Posted in Oklahoma Nature April 18, 2021 by

If You Didn’t Know About These 7 Swimming Holes In Oklahoma, They’re A Must Visit

Every summer in Oklahoma, when the heat becomes overwhelming thanks to the humidity, Oklahomans swarm to the lakes, creeks, rivers, and swimming holes to cool off. As the lakes begin to warm up as the days do, most swimming holes stay a nice, chilly temperature year-round, and are the perfect spots to relax and take a dip in the refreshing water. Here are eight swimming holes to check out in the Sooner State this summer:

1. Spavinaw Creek, Spavinaw
LazyLibrarian/Flickr
Clear, turquoise waters flow from Spavinaw Creek, and visitors enjoy the swimming area quite a bit. You'll find a rope swing as well as rocks for jumping, along with both shallow and deep waters. Swim to your heart's content!
2. Boy Scout Hole, Tahlequah
Tour Tahlequah
Located within Barron Fork Creek, Boy Scout Hole is a family-favorite spot to cool off in the heat. The swimming hole has boulders to sit on (and jump off), and a rope swing. The area has shallow spots and deep spots, so swimmers of all levels will find something to enjoy.
3. Gage Artesian Beach, Gage
Gage Artesian Beach/Facebook
This one-of-a-kind swimming hole in Oklahoma has sides like a swimming pole and is filled with natural, crisp mineral water. The bottom is sandy, like that of a lake, and the swimming hole has diving boards and slides! The depth of the water ranges from three feet to 14 feet, and swimmers will rarely see any fish swimming in the hole. It is ideal for swimming during the hottest months of the year.
4. Flint Creek, Delaware County
OakleyOriginals/Flickr
Located on the Oklahoma/Kansas border, Flint Creek is the perfect place to go to cool off when it gets too hot. You'll find all sorts of depths of water, and there's even a water slide flowing into the creek. If you're looking for rocks to jump off of, don't worry: the area has plenty for your enjoyment. Just be careful, of course.
5. Little Niagara, Sulphur
Jonathan C. Wheeler/Flickr
As the most popular swimming spot on Travertine Creek, Little Niagara offers visitors cold mineral water for cooling off in the hot months. Take a trip to Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur to see the beauty that surrounds Little Niagra!
6. Blue Hole, Salina
VisitCherokeenNation/Youtube
Blue Hole Park is a popular swimming hole and destination for Oklahomans and visitors alike looking to cool off in ice-cold water. Young swimmers love to catch crawfish in the clear water, and a concession stand is open during summer months.

Address: 158 N4470, Salina, Oklahoma, 74365
7. Blue Creek/River, Tishomingo
Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area/Facebook
This spring-fed river has several falls and ledges to ogle at when the water flow is high enough. The area is a popular fishing spot, but it's also an inviting swimming hole! The upper river portion is clear, and the lower river portion is deep and muddy. Visitors will find lots of wading opportunities at Blue River.

For more swimming holes in Oklahoma, check out our Part One of our swimming holes article here. Where is your favorite swimming hole in Oklahoma? Did we include it, or would you like to tell us about it? Please do so in the comments!

Address: Spavinaw Creek, Oklahoma 74366, USA
Address: J. T. Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA
Address: The Artesian Beach Park, Gage, OK 73843, USA
Address: Flint Creek, OK, USA
Address: Little Niagara Falls, Oklahoma 73086, USA
Address: Blue Hole, Oklahoma 74365, USA
Address: Blue River, Oklahoma, USA
Address: Welling, OK 74471, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

Swimming Holes in Oklahoma

April 23, 2021
Tori Jane

Are there any nice beaches in Oklahoma? 

Okay, so maybe Oklahoma is a little – alright, a lot – landlocked, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan a beach day anyway. We have hundreds of miles of shorelines surrounding our beautiful lakes and pristine rivers; setting up camp on some of them is bound to make you forget you’re not in a beach paradise. Some of our favorite examples of this include the shores of Lake Eufala, which is the largest lake in Oklahoma. You can set up camp for a day or longer and soak in the sun’s rays here just like you could at a beach in Florida. It might even be a lot quieter here, too. There are also the banks of Grand Lake and Lake Murray, which are fantastically laid-back. 

What kind of water parks in Oklahoma should I visit? 

Believe it or not, Oklahoma is an excellent destination for water park enthusiasts. We have plenty, and depending on when you visit, they may be full of crowds – but they also may not be. That’s probably one of the best things we have on the more major national water park chains in places like California: it’s quieter here, which means more relaxation and less worrying about other folks in your vicinity. Some of the most popular water parks in the state include Safari Joe’s in Tulsa, which is great for the entire family, and Wild West Water Works, tucked inside Frontier City in OKC. If you do prefer the larger parks, no worries: Hurricane Harbor, also in OKC, is a park owned by Six Flags, so once again – all the big-city water park fun without the crazy crowds of more traditional vacation spots. Click here for more information about one of the best in the state. 

What is summer in Oklahoma like?

Summer in Oklahoma is nice; sure, sometimes it gets a bit hot (and the humidity doesn’t help), but summer rain showers are a great relief, and so are days dedicated to Oklahoma’s beautiful and refreshing swimming holes. Summer is a great time for camping and hiking here, too, and there are literally hundreds upon hundreds of campsites peppered all over the state to kill some summer days at. It’s a great place to be in summer, we think; we’ll take the humidity over ice storms or tornadoes any day. 

Address: Spavinaw Creek, Oklahoma 74366, USA
Address: J. T. Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA
Address: The Artesian Beach Park, Gage, OK 73843, USA
Address: Flint Creek, OK, USA
Address: Little Niagara Falls, Oklahoma 73086, USA
Address: Blue Hole, Oklahoma 74365, USA
Address: Blue River, Oklahoma, USA
Address: Welling, OK 74471, USA