I haven't been here in a while and my friends and I decided to go for a walk to get some exercise. We got up early and went to beat the heat. It was very nice walking the path in the morning. There were a couple other people up early as well. The path was fairly clean, although we did pass an area where someone threw at least 4 used diapers on the ground instead of walking 40 feet to the trash can. There is not any shade at this walking/ biking path, so bring some sunblock, wear sunglasses, and wear a hat. There are lots of birds and animals to see. We saw some sort of mongoose looking animal that was super cute to watch. He has brown fur and was long and skinny. He was jumping from rock to rock at the lighthouse area. There's a lot of restaurants near the parking area we were at. read more

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An overcast morning which was kinda nice to keep the heat down. Ahhhhh the memories of learning how to use clips. I purchased bikes for my both of my grandson's! But first I had to teach him how to get in & out of the clips. Well 30 minutes later we were finally riding! So the ride took forever but I have no regrets! Teaching my grandson's riding etiquette was key for the whole day! Here's to a whole new level of fun! Can't wait to do this again!!! read more

Lake Hefner - A great ride with my grandsons! - Lakes Near Me - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Beautiful sunset and great walking trails. There are also restaurants, boating and fishing. It as a golf course. read more

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Another quick stop on our trip brought us to this lake. You can drive the perimeter and there are a few parks there. I saw some boats (not in the water, it is December). There is also an Eisenhower memorial there. read more

Lake Hefner - Lakes Near Me - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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Early for my brunch meeting, I decided to do a little walking and stumbled upon this lighthouse. Yes, we're 1500 miles from the nearest Ocean and here's a lighthouse in Oklahoma! The nearby caption reads, "The Lighthouse at East Wharf, constructed in 1999, is a 36-foot working replica of the second oldest light station in America, Brandt Point. The 26-foot Brandt Point lighthouse was built in 1746 near Nantucket, MA. The Lighthouse at East Wharf is a classic example of the coastal beacons that proudly stood watch over a 300-year period of manned light stations. Through technology, light stations are now fully automated and no longer require lighthouse keepers. The Lighthouse at East Wharf is a member of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. The Society was founded to assist in the preservation and restoration of light stations - the symbols of our nation's maritime heritage." The wind this morning was intense. There was no one out on the water and even on land, it was a tough walk. There is parking nearby here, just don't park in the restaurant lot when they're open. [Review 16227 overall - 66 in Oklahoma - 1733 of 2021.] read more

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More activities to try here. I love the bike riding trail with great views and a refreshing breeze from the lake. There are also options for sailing, fishing, and running/walking paths, plus a playground and restaurants with nice lake views. Walking was tough, too. There's nearby parking, but avoid the restaurant lot during their hours. I saw people fishing in the lake, which could be a nice evening activity. We plan to return for a picnic at sunset next time! read more

Sunsets at Lake Hefner are unforgettable. The lake is a calm expanse of blue. If you enter from Britton Rd and make 3 quick rights, you can park across from the water. This is also near East Wharf and a few restaurants. There are other entrances as well, but this is the easiest and closest to the miniature lighthouse. The north side dam is elevated so you see cycologists ringing the lake on roads above you. I circumnavigated the lake 3 times over 3 days. One lap is ~9.25 miles. It's paved and relatively flat, so an easy ride. I tried going both clockwise and counterclockwise. It's best not to fight the headwind though. Almost all of the visitors were couples and families. Even the birds were in groups and pairs too. read more

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Really pretty, and really well kept for a public park! We went to the other side (the side away from the food, and the lighthouse) right before sunset and everything just looked absolutely gorgeous AND clean. I appreciate a clean park so much, and it was overall just a good experience to walk around at sunset. I'd love to walk around the other side or at the very least *attempt* to walk the whole park in a loop. There are benches all throughout the entire park, with very strategic views for all you Instagram addicts out there. There's a lane for anyone who wants to ride a bike at this park, as well as a playground for the little kids! I saw some people fishing in the lake as well, so that might be a good little evening activity. We'll definitely be coming back, maybe a little picnic during the sunset or something next time! read more

Lake Hefner - Lake. - Lakes Near Me - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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Love this area. It is always beautiful. I love escaping to this place. There are great restaurants all around. Kid and pet friendly

Came here to walk around on a Sunday morning, plenty of parking. Super windy, not many people but saw bikers, joggers, walkers. Pretty lake, good spot to walk around! read more

A great place to go walking around and get dinner at sunset. Parking is free but is crowded when the weather is nice.

