Beavers Bend State Park is a lush, 1,300-acre playground in the heart of Southeastern Oklahoma, anchored by Broken Bow Lake and surrounded by charming rural communities and small-town amenities. It’s a destination for hardcore outdoors enthusiasts looking to hunt, fish, hike or camp, but it’s also a great weekend getaway for city dwellers seeking a few days of relaxation, fun and sunshine away from home. Here are five ways to have a blast next time you and your friends come around the Bend.
Play on Broken Bow Lake.
Broken Bow Lake is a signature attraction around Beavers Bend, with 22 miles of placid waters surrounded by rolling hills of lush foliage. Jet ski, kayak, paddleboard, or just lounge in a canoe or relax on a raft—you have 13,000 surface acres of majestic lake to enjoy.
Zip-line through the forest.
Adrenaline junkies, rejoice: Prepare your best Tarzan howl and experience breathtaking flight through a canopied forest at peak speeds of 35mph—from heights of 60 feet on lines ranging from 300 to 1,100 feet in length. Right now Rugaru Adventures is the go-to spot for zip-lining, just be sure to check our zip-lining page to keep up with any changes.
Make a day of lounging around the cabin.
We don’t mean stay indoors and watch Netflix (although you do have that option if you feel so inclined). These luxury cabins are nestled in the woods and come with firepits, grills, outdoor decks for porch-hangs and even hot tubs. Grill a feast, make cabin cocktails, play a game of cornhole or shoes, roast marshmallows for s’mores, and tell ghost stories around a crackling campfire.
Hike the Ouachita Mountains.
Beavers Bend is surrounded by miles of trails that offer hiking experiences ranging from short morning jaunts to challenging hours-long journeys through the forest. Paths like Beaver Lodge Nature Trail and Forest Heritage Tree Trail offer scenic tours through the area wildlife without demanding your whole day.
Enjoy the dining and nightlife of Hochatown.
This community adjacent to Broken Bow is centrally located and features a handful of restaurants, bars and shops where visitors can enjoy live music, experience a great meal (from expertly smoked BBQ and gourmet pizza to farm-to-fork pub fare), sip locally produced wine, beer and spirits, and mingle with locals and fellow travelers.
This is just a taste of the fun that awaits around the bend. A trip to McCurtain County is truly whatever you want it to be—poke around the website and start planning yours today.
