Shout out to Michael who greeted me outside. He provided me with information about the trails, the…read morecolor coded flags on the trees, points of interest to watch for, such as the tree that grows sides ways, sandwiched between large boulders. He was super helpful! I hiked The Falls Trail, which is 3.5 miles and rated difficult, and the rating is absolutely accurate. The trails are well marked and easy to follow. All of them begin to the left of the visitor center as you walk toward the Fire Road. To reach The Falls Trail, you walk about a quarter mile on the Fire Road, and the trail is the second access point on the left. It's clearly marked with signage, so you won't miss it. Near the butterfly garden, where the trails split to take The Falls Trail or the Wilson Trail, there's a water jug with cold water available, which is a thoughtful touch. The first half of The Falls trail is fairly easy, mostly flat, and a nice warmup. Eventually the terrain shifts to rocky sections and larger boulders. You're not rock scrambling, but there are a few places where the step up or down is high enough to make you slow down and choose your footing. The second half is where the difficulty really sets in. It's mostly incline, and mile markers 118 and 119 were the toughest for me because of the steep grade. It took me three and a half hours to complete the trail, longer than I expected. I'm out of shape and still adjusting to Oklahoma humidity, so I needed several breaks on the return route. The entire trail is under a thick canopy, which keeps you shaded but also blocks most of the breeze. It's a blessing and a challenge at the same time. One thing I really appreciated was the park's safety protocols. Color‑coded flags on the trees help keep you on the correct trail, and the mile markers include location numbers. If you ever have an emergency, you can relay that number so rescuers can find you quickly. No one expects to need help, but it's reassuring to know the system is in place. There are also a couple of spots marked with blue flags that indicate the quickest way out to the Fire Road, which is helpful if you need to exit the trail fast. The visitor center is a great place to cool down after a long hike. There are misters out front, and I stood under them when I finished because I was overheated and exhausted. They felt amazing. There are also rocking chairs outside, and inside you'll find clean bathrooms and a small selection of souvenirs including magnets, pins, keychains, beanies, and T‑shirts. I picked up a sticker and a pin. They really thought of everything to make your visit a good one. From having wood hiking poles you can borrow inside the Visitor Center, to the misters and rocking chairs, the water jug, the color coded flags. Highly recommend visiting Keystone Ancient Forest.

There is a decent sized parking lot for free parking. There is a small welcome center with decent…read morebathrooms before you hit the trails. There are several loop options of various lengths. For my first experience, it was really nice. It was kind of chilly but really perfect weather for a hike and to explore. It was quiet and we didn't see many people while we were out hiking. The trails are well marked as well. It's a nice location to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

I visited Chandler Park in Tulsa today. First time visiting and I was impressed with the beauty of…read morethe bluffs & views of the city. I appreciate the interpretive signs along the walking path providing the history of the park. I love that the trail is accessible, and the further you walk back you find yourself in a wooded area where the trail leaves the pavement, climbing in and around the bluffs. The park has so much to offer including disc golf, picnic areas, playground etc. There is plenty of parking and clean flushing facilities.

I have no idea how this place isn't a raging 5 stars, this on top of the gathering place is one of…read moremy favorite parks in all of tulsa! The hiking trails are extensive, family friendly and also so so rad! They have the ancient trail which you get to walk through these insane rock formations, it feels so grounding and cool to walk through something thats been here for centuries! They have 2 disc golf courses which is nice so if one course is busy, you have another to play on! Never congested, they have a massive splash pad for summer, ample grounds for picnics, lounging ect.

Turkey Mountain is one of those places that makes you forget you're still in the city. Every time I…read morevisit, I'm reminded how lucky Tulsa is to have a true urban wilderness with miles of trails, quiet pockets of nature, and plenty of room to explore. One thing I really appreciate is how easy it is to access the mountain thanks to three different parking lots: Lower Parking Lot (67th & Elwood) The most popular one, right at the base of the main trail system. Great if you want quick access to the Red, Blue, and Yellow trails. Upper Parking Lot (off Elwood, near the top) Perfect if you want a quieter start or prefer jumping straight into the mid mountain trails. West Side Parking Lot (off Highway 75 / 61st area) Aa lesser used entrance that gives you a totally different feel and connects you to some beautiful, less crowded routes. No matter where you start, the trails are well marked, varied, and offer everything from easy strolls to more challenging climbs. If you hike to The Sanctuary, you're rewarded with one of the most peaceful areas on the mountain. You'll come across several ponds, wildlife, and a tree house with bench style swings, one of the most unexpectedly delightful spots in Tulsa. It's the kind of place where you can sit, sway, and just breathe for a moment. Highly recommend spending a morning or evening out here. It's beautiful, accessible, and full of surprises.

i'd convinced momma to bring me since i had a injection appt at a pharmacy nearby at about 64th st…read moreand we do not get to go so far south or west very often. the trip helped me recall the location of the mountain primary entrances and parking lots. specifically, coming from highway 51, exiting off the 224 exit ramp, the first entrance, on the left side, is the favorite of mine for getting flicks, with a beautiful view of the city skyline in the background to the south and an equally beautiful hilly rural landscape closer by. then, next was the main entrance i know to the trails, with map and restroom in front of it, and a awesome angle of the massive mound of shrubbery that comprises the tallest point of turkey mountain. the experience also allowed me to reflect a bit on the reason i enjoy yelping so much, that during a period of life when time is a precious commodity for me, it allows me to receive small glimpses of locations that hold a special significance, and reflect on the roles those locations, turkey mountain for one, were for me. specifically, the hiking and running trail system was and to an extent is a destination running route, with the rocky trail a fun, challenging one for runners of all disciplines looking for a cross training opportunity. also, the variety of trails and vast nature area, including at least a few trees for hammocking, presents a ideal location for a nature excursion. lastly, i'll add that we exited across the 71st bridge, which is also an alternative entrance to the 224 exit off highway 51 heading west, and in that case, the order of the entrances i've mentioned would be reversed.