Absolutely beautiful. I've taken many walks, sat by the lake, eaten at all of the restaurants. It's actually one of my favorite places to take out-of-town visitors, largely because you can't beat an Oklahoma sunset. There is a small stray cat population that are well-cared for by an unknown group of strangers. They won't bother you, don't you dare bother them! read more

Beautiful lake with a 9-mile walking/bike path, restaurants, and gorgeous sunsets. Lake Hefner is a favorite location for sunset watchers, (Myself included), so if you want a good "watch" spot head over early. There are a couple of nice playgrounds and places to picnic. You often see sailboats, kite surfing, and people fishing. There are a variety of restaurants that offer either a lakeside patio or seating with a view of the lake. If you go during peak hours expect a wait and traffic. read more

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I'm very surprised no one has written a review of Lake Hefner...really? Ok so Lake Hefner has 10 miles of trails around it and is 94 feet deep at it's deepest point. You can look up more info if you want to know the history behind it. On a personal note, Lake Hefner often time feels like a getaway since it's so far from the ocean. It's often super windy up there and it's a good feeling breeze that slightly takes your breath away but leaves your feeling refreshed and sometimes absent of all your cares. I've never walked all the way around because it's super majorly long. Probably not for people who run marathons or anything but for me it is. All sorts of people drive, bike, walk, run, jog, roller blade, sit down cycle around the lake. There are plenty of places to pull over and get out your car on the one way drive around the lake. It is one way if you turn left at the main entrance fork, but you can take the right turn to go down by the marina and/or golf course. Going to Lake Hefner really makes me appreciate this little oasis in the middle of Oklahoma. You get a really good view of the OKC skyline as well and when it's sunny and the sunbeams shoot through the clouds the lake is amazing. I really miss this little treat of OKC. read more

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We didn't see a whole ton of the lake but did enjoy the section we saw. We walked on the nice trail to the lighthouse. Really liked the walking/biking trail. Not sure how far around the lake it goes but was a nice feature near the restaurant read more

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I love this lake! It is a relaxing oasis in NW OKC. A true icon of the city. Activities here are surprisingly diverse. First, it is surrounded by parks with jogging & biking trails, plenty of picnic areas with a lot of grass for kids to run around on. Boats and shoreside resturants hug the east side at East Wharf. Here I recommend parking at the restaurants and taking a short walk to the lighthouse to watch the sunset. With limited seating, only two small benches, arrive early if you want to secure a spot. Sailboats and kiteboarders frequent this area on breezy days. On the west side, Lakeshore Park has nice jogging trails and a rugged, natural shoreline I very much enjoy. Much less crowded with people. On the south end the Stars & Stripes Park is a very busy park with a bevy of picnic tables, a sports park and multiple playgrounds for the kids. Lake Hefner Golf Club is nearby. It is public with two courses, though I haven't played it yet. North end has a road that goes right over the dam, one of my favorite drives in OKC..A romantic spot with lovely lake views. And it's usually open late, how late I'm not sure. They close the gate early some nights, but I've also driven the dam after midnight. Lake Hefner doesn't allow swimming, and has no camping, go to Lake Arcadia for that. But fishing is permitted with both city and state licenses. Kids can fish for free, under age 12 I believe. Living in NW OKC, I've loved having this lake so nearby. If we end up moving to another part of the city, I will miss it greatly. read more

Lake Hefner - Do you see the green light? - Lakes Near Me - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Lake Hefner is such a beautiful place right within our city. I very much enjoy their bike riding trail, which goes all the way around the lake, a little over 9 miles. It is a nice ride with awesome views and a refreshing breeze from the lake. There is also sailing, fishing, running/walking paths, a playground, as well as restaurants with wonderful views of the lake. read more

Go outside and enjoy OKC beside Lake Hefner. It's Autumn and the temperatures have dropped slightly. Take a stroll by the lake it's fun for everyone...exercisers, bicyclists, skate borders, fresh air enthusiasts, fishermen and sun worshippers to name a few...the Bert Cooper Trails and Lake Hefner are here for you. read more

