Oklahoma isn't short of water. The state holds nearly three dozen large reservoirs, and one of the most rewarding sits a half-hour north of Tulsa. Skiatook Lake, created in 1984 by a dam on Hominy Creek, spreads across 10,540 acres in the state's northeast "Green Country" — a region where rolling, tree-covered hills, tallgrass prairie and rocky bluffs meet the shoreline. Wildlife is plentiful along the banks too: whitetail deer, bobcats, coyotes, beavers and squirrels all call the lake's edge home.
The US Army Corps of Engineers runs the show here, maintaining seven recreation access points around the lake, from simple boat ramps and picnic spots to full campgrounds and swim beaches. Add the 5,000-acre Skiatook Wildlife Management Area on the upper end, managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and there's no shortage of places to get onto or near the water.
Boaters are well catered for. More than six public ramps and two full-service marinas — Crosstimbers and Crystal Bay — dot the shoreline, and Crosstimbers rents out boats, jet skis, paddleboards and kayaks. The water is typically calm, which suits everything from a slow cruise through the coves to water skiing. Swimmers who'd rather not depend on a boat can head for the protected sandy beaches at Tall Chief Cove and Twin Points, both with restrooms and picnic facilities.
Anglers have good reason to come too. Skiatook is a stop on the Oklahoma Fishing Trail's Northeast Loop and has a strong reputation for sizable smallmouth bass, plus hybrid stripers, largemouth, crappie, catfish and bluegill. Shore fishing is available at the wildlife management area, and fishing docks sit within the Army Corps sites. Anyone over 18 — resident or not — needs an Oklahoma fishing license, easily bought online.
Overnight options cover both ends of the comfort spectrum. Primitive tent campers can pitch at Bull Creek Peninsula on the northern arm, or in designated spots in the WMA. For something more equipped, the Army Corps runs two campgrounds: Tall Chief Cove on the southeast side, with 50 electric sites, showers, a boat launch, swim area and a disc golf course; and Twin Points on the upper west side, also 50 sites, each with 50-amp power and water, set in open prairie beneath bluffs overlooking the lake.
Getting there is easy. Skiatook is roughly a 30-minute drive north of Tulsa, and Tulsa International Airport is the nearest commercial airport. If you're making a trip of it, Lake Oologah with its sandy beach lies about 40 minutes east, and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve — where bison roam among trails and fishing spots — is an hour north.
For travellers who want a low-fuss lake weekend without the crowds of better-known destinations, Skiatook packs boating, fishing, swimming and camping into one compact, scenic package — with Tulsa's restaurants and breweries close enough to bookend the trip.