Beautiful park with a very attentive Ranger. Would give 5 stars but the Ranger on duty shooed us…read moreaway as we were sitting in the day use shelter bird watching. We did pay for day use but not the $75 shelter use as we were not staying but 1/2 hour or so. Otherwise peaceful and lots of stunning birds to watch.

Having literally stumbled across Keystone State Park, we drove over the dam and parked the car on…read morethe dam's downstream side. After walking all the way to the dam's base, we were impressed with what we saw. Tip: We saw a good number of large birds here, including pelicans and herons Over and above the dam and the birds, there's not a whole lot else to see here. I'd suggest if you want some good hiking and views that you visit the Ancient Forest instead.

This is a really beautiful spot where you can enjoy a small walk and the views of the water dam…read more There are walkways all the way down to the water! Be careful when taking pics by the rocks as they eat phones!!! There is also a nice looking atv/motorcycle park with lots of hills and sand!!!

There are really two parts to this park. It's a COE, Corp of Engineer, park and we've been to many…read moreof those. Some are gated and some are not. This one is not. It sits at the base of the dam and has a campground section and a day use section. This review is mainly for the campground section. It's a pretty park but when we first arrived we weren't sure what to make of it. Grass looked like it hadn't been mowed in quite a while but it was mowed while we were there which really improved the appearance. The inner circle of campsites all have full hookups and the outer circle has water and electricity. We were pretty surprised to see so many who "live" within the system. One camper told us folks go between this park and another park every 14 days. A school bus even comes to take the kids who "live" here to school. Our first night we were on the outside loop and next to one group who played the bass music. Ugh. Where was the host? We had no clue. Yes, there is a camp host or volunteer. In the 5 days we were there we saw him once. A couple of times we went looking for him and never could find him. His site needs to be cleaned up. Stuff is stacked all over. We've never seen that in a COE park either. It was a good place to stay though while weather passed over and would stay again. The park area is nice but think a little more oversight is needed and a little clean-up. I would probably rate the park itself a 4 star but the clutter from the host site and lack of his availability, I moved it down a notch.

I am not sure it is part of the park system anymore, the sign is gone. The old road is awful, big…read moreholes. They don't want people going there anymore, but don't want to say that.

After all the years we lived in and visited Tulsa, we'd never been to Redbud Nature Preserve and I…read moredon't know why. I'm so glad my sister invited us to tag along with her. It was a gorgeous place to explore! It's a fairly easy hike for kids. The trail goes from the parking lot and is about a mile (maybe less) and comes back to the parking lot. My kids won't normally walk this far on their own, but there is so much to see and so much variation on the trail that they never complained or asked "how much longer" - my kids are ages 5-13. There is some climbing around rocks to get through the trail, so little ones and the elderly will need help. Wear good shoes. There is a small nature center and bathrooms. We love this place and will happily go back in any season!

One of my favorite quick hikes in the Tulsa area. So sad they had to close down until May 2022. I…read morethink it's to preserve the natural flora and fauna because so many hiked it during the start of covid just trying to social distance from others. Looking forward to getting out in my happy place again.

Love this hidden gem just outside of Tulsa. It's a nice lake, set low, so it feels secluded. There…read moreare walking trails and some good hiking trails too. You can even hike around the lake, which is not always easy, so if you are inexperienced, it may take up to 2 hours. Another cool feature of this park is that there is a waterfall (better pics in summer) that you can also hike all around. Lastly, not sure what's up with the goats and mules around, but they are super kind and it was like a free petting zoo for my kids. This might be our new "go to" park for walks and hikes that aren't too far from home, especially on days when you know Gathering Place is crazy packed.

I used to take my sons to this small lake over 35 years ago. Fished for crappies and sunfish. I was…read morea great little lake and great memories. To fish you used to need both a state license and a Bixby city permit.

One of my favorite places to go with my husband, Bill, and my dog, Oreo, is Tulsa River Parks. What…read moreI like about it is the trails. They have recently enlarged them so that walkers do not have to walk on same path as the bike trails! That is a big Hooray! for me. I used to be a biker, so I know how important it is to keep the pedal to the metal; but, as a walker, I hate having to watch out for those bikes all the time. This is not a problem on the Tulsa River Trails (at least for most of it). Another thing I like is the bridge across the river. This is a nice walk during the summer. Smelling the fresh summer air, feeling the mist of the river splashing over the rocks, and hearing the thump, thump of the wooden bridge as you pass by fellow hikers out for a stroll. The path winds up the river on the other side, pass some apartments, and back across another bridge. The unique thing about the river trails is that there are so many places to walk. You can actually walk from Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow all way around the Creek Turnpike, up Riverside, across the railroad bridge in Tulsa, and into Sands Springs. OR, you can take a turn up past OSU and walk straight up to Skiatook. Long walk, but it's possible! Probably should take a bike! Tulsa River trails also has several parks for picnics, playgrounds, and sports activities. And, of course, the new area is coming soon: A Gathering Place For Tulsa. That will make Tulsa River Parks one of the best places to come for a long time. I can't wait!

It's got a small playground but it's very spacious. It's really a quaint underrated park when…read moreOktoberfest isn't going on. The restrooms were semi clean. Not bad for public use. Didn't smell terrible. Didn't see a lot of garbage. Most if that is in the river unfortunately.