Summary
The park features a 3,300-acre lake with opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming. The park also includes hiking and biking trails, camping sites, and picnic areas.
One of the main draws of Pine Creek Lake State Park is its fishing opportunities. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, including bass, crappie, and catfish. The park also has a fishing dock and boat ramps for easy access to the water.
There are several points of interest within the park, including the Pine Creek Wildlife Area, which is home to a variety of animals such as deer, turkey, and waterfowl. The park also has a nature center with exhibits on the local flora and fauna.
Interesting facts about the area include that the lake was created in 1970 as part of a flood control project by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is also part of the Red River Basin, which covers parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
The best time of year to visit Pine Creek Lake State Park is in the spring or fall when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its peak. However, the park is open year-round, and each season offers its own unique experiences.
Overall, Pine Creek Lake State Park is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone looking for a peaceful retreat in the heart of southeastern Oklahoma.
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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Turkey Creek - Pine Creek Lake
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Lost Rapids - Pine Creek Lake
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Little River - Pine Creek Lake
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Pine Creek Cove - Pine Creek Lake
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