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Lake Hefner is one of my favorite places in OKC, though I feel like we should clarify that there are about fifty distinctly different parts of Lake Hefner, but for the purposes of Yelp, there is one central location to review. Individual parks, the golf course, etc., can be reviewed under separate listings. Overall, I'd have to say Lake Hefner is pretty amazing. The trails are generally spotless and well-maintained. The picnic tables, benches song the way are always nice and not in disrepair. The city does a great job keeping trash picked up, keeping facilities clean and tending to the grounds. I love the area between Meridian and Portland, down past Stars and Stripes and back down to Grand, and it's always so nice. I also love the area between Grand and Britton, especially on a busy day. The East Wharf is a wonderful place to grab a drink or a meal and people watch, and I love that they've added the Lake Hefner Goats near the dam to keep the grass trimmed. Nice work OKC, and please keep it up! read more

Perfect central spot for running, biking, hooping (b-ball), softball, park toys, fishing, boating ... You name it!! Ideal spot for date night picnics. Porto potties don't always have TP and can get raunchy in the heat of the day. Plenty of charcoal grills by Stars & Stripes park and a nice view of downtown OKC and the city lights at night. If attempting to run/walk the full ~10 miles around, stash some water in trees to stay hydrated. Dog park down the hill on East side of I-44 is a fun off leash spot for the pups. Love me some lake Hefner! read more

Beautiful lake area and a wonderful spot to eat a meal and enjoy the weather. Lake Hefner had bike trails, walking trails, parks and more around its shore. The north side has plenty of fishermen, the east side has all the restaurants, the west side has drivable access directly to the water and the south side has a skate park, exercise equipment, and Star and Stripes Park. Plenty of different activities you can do on or near the water. One of my favorite places to go explore when the weather is nice. read more

Lake Hefner goes on for miles... seriously! There are great trails, to run, walk, bike, get the dogs out.. Really just a great way to get outdoors. Hefner has some beautiful sunsets and is a great place to just look at the view. If you are in a not working out type of mood there are a couple restaurants close to the lake that are really fun to go to. You will love Lake Hefner. Get outside, get some sunshine, endorphins, Vitamin D, and you will have a great and relaxing time! read more

Lake Hefner - A nice view of the lighthouse - Lakes Near Me - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Such a great peaceful place to go for a walk . From someone who used to live in the west coast about 15 min away from the beach this place is great. You can hear the water moving and see the sunset. They have walking trails and areas to sit and others to walk your pets. Very pretty place read more

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Lake Hefner has miles and miles of waterfront trails (9 miles to go around the lake on the bike path) and some of the most picturesque views in all of OKC. It's a Oklahoma Gazette 2014 finalist for "Best Place to Burn Calories" and it absolutely gets my vote. I like to run here every other day. Running at any time from 7pm-9pm is ideal. I'll see you out there! read more

Lake Hefner is a busy place with great restaurants, stars and stripes park picnic tables fishing docks, running and biking trails, golf course, boat launch and a paved road that goes around the entire lake. I live one mile from lake Hefner and i enjoy the fun and view. Lake Hefner is a sailing lake so no jet skis or jet boats and that being said makes it less of a party lake like Thunderbird. The fishing is hit miss type, one day you can catch six different types of fish, the next day you will never get a bite.. The lake is known for its big fish of all species and clean shore line. Enjoy the benefits of the well patrolled lake with a police and game warden headquarters also a fire station close to you. Take a friend or loved one for a day at the lake Hefner airstrip where remote control planes are cruising the sky doing stunts. Have fun outdoors with the family at Lake Hefner. read more

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Kinda upset at the fact the city makes you pay more to have a permit to fish here but you close off the dock and make it to where you can't get to the best fishing area and claim it "Private Property" bunch of BS if you ask me. read more

The Lake Hefner Trails and Park areas are a very nice addition and quality of life to Oklahoma City. There are trails around the lake for both bike riding, walking, skateboarding. Usually you can see quite a few people taking advantage of the area. There is Stars and Stripes Park, which is a full public park with a pavilion, grills for cooking, basketball and volleyball courts with plenty of parking. Softball fields nearby. Kid's park. Usually on weekends, you will see kite vendors and lots of kids and families playing and flying kits. As Hefner is actually an elevated lake, it tends to be one of the windiest areas in the city, so there are lots of sailboats (and there are two main areas....a private boat club and a public doc, along with some rentals available) and wind surfers/kiteboarders on the NE side of the lake. (They are the only ones allowed to actually swim/fall into the lake as it's a city reservoir.) No swimming allowed otherwise. Usually it's a haven for relaxing fishing but with water levels a little low, you will not see as much shore fishing as normal. There is also a dog park on the SE side of the lake off Grand Boulevard where the "pooches" have their own pond to frolic in. Sectioned off for large and smaller breed dogs. If weather is good, these areas are usually crowded but a good place to enjoy and watch your pet, along with the antics of others, as they play. Finally, there is a restaurant area called the East Wharf area. Home to Lakeside Grill (formerly Pearl's), Redrock Canyon Grill, Mama Rojas (Mexican fare) and Louie's on the Lake, which has casual dining but a full bar, too. All in all, something for everyone who lives in the area! read more

