Sunday, June 21, 2009

Nature Center Weekly Schedule

The Nature Center is CLOSED for renovation.

Naturalist Activities and Acticity Schedules

Can Be Found At the Forest Heritage Museum.


Be sure to check in/out with Forest Heritage Center when hiking the trails. Maps, trail status and fishing areas, regulations and liscensing prices are at the bottom of the page.


Park Naturalist Frank Griffith and Tekkin

Thursday, June 18, 2009

The Story of Skyline Trail

As many hikers know, Skyline trail was closed for a couple years.

A little history - Several years ago, when the trail was initially cut, the path went across three tracts of land that neither the State Parks system nor the Forestry Department had chosen to buy.

A couple years ago this land was sold to private developers who built some luxary cabins on the property and this forced us to move the trail. It took close to a year for the Park to get approval from the Forestry Service to re-route the trail onto their land and another year of clearing the new trail out.

Then came the rain.

May of '09 saw the Broken Bow Lake's level the highest it has ever been. The Corp of Engineers were forced to delay opening the gates for as long as possible due to flood conditions on the Little River and Red River, both of which the Mountain Fork River feeds. Consiquently, when they did open the spillway gates, they had to open all eight. This was the first time in over thirty years that the dam has been in operation that all eight gates were open and only the third time the spillway has ever been opened. The resulting deluge washed out both foot bridges on Beaver Lodge Trail. Skyline trail connects to the trail just up from Beaver Lodges southern trail head. This further delayed our completion of the trail to until the foot bridges could be repaired. After a time it was decided that hikers could ford the creek if they chose or follow the trails cut by the fly fishermen from the spillway or Lost Creek to Beaver Lodge to hook into Skyline.

In creating this new trail we have discovered a three tier waterfall that runs year round, and have made the trail itself a bit more challenging and about a mile longer.

Old and New Trails.



Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Printer Friendly Park Maps

The New Trail Map


The Road Map of the Park

Trail Map and Trail Status at Beavers Bend State Park with the Local Fishing Report and Trout Regulations

Trail map provided by Alan Daniel

Trail Status:
Skyline Train / 8 miles - OPEN

Beaver Lodge Trail / 1 mile - OPEN


Note - The bridges have not yet been rebuilt, so hikers will have to ford Spillway creek or follow the trails used by our trout fisherman.

Beaver Creek (Nature) Trail / 1 mile - OPEN

Cedar Bluff Trail / 1 mile - OPEN

Lookout Mountain Trail / 1 mile - OPEN

Deer Crossing Trail / 2 miles - OPEN

Pine Bluff (Pine Ridge) Trail / 3/4 mile figure 8 - OPEN

Heritage Tree Trail / 1 mile - OPEN

The David L Boren Hiking Trail is 12 miles long and is comprised of the Skyline, Deer Crossing, Lookout Mountain, and South Park Trails. After crossing the spillway the Indian Nations Trail head can be found. Indian Nations Trail is 5 mile long and terminates in the Carsons Creek area.

Though both the David L Boren and Indian Nations trails are considered multi-use trails (mountain bikes allowed), they are very technical, originally being cut for foot traffic only. Mountain biking is NOT recommended on these trails.

For the casual rider, three bike trails have been cut at the Lake View Lodge in the Stephens Gap area. They consist of three concentric circles 1, 2, and 4 miles long.


FISHING


Fishing Survey Results:
Best Bait - Yellow or Orange Power Bait or Pink Salmon Eggs

Fishing Report: Fishing is really good this weekend. Not only are they hitting hard, but there are some nice sized fish being pulled out of the water. Best time seem to be early morning.

Best Location: Spillway Creek

Stocking days for July 2010:

July 2, 16 and 30


Trout Stocking Schedules Around the State


Sunrise and Sunset Tables


Rules and Regulations
Brown Trout Trout (Entire Stream)



  • Daily Limit - 1


  • Size Limit - 20 inches

Rainbow Trout by Zone


Blue Zone



  • Daily Limit - 6


  • Size Limit - None


  • Use of bait and barbed hooks permitted

Red Zone



  • Daily Limit - 1


  • Size Limit - 20 inches


  • Possession of trout less than 20 inches in these areas is prohibited.


  • Fishing is restricted to barbless hooks, artificial flies and artificial lures only.


  • Fishing with bait or barbed hooks is prohibited.

Licenses and Prices


5 Day Out of State Fishing Licenses with trout stamp are $33.50 for anyone 16 years old or older.


Children under the age of 16 are still required to have a trout stamp to fish in the Mountain Fork river, the cost is $5.00.


Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Website


2010 Oklahoma Fishing Guide - .pdf format