Why the Arbuckle Mountains Are Worth a Trip
The Arbuckle Mountains in south-central Oklahoma are among the oldest mountain ranges in the United States between the Appalachians and the Rockies, with core rocks dating back roughly 1.3 billion years. They’re modest in height — the highest points barely top 1,400 feet — but the eroded landscape of waterfalls, spring-fed creeks, exposed geological formations, and clear-water lakes makes this a surprisingly rich outdoor destination. Located just off Interstate 35, roughly an hour north of the Texas border and 90 minutes south of Oklahoma City, the region is anchored by the towns of Davis and Sulphur. Here are nine things worth your time.
1. Swim Below Turner Falls
Turner Falls is a 77-foot waterfall on Honey Creek — one of the tallest in Oklahoma — and the centerpiece of Turner Falls Park, the state’s oldest park. The falls cascade into a natural swimming pool of cold, spring-fed water that draws thousands of visitors every summer. “Cold” is an understatement: the water is genuinely frigid, but on a hot Oklahoma day, that’s part of the appeal.
The pool below the falls is the most accessible swimming area and the best option for wading with younger children or anyone who prefers to ease in gradually. A second swimming area, the Blue Hole, features a slide and diving board with a lifeguard on duty. Life jackets are required for all children 12 and under — bring your own, as they’re overpriced at the park. Water shoes are strongly recommended everywhere, as the creek bed and rock formations are rough.
Turner Falls Park covers 1,500 acres across three levels, with shuttle buses running between them during summer (last bus at 6:30 p.m.). Summer hours are 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. No pets are allowed. Lines to enter can be long on summer weekends, so arrive early. The park is six miles south of Davis on Highway 77.
2. Explore Collings Castle and the Caves
Also within Turner Falls Park, Collings Castle is a stone structure built in the 1930s from local rock. Now hollowed out and partially in ruins, the castle sits on a high point above the falls and is open to explore via steep stairs and narrow interior passages — including a stairwell leading to upper levels with views over the park. There are no guided tours; you explore at your own pace. Watch your footing on loose stone, and supervise children closely.
Three natural caves are tucked into the rock formations above the falls. Finding them is part of the fun — they’re not prominently signed. Reaching them requires scrambling over uneven rock and navigating steep terrain, so they’re best suited for visitors with reasonable mobility and sturdy shoes. The cave openings are atmospheric and worth the effort if you can manage the approach.
3. Hike the Trails at Chickasaw National Recreation Area
A few miles south of Turner Falls near the town of Sulphur, the Chickasaw National Recreation Area is one of only three Oklahoma parks affiliated with the National Park Service. The park sits at an ecological crossroads where eastern deciduous forest meets western mixed-grass prairie, creating unusual biodiversity for this part of Oklahoma.
Over 22 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails wind through hardwood forests, across prairies, and along spring-fed creeks. The Rock Creek Multi-Use Trails accommodate both hikers and bikers. From the trails, you can spot the park’s resident bison herd, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, armadillos, and — if you look up — flying squirrels. The Travertine Nature Center offers exhibits on local ecology and ranger-led programs including guided hikes. Admission to the recreation area is free.
4. Cool Off at Little Niagara
Also within the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Little Niagara is a natural swimming hole on Travertine Creek where two small waterfalls converge into a shallow pool. It’s a favorite freshwater swimming spot that’s considerably less crowded than Turner Falls and completely free. The creek runs through the park with additional wading pools and small cascades, making it possible to spend an entire afternoon creek-hopping without ever touching a parking lot.
Travertine Creek is fed by the mineral and freshwater springs that have drawn people to this valley for centuries. The Chickasaw Nation historically called the area the “peaceful valley of rippling waters” and believed the springs had healing properties. Several springs remain accessible along park trails.
