McCurtain County: Nature, Water and History
Accommodation in McCurtain County
McCurtain County combines expansive natural areas, exceptional wildlife viewing, water-based experiences and cultural and historical insights. If you are looking for a combination of active days, impressive landscapes and diverse discoveries for your trip, you can combine different priorities here. When searching for a vacation rental, it is worth deciding first whether nature observation, water, history or activities for the whole family should be your main focus.
Forests, Wetlands and Wildlife Viewing
A notable natural destination is the Little River National Wildlife Refuge. The protected forest is home to 11 state-record trees. At the Duck Roost Slough observation deck, you can watch and photograph wildlife; 191 bird species have been identified in the refuge. Anglers will also find various opportunities there: fishing is possible at the two small lakes, Yanubbee Lake and Forked Lake, as well as along more than 17 miles of the Little River.
Several large protected and wilderness areas shape the character of the region. The McCurtain County Wilderness Area covers approximately 14,000 acres in the northern part of the county. The Ouachita WMA – McCurtain & Tiak Unit extends across 133,000 acres in central and southern McCurtain County. Its Broken Bow Subunit surrounds Broken Bow Lake and the Glover River. The Red Slough WMA covers 5,280 acres of mudflats, emergent wetlands, bottomland hardwood forests, lowland and upland prairie, and permanent reservoirs. Birdwatching opportunities are available there; more than 320 bird species have been documented.
If you want to explore different areas, you should include the respective destinations in your personal trip planning before booking, rather than deciding solely on the basis of a single type of landscape.
Lakes, Rivers and Active Days
Beavers Bend State Park is located on the shores of Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River. Beavers Bend State Park includes the 26-mile-long David Boren Hiking Trail. Fishing, boating and scuba diving are possible at Broken Bow Lake. This gives the park a range of options for days on the water and longer activities on land.
Additional experiences complement this offering. Beavers Bend Safari Park offers a 1.8-mile safari drive through wooded terrain and along streams. At the Walkabout, guests can hand-feed selected animals. Beavers Bend Depot & Trail Rides offers rides on a one-third-scale replica of the C.P. Huntington S.P. train built in 1863. A one-hour horseback ride over 2.5 miles through a landscape where native wildlife can be spotted is also available.
The Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area has eight access roads along Highway 259 and ten additional access roads away from Highway 3. This information can be helpful for orientation when preparing for a nature-focused excursion. Plan the individual destinations according to your desired daily schedule and choose accommodation whose location suits your personal focus.
Discover Culture and History
There are also remarkable destinations away from the forests and water. The Museum of the Red River displays Oklahoma’s state dinosaur, Acrocanthosaurus atokensis. The specimen on display is almost 40 feet long and offers a memorable introduction to natural history.
Wheelock Academy provides a historical focus. Its origins date back to around 1832; the institution was located in McCurtain County. From 1884 to 1955, it was a boarding school for Native American girls, predominantly from the Choctaw community. At the Wheelock Academy Historic Site, guided tours of the museum and grounds are available upon request. If you are interested in the history of Indigenous communities and historic educational institutions, you can specifically include this visit in your trip planning.
At the Forest Heritage Center, dioramas explore topics such as prehistoric forests, the Caddo, papermaking in the South, the timber industry of the 1940s and appreciation of forests. The Barnes-Stevenson House is a restored Victorian home with period furnishings from 1912. In November 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Regional Impressions and Additional Places
For a culinary addition to your trip, you can plan a visit to Taco Alley. The restaurant has been serving Mexican cuisine in McCurtain County for more than 25 years. For further orientation within the area, you can also explore Broken Bow, Idabel and Valliant.
Whether you want to fill your days with birdwatching, water activities, historical insights or special excursions, McCurtain County offers several clearly distinct approaches to travel. Therefore, choose your vacation rental according to the experiences that are most valuable to you, and take into account the specific landscapes and excursion destinations you want to visit when planning the rest of your trip.
For the overarching travel overview: Oklahoma.
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