Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Overview

Buckhorn Pavilion provides a scenic opportunity to rent a day-use space for your next outdoor event or celebration. Located at the end of Buckhorn Road, it is approximately 10 minutes from the town of Sulphur and is an ideal spot for hosting birthday parties and other gatherings with friends and family. Ample parking and a spacious lakeside view make this pavilion ideal for larger groups. Note: Buckhorn Pavilion is not a campsite. Overnight stays are not permitted.

Recreation

Bring a swimsuit for quality swimming. The grass-covered grounds near the pavilion are spacious and ideal for games like frisbee and cornhole.

Facilities

Natural Features

Lake of the Arbuckles is a popular fishing and recreational destination in southeastern Oklahoma. The lake is part of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area and offers 36 miles of shoreline and 2,300 acres of open water. It's known for clear water and is a good spot for trolling and fishing, with species like catfish, crappie, bass, and perch commonly caught. The lake also provides year-round fishing opportunities.

Nearby Attractions

The Platt Historic District, approximately 10 minutes away, offers a variety of scenic hiking trails. Stop by the Travertine Nature Center for Junior Ranger books, National Park passport stamps, and to see native wildlife on display.

Overview

Central Campground is a family-friendly primitive group campground found in the Platt Historic District of Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Nearby Travertine Creek provides several refreshing, spring-fed swimming areas to escape the summer heat. Other close attractions, such as Little Niagara and the Travertine Nature Center make this campground an ideal location for both beginner and experienced campers. Central Campground is only a few minutes away from the town of Sulphur.

Recreation

Swimming and hiking are among the favorite activities at the campsite. A short walk takes you to Panther Falls, a refreshing swimming area.


Nearby hiking and walking trails meander along streams, past cool rushing waterfalls, and on to mineral and freshwater springs.

Facilities

The group campground is on a loop that surrounds a spacious field for activities like volleyball, football or horseshoes. There are 10 group sites open seasonally, and water spigots are close to the campsites.

Natural Features

The springs and seeps in Chickasaw originate within a region of Oklahoma characterized by complex geologic formations. Intense faulting, folding, uplift and erosion have combined to form a land surface of gently rolling hills dissected by streams.

Nearby Attractions

Try Little Niagara, a favorite freshwater swimming hole.


The Travertine Nature Center is a wonderful resource to view nature exhibits, meet live animals on display, and listen to rangers' presentations.


The park's bison pasture is nearby, so bring the kids and cameras to see the beautiful animals grazing.

Charges & Cancellations

Refunds will not be given due to inclement weather. 

Please read the official Recreation.gov cancellation rules and policies above before booking your campsite. 

Overview

Cold Springs Campground is a popular summer campground conveniently located 5-7 minutes from the town of Sulphur. Travertine Creek, directly across from Cold Springs, provides several refreshing spring-fed swimming areas to escape the summer heat. Other nearby attractions, such as Little Niagara and the Travertine Nature Center, make this campground an ideal location for both seasoned and first-time campers.

El Camping Cold Springs es un popular camping de verano, convenientemente ubicado a 5-7 minutos del pueblo de Sulphur. El arroyo Travertine, justo enfrente de Cold Springs, ofrece varias zonas de baño refrescantes con agua de manantial para escapar del calor del verano. Otras atracciones cercanas, como Little Niagara y el Centro Natural Travertine, hacen de este camping un lugar ideal tanto para campistas experimentados como para quienes lo hacen por primera vez.

Recreation

Travertine Creek, located directly across the road from Cold Springs Campground, is a popular area for swimming and picnicking. The creek is fed by nearby Antelope and Buffalo Springs. El arroyo Travertine, ubicado justo enfrente del camping Cold Springs, es una zona popular para nadar y hacer picnics. El arroyo se alimenta de los manantiales Antelope y Buffalo, ubicados en las cercanías.

The scenic and shaded Antelope and Buffalo Springs Trail is located behind the Travertine Nature Center and is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) in length. El pintoresco y sombreado sendero Antelope and Buffalo Springs Trail está ubicado detrás del Travertine Nature Center y tiene una longitud de aproximadamente 1 milla (1,6 km).

Facilities

• Cold Springs is a non-electric tent-only campground. Cold Springs es un camping exclusivo para tiendas de campaña, sin electricidad.

• Two restroom buildings are located in the campground. Both restrooms have flush toilets and sinks. No showers are available at this campground. El camping cuenta con dos baños. Ambos cuentan con inodoros y lavabos con cisterna. No hay duchas disponibles.

Natural Features

Mature oak and hickory forests cover this historic part of Chickasaw National Recreation Area. This area of the park is abundant with cold spring-fed waterfalls and beautiful geologic formations.

Bosques maduros de robles y nogales cubren esta parte histórica del Área Recreativa Nacional Chickasaw. Esta zona del parque abunda en cascadas de aguas frías de manantiales y hermosas formaciones geológicas.

Nearby Attractions

Swimming Areas:
Bear Falls
Garfield Falls
Panther Falls
Little Niagara

Hiking and Walking Trails:
Antelope And Buffalo Springs Trail
Travertine Creek Trail
Bison Pasture Trail

Other:
Travertine Nature Center 

Charges & Cancellations

Refunds will not be given due to inclement weather. 

