beautiful landscapes and resplendent flora and fauna at Copan Lake, there are many sightseeing possibilities at the park. Also, you can take short trips to the surrounding towns and villages to explore the various interesting features that are available on display. Examples of these places of interest include The Tom Mix Museum in Dewey, Frank Phillips Home in Bartlesville, Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve in Bartlesville and many more. Events and entertainment programs are also on the cards.
