Summary
The park is situated around a 4,500-acre reservoir and offers visitors a variety of activities such as camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and water sports.
One of the main reasons to visit Elk City State Park is its picturesque natural beauty. The park is home to several miles of shoreline, scenic bluffs, and rolling hills that offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can explore the park's numerous hiking trails, which range from easy to difficult and offer something for hikers of all skill levels.
In addition to its natural beauty, Elk City State Park also has several points of interest that are worth seeing. These include the Elk City Dam, which was built in the 1960s to create the reservoir, and the Post Oak Falls, a picturesque waterfall that can be found along one of the park's hiking trails.
Interesting facts about Elk City State Park include that it was originally home to the Osage Native American tribe and was later used for grazing cattle and sheep. The reservoir was created in the 1960s as part of a flood control project and has since become a popular recreation destination.
The best time of year to visit Elk City State Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities such as ice fishing and snowshoeing during the winter months.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
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Elk City State Park
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Outlet Channel - Elk City Lake
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Card Creek - Elk City Lake
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