Please read the official Recreation.gov cancellation rules and policies above thoroughly before booking your campsite. 

Overview

Rock Creek Group Site is a family-friendly primitive campsite located in a large grassy area across from the Camp Host site. Group parking is available in the gravel lot to the right of the campsite.

It is a short walk or drive away from Veteran's Lake and roughly a 10-minute drive to Little Niagara and Travertine Nature Center.

Note: While the group site is reservable, all other individual campsites at Rock Creek are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Payment for individual sites can be made at the fee machine located at the entrance to the campground.

Recreation

Swimming opportunities are plentiful with nearby streams and springs. A short drive to Veteran's Lake allows access to more swimming, picnic areas, a fishing dock, and a hiking trail that wraps around the lake.

Facilities

• Rock Creek Group Site is a non-electric tent-only campsite. Rock Creek es un camping exclusivo para tiendas de campaña, sin electricidad.

• Two restroom buildings are located in the campground. Both restrooms have flush toilets and sinks. No showers are available at this campground. El camping cuenta con dos baños. Ambos cuentan con inodoros y lavabos con cisterna. No hay duchas disponibles.

Natural Features

Mature oak and hickory forests cover this historic part of Chickasaw National Recreation Area. This area of the park is abundant with cold spring-fed waterfalls and beautiful geologic formations.

Bosques maduros de robles y nogales cubren esta parte histórica del Área Recreativa Nacional Chickasaw. Esta zona del parque abunda en cascadas de aguas frías de manantiales y hermosas formaciones geológicas.

Nearby Attractions

Visit the impressive 184-acre Chickasaw Cultural Center to learn about the history of the Chickasaw tribe. Enjoy historical exhibits, interactive displays, and traditional dances.

Charges & Cancellations

Refunds will not be given due to inclement weather. 

Please read the official Recreation.gov cancellation rules and policies above before booking your campsite. 

Overview

The Point Campground is a family-friendly campground located on Lake of the Arbuckles. Popular recreational activities include boating, swimming, fishing, bicycling, and birding. Due to its relaxed atmosphere, The Point Campground is a great outdoor destination for visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

Recreation

Bring your boats and jet skis to enjoy the lake or pack your fishing rods to catch some of the state's finest bass, catfish, and crappie.

Boating is a popular summer activity, but birding and bicycling are also great ways to explore this area of the park to take in scenic views of Lake of the Arbuckles. The boat ramp and day use picnic areas are conveniently located less than a mile from the campgrounds.

Facilities

• Campgrounds in the Upper and Lower Loops have a mixture of electric and non-electric campsites. Water hookups are available at the electric sites.

• There are no sewer hookups, but a dump station is conveniently located less than a mile from the campgrounds.

• Upper Loop restrooms are pit toilets. Lower Loop restrooms have flush toilets, sinks, and showers.

• There are no firewood vendors in the park. Visitors can gather dead and downed wood in the campgrounds or drive to the nearby town of Sulphur to purchase firewood.

Natural Features

Set in the rolling Arbuckle Mountains, The Point Campground is is part of the Crosstimbers region, where the western plains meet the eastern forests. This area of the park offers abundant opportunities for wildlife viewing and recreational enjoyment.

Nearby Attractions

Try Little Niagara, a favorite freshwater swimming hole.


The Travertine Nature Center is a wonderful resource to view nature exhibits, meet live animals on display and listen to rangers' presentations.


If visitors are in need of supplies, groceries or boat rentals, head to the neighboring city of Sulphur.

Charges & Cancellations

Refunds will not be given due to inclement weather. 

Please read the official cancellation rules and policies of recreation.gov thoroughly before booking your campsite. 

Overview

Veterans Lake Pavilion provides a scenic opportunity to rent a space for your next outdoor event or celebration. Located in the Platt Historic District, it is approximately 5-7 minutes from the town of Sulphur and is an ideal spot for hosting birthday parties and other gatherings with friends and family. 

A fishing dock and exercise area are located nearby. These areas may be used by your party but are also open to the public.

Recreation

Boat, swim, or fish on Veterans Lake. Hike, walk or bike the Veteran's Trail that loops around the lake. Veteran's Trail is the only paved trail in the park, which makes it stroller and roller blade-friendly. Visit the park's Hiking and Walking page for more trails.
The Bison Pasture is just up the road, so bring the kids and cameras to see the beautiful animals grazing.

Facilities

The 40-person picnic area has easy access to a boat launch. There's a grill but no electricity, so be sure to bring charcoal if you plan to have a cookout.

Natural Features

Chickasaw National Recreation Area is where two ecosystems, the eastern deciduous forest and the mixed-grass prairie of the west, converge. This creates unique geological formations and attracts a wide variety of plant and animal species.

Nearby Attractions

The Travertine Nature Center is worth a visit, as is the collection of springs and seeps nearby. Pavilion Springs, Black Sulphur Springs and Hillside Springs are the region's remaining natural mineral springs and have historically been used for medicinal and restorative healing.