Natural Falls State Park is located in Colcord, Oklahoma about an hour east of Tulsa, near the Oklahoma/Arkansas border. This park is a gem offering views of a natural 77′ waterfall and unique rock formations.
HIKE!
The Park offers three main trails:
Dripping Springs Trail – This trail is approximately half a mile. It is a must see trail during your visit, offering views of the 77′ waterfall, mossy rocks and a peaceful stream. This trail is highly trafficked due to the beautiful views of the falls. It’s primarily paved and does includes some stairs leading down to the base of the falls. It’s an easy walk that is a great start or finish to your day at the park.
Ghost Coon Trail – We hiked the Ghost Coon Trail right after visiting Dripping Springs since it’s trailhead is very close by. This trail is a 1.3 mile loop and intersects with the Dripping Spring Trail. The trail starts with an incline up a wooded rocky area, but also includes a walk through prairie area and views from bluffs. It also wraps around the areas where campers can stay in Yurts at the State Park. This trail has some really pretty views and is a nice walk. However, there are periods that aren’t very secluded. We had a few points where we weren’t quite sure if we were on the right path. It’s a great loop if you’d like a longer walk around the falls area.
Fox Den Trail – This trail was recommend as the favorite of an employee of the State Park who we met in the Gift Shop. The trail is a 1.1 mile loop and seems a bit less trafficked and more secluded than the Dripping Springs/Ghost Coon Trail. The trail is located on the west side of the park (trailhead near the RV park). Although it’s a more moderate/difficult trail, it’s worth the effort including beautiful bluffs, caves and a small lake/dam area that is picturesque.
There are also a couple of point-to-point trails that help connect these three main trails.
For more views check out this video…
STAY!
Natural Falls State Park has an RV area and 5 yurts, but does not have cabins. The yurts look awesome and include power as well as heating/cooling (showers and restrooms located outside yurts). All yurts include picnic tables, fire rings and grills.
The yurts look so fun and I would love to try them in the future, but for our stay we brought our dog along and I just wasn’t sure how she’d do in a yurt. We found the perfect AirBnB about a 5 minute drive away from the State Park, located in the Flint Ridge Area.
The Happy Place Cabin was the ideal home base for our pup to stay while we explored Natural Falls State Park. The cabin is a quick drive away, but was a great experience in it’s own right. The cabin is located on a bit over one acre and backs up to a wooded area with peaceful views. Although it’s in a community, the cabin feels secluded and private. The host was great and access to the Illinois River is just a couple of miles away. I’d love to go back and explore the area around the cabin a bit more! If you aren’t up for a yurt stay, check out this cabin for the perfect place to stay when visiting Natural Falls State Park.
Let me know what you think of Natural Falls State Park and other adventures in the area! Drop a comment below…
