Summary
The park covers over 300 acres and offers visitors a variety of recreational activities including fishing, camping, hiking, and boating. The park is named after the former governor of Oklahoma, Raymond D. Gary.
Some good reasons to visit the park include its natural beauty, peaceful atmosphere, and the many outdoor activities that are available. Visitors can enjoy hiking through the wooded trails, fishing in the park's two ponds, or boating on the beautiful Lake Raymond Gary. The park also has picnic areas and a playground for families to enjoy.
One of the main points of interest in the park is the Lake Raymond Gary Dam, which was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The dam provides a scenic backdrop for visitors and is a popular spot for fishing and boating.
Other interesting facts about the park include its unique geology, which features a mix of sandstone, shale, and limestone formations. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, raccoons, and a variety of bird species.
The best time of year to visit Raymond Gary State Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the park's foliage is at its most beautiful. The park is open year-round, however, and offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy regardless of the season.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Raymond Gary State Park
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Virgil Point - Hugo Lake
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Kiamichi Park - Hugo Lake
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Hugo Lake - Kiamichi State Park
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