Summary
The park offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping, and boating, making it a popular destination for families and nature enthusiasts.
One of the main attractions at Green Valley State Park is its lake, which is stocked with a variety of fish including bass, catfish, and crappie. Visitors can rent boats, kayaks, and canoes to explore the lake, or fish from the shore or the park's fishing dock.
There are also several hiking trails in the park, ranging from easy to challenging, which offer beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Other points of interest include a nature center, picnic areas, a playground, and a swimming beach.
Interesting facts about Green Valley State Park include its history as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the Great Depression, and its designation as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society due to its diverse bird population.
The best time to visit Green Valley State Park is during the summer months, when the lake and swimming beach are open for recreation, and the weather is warm and sunny. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for every season, including winter hiking and ice fishing.
Overall, Green Valley State Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty of Oklahoma and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities.
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