If you're in the Norman area and are into hiking or the outdoors,Sutton Park is like a small…read moreparadise! You'd never think or know you were in Norman if you were blindfolded and dropped off here. Beautiful trails for exploring as well as regular walking, beautiful flowers and even a pond for fishing. I absolutely love this place and try to go at least once a month.It's a great place to get in exercise or just to take a walk and clear your head..... you know,if you're in to that kinda thing.(-;

We had a really nice walk at this park. Even in the midst of winter we engaged in bird watching and…read moreidentifying animals that inhabit the area by the droppings we spotted. You can also bring your leashed puppy on the walk too - just clean up after them if need be! So nice to be out in nature!

Beautiful park. Well maintained trails and a great place to get away. Most Oklahoma state parks now…read morecharge fees, though.

Took a ride out here to check out the water levels with all the rain. You could tell where the…read morewater had breached the roads but it was down so all the main roads were passable. Once down to the marina area and several of the parking areas were underwater as were some of the camping areas. There were still people out enjoying things as the sun was out but more rain coming. This is a really nice area when it's full and lush with the water at normal levels.

Park playground a 5 star. Also the scenery and layout a 5…read morestar. Short 15 min drive from the house. Felt safe out there. Geese walked up a couple of times and ducks landed on the pond. The girls liked the telescopes... One didn't work. There zero people at the park and several on the trails on the day we went. I was sad to see Porta potties ...but they were clean so there's that. Also Porta potties don't have sanitizer in them .... Unfortunate Will try to get out here again sometime... The girls loved the time spent. Respectfully, Bryan Yukon, Oklahoma

I came here on September 17th and just now getting around to writing this. I'm an avid hiker and…read morelove the outdoors. It's been tough the last few months due to the over 100 degree days in a row. I lived in Las Vegas for years and when it hit the hundreds I would drive an hour away to Mt Charleston and hike their many trails and the temperature would be around 25 degrees lower. Unfortunately not a place to do this in Oklahoma that I've found yet. Anyway , this was my first time in Edmond and I had read before about this place in nearby OKC. The one thing that worried me was all the comments about the ticks. I hate ticks ! I decided to go anyway , since I was here and of course my spray that I have for ticks and bugs I left at home , I usually have in my backpack that I keep in my truck. Parking lot was good size and had a couple of port o johns. I talked to a fellow patron and he said he's been pretty lucky about not getting ticks and he does the trails often. I have a military like hat I use for hikes and it has a pull out flap that covers your neck , so I put it on and pulled up my socks. A few steps away from the parking lot is a Ranger Station / Visitor Center. They have a small display , but it is pretty good. Some live animals like turtles swimming , snakes , etc. They have a cool display of different insects and an interactive area with a racoon , owl , and such that you push a button to hear them make their noises. The Ranger was there telling some kids and parents about some animals and such. I was told he is very friendly and helpful. They also have several taxidermy animals like a armadillo , skunk , and a racoons eating cracker jacks. There are lots of trees for coverage from the sun. A lookout deck over a pond filled with turtles sunbathing on platforms. I saw a crane also in the water and a large bird flying above like a hawk or buzzard in the distance. They have several short trails and I'm used to doing much longer ones like 8 or 9 miles , these are like 1 or 2 miles. As I started the first one I met up with a couple of deer. A doe and a fawn. The fawn go a little close to me then walked away then the doe came up to me about 6 feet away. I guess some people may be feeding them and that's why they got so close to a human. I came up to another observation deck with a bunch of stairs you can climb up to. There was a couple people on it. I only did 2 short trails due to how hot it was. I would like to come back again when it is cooler. When I got back to the parking lot I took off my hat and checked it for ticks , took off my shirt and did the same , checked my shoes and laces and socks. No ticks thankfully. I will definitely bring my spray next time. I would hate to get bitten by the ones that will make you no longer able to eat meat without getting sick. That would be terrible since I love bbq , fried chicken , and a good steak. I thought Rocky Mounted Spotted Fever was bad , but dang !

These are some great trails right next to the Oklahoma River!!…read more Paved and flat, until you go under some of the bridges here, this was a great spot for me to get my runs in while I was here!! Easy parking, you will see the occasional runner or biker here depending on when you come. I did see a group run also! Along with the river, you do get some good views of the OKC skyline here!!

If you like long distance biking without a lot of incline or congestion, then the Oklahoma River…read moreTrails are for you. I mean, who wouldn't want to go fast without having to zig-zag in between runners, families or other bikes? The trail is well paved with the occasional slight gravel, which is totally avoidable. The path is somewhat like a large 13 mile oval shape, without any street crossings or stop signs. This would be a perfect spot to train for races. I would not recommend bringing your families on the trail just because road bikers are going fairly fast. Wouldn't want a little one stumbling in front of a bike going 20-30 miles a hour. For the sake of runners, the unseen corners are well marked with caution signs and there are two lanes to avoid collision. Overall it's a beautiful spot, there are geese and some other water fowl and the sun hits the river perfectly. There's a moment where you are riding beside a view of the city as well as the beautiful trail. This is probably the least congested biking trail I've been to in Oklahoma City. I would recommend starting at/ parking at Devon Boathouse at Regatta Park. There's also additional parking across the street. I could see this place being a good spot for group bikers as well, it's not far from Bricktown if you want to ride into the city a little bit to grab a bite to eat.

