Nestled in the Cookson Hills of eastern Oklahoma, Tenkiller Ferry Lake, dubbed "Oklahoma's clear water paradise" is a nature lover’s dream and a haven for diverse recreational opportunities. This US Army Corps of Engineers park located about 21 miles southeast of Muskogee, Oklahoma, just north of Gore and Vian, offers a wide range of outdoor activities, making it a favorite for many visitors and RV campers.
At this Army COE park, there are several campgrounds that offer tent, group and RV camping opportunities on the shore of the lake. Full hookup options (electric, water, and sewer), as well as partial hookups, are available for RVs and trailers. Facilities available in the park include playgrounds, boat ramps, marinas, and dump stations. Campsites are equipped with hot showers, restrooms, and potable water/water hydrants. Reservations are accepted for the campsites.
Recreational opportunities at Tenkiller Ferry Lake vary from water-based activities such as boating, scuba diving, canoeing, and rafting to fishing. Public game hunting is also available to licensed hunters. Besides, swim beaches offer swimming opportunities for campers that want to take a dip. Hiking and sightseeing opportunities also abound. For more adventures, visit the nearby Tenkiller State Park.
Tenkiller Ferry Lake is sited about 21 miles southeast of Muskogee, Oklahoma, accessible via Oklahoma Highways 10 and 10a. As a result, campers and visitors will not have difficulty accessing the park whether in their RVs, trailers, or motorized vehicles. There are local roads within the park that also make navigation within the park easy. RV and trailer rentals are available in Muskogee County and around Muskogee for campers without motorhomes.
There are parking spaces available for vacationers and visitors at and around Tenkiller Ferry Lake to park RVs, trailers, and cars. Campgrounds and recreation areas also have parking pads for vehicles. Moreover, overnight parking is also available.
There are no direct public transportation services to Tenkiller Ferry Lake.
Chicken Creek Campground is a pet-friendly campground on Tenkiller Ferry Lake with lots of opportunities to have fun. This campground, which is open between March and November, is available by reservation in peak season (April to September) and on first-come, first-served basis at the other times. The campground features impressive vistas and modern facilities such as flush toilets, water hydrants, hot showers, dump station, and a playground.
Featuring 101 campsites available for tents and RVs, this campground can accommodate motorhomes up to 146 feet long. All the campsites are equipped with electric hookups, while 75 campsites have water hookups.
Campground quiet hours are between 10 pm, and 6 am.
Cookson Bend Campground is a pet-friendly campground on Tenkiller Ferry Lake with campsites that are open between March and November and available by reservation in the peak season (April to September). The campground features breathtaking views of 200-foot limestone bluffs that rise from the scenic waters and facilities such as restrooms, potable water, hot showers, dump station, and a playground.
Featuring 128 campsites available for tents and RVs, this campground can accommodate motorhomes up to 160 feet long. Sixty-six campsites are equipped with electric hookups, while nine campsites have water hookups.
Campground quiet hours are between 10 pm and 6 am.
Elk Creek Landing Campground is a pet-friendly campground with campsites available by reservation and on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground has facilities such as flush toilets, water hydrants, hot showers, dump station, and a boat ramp. A marina is also available.
Featuring 41 campsites available for tents and RVs, this campground can accommodate motorhomes up to 84 feet long. Eighteen campsites are equipped with electric hookups.
Campground quiet hours are between 10 pm and 6 am.
The body of water at Tenkiller Ferry Lake is popularly referred to as "Oklahoma's Clear Water Wonderland," a reputation that is well deserved for the crystal-clear nature of the water and the exciting recreational activities that it offers to outdoor enthusiasts. Scuba divers, canoeists, rafters, and pleasure boaters make this lake their preferred destination for water-based activities, because of the presence of 10 marinas and more than 20 boat launching ramps that are available. Opportunities for fun are endless on this lake.
The fish resources at Tenkiller Ferry Lake offer campers and visitors the chance to enjoy exciting angling opportunities. Year-round, the lake is open to excellent fishing for white bass, black bass, striped bass, as well as catfish and crappie. Rainbow trout are also stocked below the dam in the Illinois River. Besides the fishing opportunities available at this COE park, the park is also a popular destination for fishing tournaments, with two of the boat ramps particularly suited for that exciting competition.
Tenkiller Ferry Lake features beautiful sights and spectacular views within and around its areas. Whether you’re driving on the nearby highways, boating on the lake, hiking through the park, or flying over the lake, there are plenty of things to see and love. The cold, clear waters of the streams and the rivers nestled in the green forested terrains with rock formations also offer nice photographic shots for the nature lover. On the northern end of the lake is Cherokee Landing State Park with its exciting elements and recreational opportunities.
Pettit Bay Campground is a pet-friendly campground on Tenkiller Ferry Lake with campsites that are open between January and September and available by reservation in the peak season (April to September). The campground is located near the historic town of Tahlequah and has facilities such as restrooms, potable water, hot showers, dump station, and a playground. A swimming beach and boat ramps are available, and you'll also find courtesy docks.
Featuring 86 campsites available for tents and RVs, this campground can accommodate motorhomes up to 98 feet long. Sixty-six campsites are equipped with electric hookups, while 30 campsites have water hookups. Two campsites have full hookup options.
Campground quiet hours are between 10 pm and 6 am.
Snake Creek Campground is a pet-friendly campground on Tenkiller Ferry Lake with campsites available by reservation and on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground has facilities such as restrooms, water hydrants, hot showers, dump station, and a playground. A swimming beach and boat ramps are available.
Featuring 111 campsites available for tents and RVs and three group campsites, this campground can accommodate motorhomes up to 118 feet long. All the campsites are equipped with electric hookups, while 8 campsites have water hookups. Four campsites have full hookup options.
Campground quiet hours are between 10 pm and 6 am.
Public hunting areas are available at Tenkiller Ferry Lake for vacationers and visitors who love to hunt for game. Within the park, the areas that are prohibited from hunting activities are recreational areas as well as the vicinity of the dam. Otherwise, four square miles of land managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and US Army COE is available at this park for hunting game such as mourning dove, white-tailed deer, geese, and duck. Squirrel and rabbit are some other principal game species in the park.
By far, Tenkiller Ferry Lake is a favorite destination for swimmers because of the numerous opportunities available to swim in the clear waters of the lake. The majority of the gated campgrounds in this Army COE park have buoyed-off swimming areas, offering the chance for campground users to take a dip in the water near their campsites easily. Also, a swimming beach with parking lots and picnic area is available at Chicken Creek South campground. All swimmers are advised to be safe while swimming.
Hikers who visit Tenkiller Ferry Lake for vacations or day exploration are offered the opportunity to explore the park on the Overlook Nature Trail. This trail, which is popular among hikers, is located at the Tenkiller Dam Overlook and features two segments, one just over a mile long and winding through the wooded areas in the overlook all the way to Highway 10. Campers who take a stroll along this trail will get the chance to see the resplendent flora and wildlife that reside within the park, and it's a wonderful place to take photographs.
