Frequently Asked Questions

Below are commonly asked questions about the park.

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Can I reserve a campsite?

Does the park have cabins or lodging?

Can I bring my pet?

What can I do at the Travertine Nature Center?

Do you have hiking trails?

Can I purchase groceries, sundry items, or fuel in the park? Can I rent boats or camping equipment in the park?

Can I have a campfire?

Do you have picnic pavilions? How can I rent a pavilion?

How can I get a map of Chickasaw National Recreation Area?

How can I obtain a Golden Age or Golden Access Passport?

Can I hunt in Chickasaw National Recreation Area and where?

Can I use my Jet Ski, Skidoo, on Lake of the Arbuckles?

How do I get a boat launch permit for Lake of the Arbuckles?

Will drinking the spring water improve my health?

Can I scuba dive in Lake of the Arbuckles?

How can I volunteer?

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Can I reserve a campsite?

Some of our campsites are on a reservation system. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

The rest of the campsites are on a first come, first serve basis. Availability of first come, first serve campsites will typically depend on the time of the year, day of the week, and weather.

Visit our camping page for more details.

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Can I bring my pet?

Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas. The must always be on a leash or contained. Pets are prohibited on the trails east of the Travertine Nature Center, within the Travertine Nature Center, and in creeks and springs east of U.S. 177. Service animals accompanying persons with disabilities, regardless of the disability requiring the use of a service animal, are not regarded as pets and may accompany their person throughout the park. The pet restriction also does not apply to animals used by authorized Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.

Pet excrement must be disposed of in accordance with the following conditions:

All pet excrement must be removed by the owner/keeper from all trails, roads, camping areas, picnic areas, and parking areas, and shall be deposited in refuse containers or removed from the area.

Additional information on our pets page.

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What can I do at the Travertine Nature Center?

The Travertine Nature Center has live animal exhibits and presents interpretive programs related to the park's natural and cultural resources. The Western National Parks Association bookstore has materials for sale. Kids can pick up and turn in their junior ranger booklets. Passport stamps for the National Parks Passport books are also available.

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Do you have hiking trails?

The park has over 20 miles of hiking trails.

Visit our trails page for more information.

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Can I purchase groceries, sundry items, or fuel in the park? Can I rent boats or camping equipment in the park?

The City of Sulphur is adjacent to park property, and the City of Davis is located nearby to the west. Groceries, fuel, dining, etc. are available. Contact the Sulphur Chamber of Commerce at 580 622-2824 or Davis Chamber of Commerce at 580 369-2402 for information.

Visitors may bring rental equipment into the park, but it can only be delivered to the park if the business has a commericial use authorization. Businesses with current authorizations are listed at the bottom of the commericial use authorization page.

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Can I have a campfire?

Fires are allowed in the provided fire grate. Ground fires are prohibited. You can gather dead and downed wood for campfires in the vicinity of the campgrounds. You cannot cut any live trees. Note: Red Flag Fire Alert (burn with caution) or Burn Ban (absolutely no fires) may be in effect.

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Do you have picnic pavilions? How can I rent a pavilion?

Buckhorn and Veterans Lake Pavilions are open-sided pavilions with grills and picnic tables. Reservations must be made at least a day in advance at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

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How can I get a map of Chickasaw National Recreation Area?

You can view the park map online or request a paper copy be mailed to you.

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How can I obtain a Senior Pass or Access Pass?

The Senior and Access Passes (formerly known as the Golden Age and Golden Access Passports) are available at the Travertine Nature Center. Please call ahead at 580-622-7234 to ensure that someone who can issue the pass will be available.

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Can I hunt in Chickasaw National Recreation Area and where?

Hunting is allowed in some areas of Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Please visit our hunting page for more information and for a map of the areas open to hunting.

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Can I use my Jet Ski, Skidoo, on Lake of the Arbuckles?

The rulemaking process to allow Personal Watercraft (PWC), also known as jet skis, on Lake of the Arbuckles was completed as of 8:30 a.m. September 2, 2004. The final special rule was published in the Federal Register on September 2, 2004 and allows personal watercraft to operate on Lake of the Arbuckles under additional PWC restrictions.

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How do I get a boat launch permit for Lake of the Arbuckles?

Chickasaw National Recreation Area requires a boat launch permit for all motorized vessels on Lake of the Arbuckles. Details on how to get day or annual boat launch permits is available on our boat launch permits page.

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Will drinking the spring water improve my health?

There is no scientific evidence to support claims that the springs have healing powers; however, some people have long attributed medicinal and restorative properties to the mineral waters flowing from these springs. Over the years, some of these springs have ceased to flow. Today, Pavilion Springs, Black Sulphur Springs, Hillside Springs, and the Vendome Well are the only mineral waters flowing at Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

The National Park Service does not support any claims of medicinal qualities these springs may hold, but visitors to the area can still enjoy the beauty of the springs or explore the purported healing powers at Vendome Well or Pavilion Springs. Drink at your own risk, as the water is not treated at these locations. Hillside Springs and Black Sulphur Springs have high bacteria levels and are not safe to drink.

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Can I scuba dive in Lake of the Arbuckles?

Scuba diving is allowed in Lake of the Arbuckles in Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Diving is not allowed around boat docks and launch ramps. Visibility is poor, three to five feet. You are required to fly a flag above the area in which you are diving. The nearest place to refill air tanks is Norman, OK (60 miles away).

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How can I volunteer?

For volunteer opportunities at Chickasaw National Recreation Area are posted at www.volunteer.gov/gov or on the park volunteer page. An on-line application is available. All of our opportunities are strictly volunteer. Camping sites with full RV hookups are provided to camp hosts.

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