This Artificial Lake Outside Tulsa Is A Scenic Boating Paradise With Fishing, Camping, And A Swim Beach

Boating paradise may not be the first descriptor that springs to mind when Oklahoma is mentioned. However, the Sooner State is home to nearly three dozen large reservoirs. One, Skiatook Lake, sits just outside of Tulsa and is indeed renowned as a scenic boating paradise. Additionally, visitors to Skiatook Lake can also enjoy fishing, swimming, and camping, along with a myriad of other outdoor activities.

Skiatook Lake is located within Oklahoma's "Green Country," a lush, lake-filled region that occupies the northeast portion of the state. The lake was formed in 1984 when a dam across Hominy Creek was completed, creating the 10,540-acre artificial lake. As is the case with many of the waterways in Green Country, Skiatook Lake is quite scenic thanks to a combination of tree-shrouded rolling hills, tallgrass prairie, and towering bluffs surrounding the lake. The land along the lakeshore is also teeming with wildlife, such as whitetail deer, squirrels, bobcats, coyotes, and beavers.

Like the majority of the reservoirs in Oklahoma, Skiatook Lake is owned and operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps maintains seven recreation access points and parks around the lake, which range from boat ramps and picnic areas to full campgrounds and swim beaches. On the upper end of the lake, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation maintains the Skiatook Wildlife Management Area. The WMA encompasses over 5,000 acres and provides additional access and recreational opportunities for visitors to Skiatook Lake.

Skiatook Lake offers opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and a variety of other watersports. There are over half a dozen public boat ramps, as well as two full-service marinas around the lake, ensuring plenty of access for boaters. Both Crosstimbers and Crystal Bay marinas have boat launches and slips. Crosstimbers Marina also offers boat, jet ski, paddleboard, and kayak rentals. Whether powerboating, sailing, or paddling, the scenic shorelines and clear waters of Skiatook Lake make it a boating paradise. Additionally, the typically calm water conditions are ideal for everything from a leisurely cruise exploring the coves and islands to making cuts while water skiing.

Those same conditions make Skiatook a great place for lake swimming. While swimming and other water activities can be enjoyed off a boat throughout much of the lake, there are also opportunities for land-based visitors to take a dip as well. Both Tall Chief Cove and Twin Points recreation areas have protected swim areas with sandy beaches, accompanied by restroom and picnic facilities.

Fishing is also extremely popular at Skiatook Lake. As one of the stops on the Oklahoma Fishing Trail's Northeast Loop, the lake has a reputation as one of the better fisheries in the state (via Visit the Osage). Skiatook is particularly well-known for producing good numbers of sizeable smallmouth bass. Anglers also have the opportunity to catch other species, including hybrid stripers, largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. Boating anglers can access the lake via the Army Corps boat ramps and the marina. Shore fishing access is available at Skiatook WMA, and fishing docks are located within seven ACE recreation sites. Both resident and non-resident anglers over the age of 18 need a valid Oklahoma fishing license, which can be purchased online.

Campers also have a number of options when it comes to overnighting at Skiatook Lake. There are also a couple of locations for primitive tent camping. One option is Bull Creek Peninsula Recreation Area on the northern arm of the lake, which features a number of campsites right along the lake shore. Camping is also allowed within designated camping areas within Skiatook Wildlife Management Area.

The Army Corps also operates two campgrounds on the lake for both tent and RV campers — Tall Chief Cove and Twin Points. Tall Chief Cove Campground is located on the southeast side of the lake. The campground features 50 sites with electric hookups, as well as a boat launch, swim area, showers, disc golf course, and more. Twin Points Campground is set along the upper west side of the lake. This campground also has 50 sites, each with 50-amp electrical and water hookups. Twin Points also has a boat launch and swim area and is situated in an expansive tall grass prairie with towering bluffs overlooking the lake.

Whether coming for the day or the weekend, you'll find Skiatook Lake is simple enough to reach. It is only about a 30-minute drive north of Tulsa, the second-largest city in the Sooner State and the best city in America to celebrate Oktoberfest. For visitors looking to fly in, Tulsa International Airport (TUL) is the closest commercial airport. While in Green Country, it's also worth visiting some of the region's other natural attractions such as Lake Oologah, the big lake with a sandy beach, which is roughly 40 minutes east of Skiatook. About an hour north of the lake is Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, where buffalo roam wild amid fishing spots and scenic trails.