Trails: Sand Creek, Falls, Cabin, and Lookout Lake Trails
Hike Location: Osage Hills State Park
Geographic Location: west of Bartlesville, OK (36.73302, -96.18231)
Length: 3.9 miles
Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: April 2023
Overview: A somewhat rocky loop passing small waterfalls in Sand Creek and nice views of Lookout Lake.
Park Information:
https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/osage-hills-state-park
Hike Route Map:
https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=934789Photo Highlight:
Directions to the trailhead: From Bartlesville, take US 60 west 15 miles to the entrance for Osage Hills State Park on the left. Turn left to enter the park and drive the main park road 2.4 miles to the picnic area access road. Turn left to access the picnic area. Park in the parking lot for the picnic area, which is reached in another 0.2 miles.
The hike: Established in 1935, Osage Hills State Park is one of Oklahoma's 7 original state parks. The park was developed by the depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which built 8 cabins that are still in use today as well as some other infrastructure. The old CCC camp, including ruins of the cabins they lived in, will be passed on this hike. The park is named for the Osage Nation, who moved to this area in 1870; the park is contained in the Osage Nation Reservation.
Today the park remains one of the best state parks in Oklahoma, and it features some fantastic amenities that include a 36-site developed campground, fishing in Sand Creek and Lookout Lake, a large picnic area, a group camp, and 5 hiking trails. This hike combines three trails to visit many of the park's points of interest including Sand Creek, Lookout Lake, the developed campground, the group camp, and the old CCC camp. I came here on a beautiful sunny afternoon in mid-April and had one of the best hikes I have ever done in Oklahoma.
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| Picnic area trailhead |
Start by heading to the far (south) end of the picnic area access road where a wooden sign that says "Sand Creek/Falls Trail/Hiking and Fishing/No Alcohol" marks the trailhead. The wide dirt trail heads into the woods, which is dominated by the usual cross timbers mix of oak, hickory, and cedar trees. The trail curves right before reaching the spur trail down to Sand Creek, which exits left. Turn left to hike the short spur, which quickly enters Sand Creek's channel and arrives at some small waterfalls. When I came here, Sand Creek was almost completely dry due to a major drought, but I have read that these waterfalls are quite scenic when the water is flowing.
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| "Waterfalls" in Sand Creek |
Retrace your steps to the main trail and turn left to continue the Sand Creek Trail. The trail becomes rocky and climbs slightly to pass directly behind the group camp at 0.5 miles. Sand Creek can be seen through the trees below the cliff to the left here. Where the trail seems to end at the group camp access road, walk a short distance north on the road and look to the left for the trail's continuation.
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| Cliff behind group camp |
At 0.7 miles, the Sand Creek Trail ends at its intersection with the Cabin Trail, which goes straight and right. Continue straight to begin the Cabin Trail. Soon the park's cabins come into view uphill and to the right. Separate spur trails access each cabin, and plenty of thought has gone into the construction of these trails. Rather than going straight to its cabin, the spur trail winds its way to the cabin at its end, which has the effect of disguising the cabins with the woods while you are hiking this trail.
Near 1 mile into the hike, you come out at the park's developed campground. To continue the Cabin Trail, turn right on the campground road and then turn left on the north arm of the campground loop road as you approach the campground entrance. Just before the tent camp spur road exits right, the trail exits the campground on the right at a large brown sign that says "Tent Camping/Scenic Overlook." Turn right to begin climbing on rocky trail with the campground spur road on your left.
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| Trail exits developed campground |
At 1.3 miles, the Cabin Trail ends at an intersection with the Lookout Lake Loop Trail, which goes straight and right. Keep straight to continue climbing with a steep drop on your right. After a quick descent, the trail makes one final push higher to reach this hike's highest elevation and the old CCC camp at 1.7 miles. The first CCC structure you reach is the old amphitheater, which is slowly being reclaimed by the forest. Then you pass through an open area that contains a large white water tower, and finally you pass several old CCC cabin foundations. Take some time up here to appreciate the work and time the "CCC boys" spent here while building this park.
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| Water tower at old CCC campground |
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| CCC cabin ruins |
The trail departs the north end of the old CCC camp and begins descending over rocky terrain. The large number of rocks and a few old roads mean that you need to watch for the Lookout Lake Trail's orange paint blazes in order to stay on track. Ignore a white-blazed short-cut trail that exits right, and soon Lookout Lake comes into view below you. Although Lookout Lake is man-made, its shores are almost entirely undeveloped, making this area feel much more remote than it actually is.
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| Lookout Lake |
The rockiness persists as the trail heads southeast with the lake down the steep hillside to the left. Despite some minor undulations, you never make it down to lake level. At 2.5 miles, a spur trail exits left to the parking lot below Lookout Lake Dam. After a brief flat area, the trail curves sharply left to begin a more aggressive and rocky descent. Watch for the orange blazes to stay on the trail.
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| Hiking above Lookout Lake |
The trail descends into a ravine and crosses the park entrance road just past 3 miles into the hike. The park's mountain bike trailhead is located to the left just after crossing the road. Ignore some side trails that exit left and take you closer to Sand Creek. At 3.4 miles, you reach a signed trail intersection where the Lookout Lake Loop Trail turns right. Continue straight to begin the Cabin Trail, the last leg of this hike.
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| Joining the Cabin Trail |
Tracing a near level elevation with Sand Creek through the trees well to the left, the rest of this hike is as easy as it is uninspiring. Just shy of 3.8 miles, you reach the picnic area access road. Angle left to walk the road back to the picnic area; returning to the picnic area completes the hike. If you are up for more hiking while you are here, the park's 3.1 mile Red Trail offers a winding route through hilly terrain on the park's east side. The Red Trail is mainly designed for mountain bikes, and it is not as scenic as the route described here.
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