5. Fish or Boat on Lake of the Arbuckles
Lake of the Arbuckles forms the western boundary of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Built in 1966, the reservoir covers roughly 2,350 surface acres with 36 miles of shoreline. Its unusually clear water has earned it a reputation as one of Oklahoma’s best fishing lakes — the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has rated it the best in the state for bass fishing. Catfish, crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, white bass, and sunfish are all common catches, with year-round fishing permitted.
Beyond fishing, the lake is popular for boating, water skiing, swimming, kayaking, and even scuba diving (visibility runs six to eight feet). Four boat ramps are located around the shoreline. For a quieter paddling experience, Veterans Lake — a smaller body of water upstream within the recreation area — prohibits wake boats and is better suited for canoes and kayaks.
6. Drive Through Arbuckle Wilderness
Arbuckle Wilderness is a 200-acre drive-through exotic animal park in Davis, a few miles from Turner Falls. Visitors drive their own vehicles through the park while hundreds of animals — including zebras, bison, camels, ostriches, and various species of deer and antelope — roam freely and often approach car windows looking for feed, which is available for purchase at the entrance. It’s been operating for decades and is one of the area’s most established family attractions. Plan for roughly an hour to drive through at a leisurely pace. It pairs well as a half-day add-on to a Turner Falls or Chickasaw NRA visit.
7. Ride the 777 Zip Above Turner Falls
For an aerial perspective on the Arbuckle Mountains, the 777 Zip is a sit-down zip line located just outside Turner Falls Park. Riders are launched 777 feet from a platform to a tower above the falls, soaring roughly 130 feet above Honey Creek with views of Turner Falls, Collings Castle, and the surrounding mountains. The ride accommodates one or two riders (minimum height 42 inches) and no reservations are required — just show up. Speeds reach approximately 28 mph, and the whole experience takes about 77 seconds. It’s a thrill ride rather than a true zip line, but the views alone make it worthwhile.
8. Visit the Chickasaw Cultural Center
Located along Rock Creek near Sulphur, the Chickasaw Cultural Center is one of the largest tribal cultural centers in the United States. The complex includes exhibit halls, a theater, a traditional village, and interactive displays covering Chickasaw history, language, art, and governance. Films and live demonstrations bring the culture to life in ways that static exhibits can’t. For visitors spending a few days in the Arbuckle region, this adds meaningful cultural context to the natural landscape — the Chickasaw Nation’s connection to this land stretches back centuries, and the center does an excellent job of telling that story.
9. Camp in the Arbuckle Mountains
The Arbuckle region has more overnight options than most visitors realize, and camping is one of the best ways to experience the mountains beyond a day trip. Within Turner Falls Park, you can pitch a tent in the primitive camping area on Level 3, reserve a cabin along Honey Creek, stay in a screened shelter or bunkhouse, or park an RV with hookups. The park also offers teepees and covered wagons for those wanting something more distinctive. Book in advance during summer.
Within the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, three campgrounds — Buckhorn, The Point, and Guy Sandy — sit on or near Lake of the Arbuckles, with sites ranging from primitive to electric and water hookups. These tend to be quieter than the Turner Falls campgrounds and put you within walking distance of the lake. Fall camping in the Arbuckles, when the hardwood forests turn and the summer crowds thin out, is the best-kept secret in the region.
Getting There and When to Go
The Arbuckle Mountains are centered around Davis and Sulphur, both just off I-35 in south-central Oklahoma. Davis is roughly 75 miles south of Oklahoma City and 100 miles north of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Most attractions are within a 15-minute drive of each other.
Summer is peak season for swimming, but expect heavy crowds at Turner Falls on weekends. Spring and fall offer the best balance of comfortable weather and manageable crowds — fall foliage through the hardwood forests is particularly scenic. Winter brings trout fishing season at Turner Falls (late November through mid-March) and a peaceful solitude that most visitors never experience. For a road-trip stop, plan at least a full day; for a proper visit, two to three days lets you cover Turner Falls, the recreation area, and the lake without rushing.
For more Oklahoma outdoor planning, see our guides to Blue River in Oklahoma, Oklahoma float trips, and Illinois River rafting.
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