Discover Atoka County: Lakes, Nature and History

Atoka County combines expansive lakes, forested trails and unusual historic sites. Those planning a trip with varied interests will find several distinct options here: water sports at the reservoir, hikes through deciduous forests, disc golf and golf, as well as places that recall Oklahoma’s history. Choosing a vacation rental or vacation home can therefore sensibly be based on whether nature, water activities, sports or culture should be the focus of your trip.

Lakes and landscapes as defining experiences

The Atoka WMA covers 6,537 acres in Atoka County and adds an extensive natural area to the landscape. The Ouachita Mountains system also extends into Atoka County from the east. Atoka Lake offers a different focus: It covers 5,900 acres and has a 59-mile shoreline. There are boat ramps as well as basic campsites for tents and RVs. These details are particularly relevant to your daily planning if you prefer water and open landscapes to historic sightseeing or sporting activities.

The McGee Creek Reservoir area includes a 3,350-acre lake and a 2,600-acre park. McGee Creek State Park lies on the southwestern edge of the Ouachita Mountain Range. Along a 64-mile shoreline, the park offers water sports and other water-based recreational activities. Swimming, sailboarding, water skiing, boating and fishing are possible at McGee Creek Reservoir. Multi-use trails extending for several miles can also be used by horseback riders.

Trails, disc golf and golf for active days

The McGee Creek Natural Scenic Recreation Area Trail System has more than 25 miles of hiking trails and is closed to motorized vehicles. This creates a clear distinction from the water-based offerings: Here, the focus is on traveling along the trails. In contrast, the Little Cedar Nature Trail in Boggy Depot Park runs for three-quarters of a mile through a deciduous forest. The short route offers another way to include a walk in your trip without equating it with the longer trail system.

Boggy Depot Park is also home to the 18-hole Lost Loksi disc golf course. It was completed in 2020 and runs through a wooded landscape surrounding a scenic lake. The park also has a fishing lake. Those choosing accommodation for a trip with different activity preferences can take these various formats into account: longer hiking trails, a short nature trail, fishing or a round of disc golf each provide a different focus.

Atoka Trails Golf Club is a public 9-hole golf course with 38 sets of tees. Three holes border Atoka City Lake. The Atoka Motorsports Park provides additional variety with races for dune buggies, dragsters, Pee-Wee and junior quads, as well as adult quads. These offerings expand the county’s profile with sporting experiences that are not limited to hiking and water sports.

History and special places

The Atoka Museum presents the history of the Civil War in Oklahoma. The Civil War Cemetery is the only designated Confederate cemetery in Oklahoma. Boggy Depot Park also has a historical dimension: It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The site of Geary’s Station was flooded by Lake Atoka Reservoir. Alongside the landscape experiences, such places give a trip a historical focus.

Those interested in architecture can explore the First Methodist Church Building. It features a modified Palladian architectural style based on the Greek Classical Revival. Old Faucett Well is said to have been the first producing oil well in Oklahoma. When choosing your accommodation, it may therefore be sensible to determine your preferred travel focus in advance: nature and water experiences, sports or historical discoveries.

Guidance for choosing accommodation

A vacation rental or vacation home in Atoka County is particularly suitable for your plans if you want to divide your days flexibly between different types of experiences. Consider which details are decisive for your travel group: the 25 miles of hiking trails, the water activities at McGee Creek Reservoir, the extensive shoreline of Atoka Lake, golf, motorsports or culture. Those who also want to include smaller places can add Stringtown to their further travel planning.

Additional destinations for orientation: Cleveland, Le Flore, Okfuskee County, Mccurtain County, Cimarron County, Stephens, Texas.

For the broader travel overview: Oklahoma.