Walked it as a Cub Scout 13 miles. Played Junior golf at Hefner Coarse under pro Ausie Heiden in the 70s. Grandfather Fife had a boat slip there is the 60s. Brother Dave caught 5 lbs walleye in the 60s. Dad Earl Austin built Hefner Village .Saw Bob Hope fly in on helicopter with Jack Hodges's dedicating Stars and Stripes park 70 s .Renember John Wiblaud and Jack Johnson turning the ole Portland school into a great little league football park and played little league football there .Then the later widening of Portland to Hefner Parkway adding a beach and trails.Great memories growing up on Hefner Lake. read more

Lake Hefner - Lakes Near Me - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Lovely large trail. Sabrina G. and I did the entire trail/track by foot and it was no joke! Anyways, the nice thing about Lake Hefner is, there are a few nice restaurants you can go to after a jog or run and reward your hard workout with a yummy drink! read more

Very nice lake, cant swim in it though but there are some boat rentals i believe, and a lot of fancy restaurants nearby!

I live one mile north of Lake Hefner, from the rock wall side. The rock wall is three miles long, going counter clockwise to Britton Road. The wall is an unsightly, dilapidated stretch of junk with a completely dilapidated stretch of sidewalk beside it.. Beneath the rock wall for about a mile are large slabs of old pavement, dumped their by the city. Yes the city used the lake for a dump. The trail areas are the king of weeds. The city mows most of the weeds but leaves a large section on the east side as a "Nature Preserve." Bunk. The lake is a disgrace to Oklahoma City. I ride the trails all year long, weather permitting. I grew up east of the lake in the 50s, and Hefner was really an eye sore then too. Around it were duck blinds, which hunters would use to shoot ducks flying over. I admit that what we have today at Hefner is a grand improvement. However, the city has no plans for any more improvements. All of the city's emphasis is on downtown. The restaurant area of the 'East Wharf" is a mere façade. And about that lighthouse; it has become an icon for the area and one local TV channel. But take a closer look. The path leading to it is mostly mud, accompanied mud puddles when there is rain. Sincerely, Mel read more

This is a great place to go and enjoy the outdoors! Very pet friendly! Nice wide trails for bikers & walkers to share/pass each other. Lots of grass area to play fetch away from the foot traffic. Big playground for younger and older toddlers with a nice cushioned ground for all the trips and falls. When it is busy, it can be a little tricky keeping an eye on your little one but, what playground isn't. The big downfall is that there is not a permanent restroom. There are three port-a-potties to use if needed. read more

We went there for our anniversary dinner. We had a great time and the service and food was great.. Would come back again!!!

Lake Hefner is fantastic for walking, biking, rollerblading, sailing, flying a kite, taking a stroll, or dining on the patio of one of the many option on the west side of the lake. The lake and surrounding grounds are well maintained and make for a scenic route for outdoor cardio or peaceful strolls read more

I love Lake Hefner. The Lake is gorgeous and it is nice to sit by the light house at sunset. They have a paved trail all the way around the lake ~10 miles. One thing to note is it can be VERY windy on the trail on back side of the lake (front side being by the hwy and Louis, Hefner Grill , etc). One toime I was there it wa actually so windy that my ear hurt from the wind blowing in it (weird, I know). There are some restaurants on the lake that are pretty good. read more

Love walking my dogs here at night! Such a pretty view of the sun setting on the lake!

I love biking and walking at Lake Hefner. There is a nice, wide path that goes all the way around the lake and several smaller sidewalks for pedestrians. I always see people fishing, boating, or windsurfing and that's fun to watch. My only complaint is that on the north and west sides of the lake, people frequently park their cars and then sit in them with the windows rolled down, smoking. This is unpleasant for non-smokers like me to walk or bike past and have the nice fresh air ruined by the cigarette smoke. read more