Robbers Cave State Park covers 8,246 acres in the Sans Bois Mountains of southeast Oklahoma, about five miles north of Wilburton along Highway 2. The park is named for a sandstone cave historically used as a hideout by outlaws including Jesse James, Belle Starr, the Dalton Gang, and the Younger brothers after the Civil War. Today it draws hikers, rock climbers, equestrians, anglers, and families looking for a genuine outdoor escape. The park includes three lakes — Lake Carlton, Lake Wayne Wallace, and Coon Creek Lake — with a combined 189 acres of water, plus sandstone cliffs ranging from 300 to 1,500 feet, dense woodland, and an extensive trail network.
Explore the Cave
The Robbers Cave Trail is the park’s signature hike and the one thing every visitor should do. It’s a short, 0.4-mile trail with about 140 feet of elevation gain that leads to the sandstone cave where outlaws reportedly hid from the law in the late 1800s. The terrain is rocky and steep in places — wear sturdy shoes and watch your footing on slick rock. At the top, you’re rewarded with views over the surrounding hills and interesting sandstone formations to explore. It’s the park’s most popular trail and can get crowded, especially on weekends. Going early helps.
Hiking
Beyond the cave trail, the park has roughly 20 miles of hiking trails covering varied terrain. The Mountain Trail (6.3 miles) is the longest, running from the southern campgrounds past bluffs overlooking Lake Carlton and Lake Wayne Wallace before connecting to the Cattail Pond Trail on the west side of Rough Canyon. The Coon Ridge Trail (2.5 miles) loops through wooded ridgeline above Coon Creek with scenic rock formations and a bluff overlook. The Rough Canyon Trail follows its namesake canyon with views of Lake Wayne Wallace — don’t miss the climb to Buzzards Roost for one of the park’s best panoramas.
Backcountry camping is available at designated sites along some trails, including Coon Creek and Cattail Pond. A permit from the park office is required for any backcountry camping. If you enjoy trail hiking in this part of the country, the Arbuckle Mountains are another solid Oklahoma option.
Rock Climbing and Rappelling
Robbers Cave is one of Oklahoma’s best-known spots for rock climbing and rappelling. The park’s sandstone cliff faces provide routes for a range of skill levels, and the rugged terrain around the cave area is popular with climbers. This is a bring-your-own-gear activity — the park does not rent climbing equipment. If you’re new to climbing, consider going with an experienced partner or hiring a guide.
Horseback Riding
The park has more than 70 miles of equestrian trails, making it one of the top horseback destinations in Oklahoma. The Equestrian Campground has 45 RV sites and 5 tent sites, with water and electric hookups at most sites (sites 17 and 18 also have sewer). A horse trailhead is located adjacent to the campground.
If you don’t have your own horse, Robbers Cave Stables (located on Ash Creek Road near the Starr Trail intersection) offers guided trail rides, U-lead pony rides for young children, a petting zoo, and overnight cowboy camping experiences. Rides range from the 30-minute Colorado Kid ride (suited to small children and elderly visitors) to the 2-hour Cave Ride. Reservations are recommended during peak season. For more horseback riding options, the best horseback riding vacations in the U.S. covers destinations across the country.
Fishing
The park’s three lakes offer fishing for trout (seasonally stocked), bass, perch, and catfish. Lake Carlton and Lake Wayne Wallace both have boat ramps, and paddleboat and canoe rentals are available seasonally (typically Thursday through Sunday, through October). Coon Creek Lake is smaller and quieter — a good spot for bank fishing.
Trout are stocked seasonally by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the park’s trout fishing areas draw dedicated anglers during stocking periods. A valid Oklahoma fishing license is required. Check current stocking schedules with the ODWC before your trip.
Swimming
Lake Carlton has a swimming beach open to park visitors. The park also has a swimming pool with a bathhouse, open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Pool hours are Sunday through Thursday from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon to 7:00 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Verify current hours with the park before visiting, as these can change.
ATV Riding
The park’s 250-acre ATV area, located on the east side of Highway 2 across from the Deep Fork Campground, is open for off-road riding from 8:00 a.m. to dusk daily. The terrain is rocky with light to moderate elevation changes and a few steep hill climbs with rewarding views at the top. A daily admission fee applies. You must bring your own ATV or side-by-side — the park does not rent them.
Other Activities
The park’s Lake Carlton area is the hub for family-friendly activities. Here you’ll find miniature golf, a playground, picnic pavilions, an amphitheater, a nature center with naturalist programs and exhibits, disc golf, and canoe/kayak rentals. A small grocery store, gift shop, and snow cone stand round out the offerings. Some of these are operated by concessionaires and are seasonal — call the park office to confirm availability before your visit.
Two yurts near Lake Carlton offer an alternative to cabins or camping. Each has a queen bed, a full-size sleeper sofa, a small fridge, and a microwave, with a deck overlooking the lake. Restrooms are located nearby at the Carlton Campground.
Lodging and Camping
The Belle Starr View Lodge has 20 non-smoking rooms overlooking Coon Creek Lake and the wooded valley below. Each room has two double beds, a coffee maker, microwave, small fridge, and satellite TV. Pets are not allowed in the lodge.
The park has 26 cabins sleeping 2 to 6 people, some of which are pet-friendly. All cabins include a fireplace, stovetop, microwave, coffee maker, dishes and cooking utensils, linens, central heat and air, shower, and satellite TV. Cabin 101 (the “Honeymoon Suite”) is a popular pick for couples, with one of the park’s best views.
Camping options include modern and semi-modern RV sites at Whispering Pines (17 sites) and Old Circle (23 sites) campgrounds near the park office, plus tent-only backcountry sites at Deep Fork, Dogwood, Younger’s Bend, and the Quarry. The Old Circle campground was designed by the CCC in the 1930s and retains its historic character. Reservations can be made online.
History
Robbers Cave State Park is one of Oklahoma’s original seven state parks, established in 1936. The park’s origins go back to 1929, when Carlton Weaver, an editor and politician from Wilburton, donated 120 acres to the Boy Scouts for a campground. When FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps arrived in 1933, they built cabins, roads, a bathhouse, trails, stone bridges, and dammed Fourche Maline Creek to create Lake Carlton. Much of the CCC-era stonework and infrastructure remains intact and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
The park is also the site of the famous Robber’s Cave Experiment (1954), a social psychology study by Muzafer Sherif on intergroup conflict, conducted at the Boy Scout camp within the park. If you’re interested in Oklahoma’s history and landscape, the Wichita Mountains offer another perspective on the state’s outdoor heritage.
Entrance Fee and Getting There
Robbers Cave State Park charges a per-vehicle entrance fee: $10 per day for out-of-state visitors, $8 for vehicles with Oklahoma or Oklahoma tribal plates. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Oklahoma residents age 62 and older (plus their spouses). Annual passes covering all 22 fee-charging Oklahoma state parks are available at $75 (out-of-state) or $60 (Oklahoma residents).
The park is located on Highway 2, roughly 5 miles north of Wilburton in Latimer County. Wilburton is the nearest town for supplies and fuel. The park office is located in the lodge at 2084 NW 146th Road. RV guests should note height restrictions in the lodge parking lot — proceed directly to your campsite rather than driving through the lodge area.
For a broader southeast Oklahoma trip, combine Robbers Cave with the Arbuckle Mountains, Turner Falls, or the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The Sans Bois Mountains feel remote — that’s their appeal — but you’re still within a few hours of Oklahoma City or Tulsa.
Proud owner of https://travelyouman.com/