Yay Summer: Oklahoma Lakes – Broken Bow

For a land locked state, Oklahoma is flush with pretty incredible lakes to cool off and chill out all year around. That’s why to finish our first every Yay Summer Series, we’re covering 5 of our team’s favorite lakes starting with Broken Bow by the Sasquatchian Hochatown near the Oachita National Forest. (Hence all the Sasquatch “sightings” all over the area.)

I’m new to Broken Bow by two and half years and it’s easily my Happy Place, hands down. Give me big trees, an unspoiled lake (only one boat dock and no houses allowed on the lake!) and luxury cabins and I’m there, baby. I’ve got to say out of my four visits – three without kids and one with a huge group, it’s fun both ways. Romantic? Hell, yes. But also completely fun and doable to entertain a large group, too. While it is pricey to rent the luxury cabins, if you break it down for large parties plus the “free” activities such as hiking, then it’s a good deal. (I’m planning a September story solely focused on the four cabins I’ve stayed in so more on that later.)

Hot Tip: if you don’t love crowds going in and out of town and want more open space in your open spaces, choose to travel early in the week instead of Friday – Sunday, when the state of Texas comes up in addition to the Okies and Arkies. If you MUST leave on a Sunday, do yourself a favor and after the 11am checkout, just go hang at the lake or hike and then have a late lunch in the afternoon to beat the slow swarm of cars leaving town Sunday morning through early afternoon. But, hey, it’s still worth it if you must go when everyone else does. It’s just that magical.

A few of my favorite things there:

Hiking (Friends Trail is my fave so you can see the river)
Paddleboarding and kayaking
Boating and floating
Fireside at night
Hot tub at the cabins
Walking/drooling over all the new cabins being built
Hochatown brewery

Our MVP Ashley Buie, owner of NINE on 33rd boutique, recently went on a moms and sons trips this summer and she actually ran into a real life Sasquatch so I guess the rumors are true?! She also swung into the lake, which I haven’t done. More proof that there is plenty to do to escape to nature and make great memories with your people.

The Basics:

Near the town of Broken Bow
Also near Texas and Arkansas border
Sits at the foothills of Kiamichi Mountains
Surrounded by Ouachita National Forest
14,000 acres
Things to do:
- Camping; Beavers Bend State park, horseback riding, train rides, hiking, wildlife viewing, kayaking, canoeing, fly fishing, camping swimming, boating, cabin lodging
- Restaurants/ dining; Hochatown Winery; Hochatown; Girls Gone Wine

Website:

BrokenBowLake.org

BrokenBowTravel.com (they will find you just the right cabin!)

What they are known for: