Keystone State Park: Ranger Trail (Blog Hike #942)

Trail: Ranger Trail
Hike Location: Keystone State Park
Geographic Location: west of Sand Springs, OK (36.13891, -96.26426)
Length: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: April 2023
Overview: A short loop passing a fishing pond and several rock outcrops.
Park Information: https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/keystone-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=934964
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: West of Tulsa, take US 412 to SR 151.  Exit and go west on SR 151.  Drive SR 151 west 1.5 miles to the park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, and park in the parking lot in front of the park office and general store.

The hike: Authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1950, the Keystone Dam on the Arkansas River was built by the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) for purposes of hydroelectric power and flood control.  The dam was completed in 1968, and the resulting Keystone Lake covers 23,600 acres of surface area and features 330 miles of shoreline.  The COE operates 16 recreation areas on the lake's shore that include 11 boat ramps and 4 marinas.  The lake and park are named for the town of Keystone, which was submerged by the lake.

            Leased from the COE is 714-acre Keystone State Park, which of course is operated and maintained by the State of Oklahoma.  The park offers the usual aquatic recreation such as swimming, boating, and fishing, plus it offers 22 cabins and 3 developed campgrounds with over 150 sites total.  For hikers, the park offers 2 trails, the best of which is the short Ranger Trail described here.  Though not long, this trail passes several scenic points of interest, and it made a perfect short and easy hike for me on a nice Sunday afternoon.

Trailhead near park office

            The trail starts across the park road from the park office; look for a wooden sign overhead that says "Ranger Trail."  The wide gravel trail enters the woods, which is dominated by oak and hickory trees.  A large number of grasshoppers hopped across the trail in front of me on the warm and sunny afternoon that I came here.

Hiking the Ranger Trail

            After descending slightly, the trail splits to form its loop.  For no real reason, I turned right here and used the trail going left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.  A little more descending brings you to the children's fishing pond.  I was the only person at this pond when I came here, and the muddy water prevented me from seeing any fish.

Children's fishing pond

            Walk around the pond and continue westbound, still descending gradually.  Some vehicle traffic can be heard on the park road through the trees to the right, but of greater interest are the rock outcrops above the trail to the left.  The sandstone bedrock lies just under the ground in this area, but at a few points it pops its head above ground where you can observe the interesting caves and recesses.

Rock outcrop

            As you approach the lowest elevation on this hike, the spur trail to the campground exits right.  Angle left and begin climbing to stay on the Ranger Trail.  The difference between maximum and minimum elevation on this hike is only about 70 vertical feet, so all grades are quite gradual.  More rock outcrops are passed, and a few sunny grassy areas are traversed as you hike the south arm of the loop.  Just past 1 mile, you close the loop.  Turn right to retrace your steps to the park office and complete the hike.