Current Conditions

Alerts

 

Temporary Area Closures for Road & Parking Lot Improvements - July 2026

Chickasaw National Recreation Area will be conducting pavement maintenance and micro-surfacing projects throughout the park during July. Visitors should expect temporary closures and plan accordingly.

Point Boat Ramp Closed: July 8–9

• July 8: Parking lot closed for micro-surfacing.

• July 9: Parking lot remains closed while the surface cures.

• July 10: Parking lot reopens.

Veterans Lake

Small Parking Areas Closed: July 9–10

• Parking areas reopen by the end of the day on July 10

Veterans Pavilion & Boat Ramp Closed: July 16–17

• Areas reopen by the end of the day on July 17

Buckhorn Boat Launch

July 13–17

• Launch parking lot closed for asphalt repairs.

• Boat ramp remains open.

• Fishing dock closed.

Little Niagara / Travertine Nature Center Area

Closed: July 13–14
Affected areas include:

• Travertine Nature Center parking lots

• Little Niagara parking area

• Travertine Island parking

• Perimeter Drive NE beyond the Sycamore Crossing gate

• Reopens: July 15

Perimeter Drive Pullouts & Parking Areas

July 14–17
Temporary closures of pullouts and parking areas at:

• Bear Falls

• Panther Falls

• Pavilion Springs

• Black Sulphur Springs

• Lincoln Bridge

Please obey all posted signs and barricades for your safety and to protect the newly treated surfaces. Dates are weather dependent and may change if conditions require.
Thank you for your patience as we complete these improvements to enhance visitor access and parking areas throughout the park!

Summer Campground Schedule

The park is currently on its summer campground schedule.
The following camping areas are open:

• Buckhorn Campground Loops A, B, C and D. Loop C is reservation only. Loops A, B, and D are first-come, first-served.

• The Point Campground. Upper Loop by reservation only. Lower Loop is first-come, first-served.

• Cold Springs Campground, by reservation only.

• Rock Creek Campground, first-come first-served.

For more information, visit our camping page. To make campsite reservations, visit recreation.gov.

 

More information about popular activities

Fishing
Boating
Swimming
Hunting
Hiking

 

Addresses

Directions

Hours & Seasons

Amenities

Contact Information

Image Gallery

 

Other things that are helpful to know before your visit

Lake of the Arbuckles

• Up to date lake level information

• The runoff into Lake of the Arbuckles can carry debris (tree limbs, logs, etc.) and boaters are cautioned to slow down, see and avoid
  

Platt Historic District Alcohol Closure

All areas east of U.S. 177 are closed to alcoholic beverages from May 1 through September 30 each year by the authority of the Superintendent's Compendium (36 CFR §1.5). This includes Central Campground, Cold Springs Campground, Little Niagara, Bear Falls, Garfield Falls, and Panther Falls.

Pets

Pets are allowed in many areas of the park, but not all. Find out where pets are and are not allowed on our visiting with pets page.

Bison

The park now has two bison pastures. The bison are currently in the east pasture. The best way to view the east pasture is to park at Pavilion Springs and take the Veterans Trail. The pasture fence starts about .1 miles from the parking area and runs along approximately the next .4 miles of the trail. There is little shade available on the trail in the afternoon; please go early in the day if visiting during hot weather.

Limited parking is available on a gravelled pullout along Highway 177. Do not cross the highway from the west pasture viewpoint.