Spring Creek disc golf course is located within the boundaries of the lake Arcadia park. There are…read moretwo 18 hole courses. The red and the blue. The red is a little shorter and is more inland while the blue is closer to the water. We played the blue and after the first hole across an open field you are pretty mini. The woods for the rest. The fairways are tight and lots of high grass and woods. Pay attention to where your disc lands as it can be a tough find in some areas. The holes are all pretty short and it was pretty easy to navigate and follow the signage. This was my first time here and really enjoyed it. Took just shy of 2 hrs to play. It is free to play sort of. You have to pay 10 dollars per car with max 5 occupants to get into the park itself.

Adventure abounds 2.5 miles east of I-35 on 15th street in Edmond. Here, the street ends and…read moreArcadia Lake begins. This 194 acre spot is one of the best kept secrets in the OKC metro area. A trip to Lake Arcadia can be a modest affair, staying in the car driving through the park around sunset, maybe walking out on the dock watching the sun fade away for the day, or it can be an all day adventure with boating and picnics and barbecues. Early on in 2020 we realized we needed to renew our park pass for Lake Arcadia as we could see this may be a loooong year (boy, we were right on the money). Eighty dollars will get a vehicle in the park for a year if you are an OKC resident. Edmond residents can buy a year park pass for a 20% discount per year (about $64 dollars). This gets you unlimited entry into the park. I'd highly recommend it. I've always said one of my most favorite parts of living in Oklahoma has been the celebration in the sky at the end of daylight ringing in that night is upon us. I'm not from Oklahoma and I will say that the sunsets here are second to none. This park, especially the dock facing west next to the boat ramp is one of my most favorite places to watch the relay of the daylight sun passing into the Southern Hemisphere. Just as dusk settles in wildlife really begin to peek out from the woods. If you have kiddos and can manage to work in a drive through Arcadia at dusk, they'd love to see all the deer (definitely deer), and maybe turkeys, cranes, eagles, scissor-tailed flycatchers, and hawks that come around when most of the all-day lake goers have left for the day. Treat yourself to a sunset here and learn why it's worth every bit of $80 to get to come here as often as you want. October 2020

Stanley Draper Lake is located in the SE part of OKC. This is a recreational lake with fishing and…read moreskiing. Note there is no swimming allowed so not sure how tht works with the skiing. This is a full service marina with ramps and docks as well as boat storage. There is a concession stand inside with the basics as well as bail and fishing stuff. There is a very nice playscape area along with picnic tables and grills for use. Just fisherman today and only a few as it was pretty windy and cool.

The Labor Day weekend coming to a close. Not too many people this evening.. a great time to watch…read morethe sunset with my honey bunny!!

Parallel Forest truly feels like stepping into another world. Planted by the government during the…read moreDust Bowl era, this unusual 16-acre forest features more than 20,000 red cedars, all spaced perfectly about six feet apart in every direction. The effect is mesmerizing, as each tree grows straight up, creating beautiful lines and symmetry throughout the woods. Walking through the forest is both peaceful and surreal. The perfectly arranged trees and the quiet setting make it a fantastic spot for exploring, photography, or simply enjoying nature. On top of its impressive appearance, the forest's history as a windbreak project adds even more interest. It is a remarkable place to experience near the Wichitas and well worth a visit.

Came and explored a while back it's very beautiful to see. Didn't go on a trail but will be back…read moresoon to explore further!

Bluff Creek is a beautiful trail and the perfect escape from the city. I love experiencing so much…read moreof Oklahoma's natural beauty here, including deer, birds, butterflies, and gorgeous views in every season. The trail is wonderful year-round and features both bike paths and pollinator-friendly gardens. It's also a popular spot for photoshoots, group workouts, and sports, so there's always a fun, lively vibe if you enjoy being around people. If you prefer a quieter experience, I recommend visiting on weekdays to avoid the crowds.

Pro: moderate size parking lot, running trails, biking trails, big field, dog friendly, playground…read more Con: no lights at night A nice park that offers walking trails, bike trails, playgrounds, a big field to play with your dogs, and more. It has a moderate size parking lot in the front and a side parking lot where the playgrounds are. On the front gate they have trash can and doggy station that offer bags to pick up after your pets. All in all, a nice park to stop by and enjoy in your free time.

Took our doggy here to see the sunset and it was beautiful. There were some muddy parts among the…read moremain path from the rain a few days ago. There were several unlabeled smaller trails that bring you to the waters edge and to some cute tree abodes. Not a lot of wildlife this time of year but I am excited to see it in a different season of life. There are benches in the parking lot positioned perfectly to witness an Oklahoma sunset. That being said, I am taking off a star because I'm pretty sure we witness a human being pooping just off of the main path on our way back to the car...

Nice jogging trail (at least the mile and a half of it I experienced)…read more - Nice Oklahoma clay and compact sand trail for good footing. It hasn't rained for a week, so there was nothing flooded to the point of being sloppy or impassable. - Good shade canopy for most of the trail. Some of it hangs down low, which is mildly annoying. There is also some tall grass and plant life growing along the trail that you will have to dodge. - Nice shaded bench area which is perfect for a post-run cool down.