With wide stretches of water, forested hills, and public use areas, Oologah Lake is a haven for memorable camping experiences, recreational activities and nature viewing opportunities. This US Army Corps of Engineers park, located about 30 miles northeast of Tulsa in Oklahoma, is one of the most popular sites for RV camping and pleasurable getaways.
This Army COE park that sits on the Verdigris River offers loads of things to do to have fun and stay active. Whether your favorite activity is boating, sailing, water skiing, or paddling, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to knock yourself out. Numerous fish species in the lake also present anglers with the chance to test their fishing skills. Other recreational possibilities include hunting for game, swimming, and wildlife/bird viewing. Trails in the park offer the chance to enjoy mountain biking, horseback riding, and of course, hiking. Visit nearby attractions such as Sequoyah State Park and Sequoyah Bay State Park for added fun activities.
Campgrounds with tent and RV camping options are available on the lake with electric and water hookups for RVs. Facilities and amenities in the campgrounds include showers, pit and flush toilets, playground, boat ramps, and group picnic shelter. Parking lots are also available.
Located about 30 miles northeast of Tulsa along US Highway 169, off Oklahoma Highway 88, Oologah Lake is easy to access by trailers, recreational vehicles, and cars. A number of local roads lead to the park too. RV rentals are available south of the park at Sequoyah State Park.
There are parking spaces available for campers and visitors at Oologah Lake. The campgrounds and recreation areas also have parking spaces for RVs/trailers and cars. Overnight parking is also available.
There are no direct public transportation services to Oologah Lake.
Blue Creek Campground is pet-friendly campground on Oologah Lake with campsites available by reservation during peak season (April and September) and on first-come, first-served basis in October. There are 60 spacious campsites in this campground, with electric hookups present in 25 sites.
A group day-use picnic shelter is available in the campground, as well as a number of amenities such as boat ramp, dump station, flush toilets, showers, and picnic tables. Boating, fishing, and picnicking are common recreational activities in the campground.
RV length limit at the campground is 100 feet.
Hawthorn Bluff Campground is a pet-friendly campground on Oologah Lake with campsites available by reservation during peak season (April and September) and on first-come, first-served basis in October. There are 92 campsites in this campground, featuring 70 campsites with electric hookups and one campsite with water hookups for RVs and trailers.
Two group day-use picnic shelters, an amphitheater with a gazebo as well as other amenities are available in the campground. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, dump station, playground, showers, and picnic tables. Sailing, fishing, boating, and picnicking opportunities are available.
The RV length limit at the campground is 105 feet.
Spencer Creek Campground is a pet-friendly campground on Oologah Lake with campsites available by reservation only during peak season (April and September). There are 69 campsites in this campground, and 30 have electric hookups for RVs and trailers.
Amenities in this campground include flush and pit toilets, dump station, playground, showers, and boat ramp. Sailing, fishing, boating, and picnicking opportunities are available.
RV length limit at the campground is 75 feet.
There are numerous opportunities to enjoy recreational boating and non-boating activities at Oologah Lake. If you are a lover of water-based recreation, you get to partake in activities such as sailing, water skiing, canoeing, and of course, boating on the park’s waters.
Equipped with fourteen boat launching ramps located at convenient spots around the lake, you get the chance to choose where you’d like to begin your adventure. Additionally, a marina is available with boating supplies for campers’ use. Practice safe boating in the park.
Campers, sportsmen, and visitors enjoy exciting opportunities to catch a wide range of fish at Oologah Lake as the waters are stocked with numerous fish species. If you visit the park with your fishing rod and tackle, you’ll be able to catch sand bass, hybrid striped bass, catfish, walleye, and crappie.
Cool spots to enjoy angling in the park include the brush piles, standing timber and millet in the mudflats. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation works with the US Army COE to ensure fish populations are balanced and available to anglers.
There are a number of trails that offer various recreational opportunities for campers and visitors at Oologah Lake. Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are some of the activities that you can enjoy on the trails that are present within the park.
The 18-mile long Will Rogers Country Centennial Trail is perfectly suited for hikers and equestrians who will get the chance to experience the western heritage of the country areas by the lake. Skull Hollow Nature Trail also offers amazing opportunities too.
A visit to Oologah Lake by campers and visitors who love to hunt for game will give them the chance to explore the 10 sq. miles of public hunting land managed by the US Army COE and the 20 sq. miles of hunting land managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. That’s more than 30 sq. miles of space available to hunt for game species such as deer, quail, swamp and cottontail rabbit, and turkey. Other game in the park include duck and goose.
There are two designated swimming beaches available at Oologah Lake for campers and visitors to enjoy refreshing dips away from summer’s heat. These two swimming areas are developed at Hawthorn Bluff and Spencer Creek Campgrounds and are open to all. Even more, the marina in the park provides a host of supplies and services to enhance the experience. All who wish to swim in the park are required to practice safe swimming techniques and have the appropriate gear.
Wildlife and bird viewing opportunities abound at Oologah Lake for nature lovers and bird watching enthusiasts. A wide range of wildlife species in the park presents both viewing and hunting possibilities.
Examples of fauna species in the park include coyote, raccoon, bobcat, turkey, and waterfowl. Squirrel, deer, and quail are also present in the park. Bird species are found within the different areas of the park, particularly around the lake. They include bald eagles and several shorebird species.
