Lake Eufaula State Park: Chinkapin Trail (Blog Hike #943)

Trails: Savanna Loop and Chinkapin Trails
Hike Location: Lake Eufaula State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Checotah, OK (35.40005, -95.60532)
Length: 3.8 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: April 2023
Overview: A fairly flat hike to a picnic area and views of Lake Eufaula.
Park Information: https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/lake-eufaula-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=935066
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: In eastern Oklahoma, take I-40 to SR 150 (exit 259).  Exit and go south on SR 150.  Drive SR 150 south 5.4 miles to the state park Visitor Center on the left.  Park in the lot beside the Visitor Center.

The hike: Formerly known as Fountainhead State Park, Lake Eufaula State Park sits on a wide peninsula that juts south into its namesake lake.  The dam that creates the lake was built by the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) in 1964 for the purposes of flood control and hydroelectric power generation.  Eufaula Dam holds back water from the Canadian River, and Lake Eufaula is the largest lake by water volume in Oklahoma.

            Lake Eufaula State Park offers some fantastic amenities that include swimming and boat ramps on the lake, a disc golf course and a ball golf course, 3 yurts, 2 developed campgrounds with nearly 150 sites total, some picnic shelters, and several hiking trails.  The hike described here takes you through some nice cross timbers forest to a picnic area and good lake views.  To be honest, I was not very excited about coming here when I left my lodging, but I ended up having a nice hike at a nice park.

Trailhead near park office

            From the park office, walk across SR 150 to find the trailhead, which is marked by a small information kiosk.  This trailhead serves both the Chinkapin Trail and the Savanna Loop with the former being an extension of the latter.  The wide dirt/grass trail heads into the woods, which is the usual cross timbers mix of oak, hickory, and red cedar with a dense understory.

Passing a savannah

            At 0.2 miles, the trail splits to form the Savanna Loop.  I chose to continue straight and use the trail going left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.  The land remains remarkably flat, and soon you pass a few sunny grassy pockets in the forest that could be called savannahs.  A few old yellow trail markers are in rough shape, but the trail was wide and easy to follow when I came here.

            Next you dip slightly to enter a lowland forest.  Mud could be a problem here if it has rained recently, but I had no mud problems on my visit.  At 0.6 miles, you reach a signed trail intersection where the Chinkapin Trail exits right.  We will continue the Savanna Loop later, but for now turn right to begin the Chinkapin Trail.

Hiking the Chinkapin Trail

            Named for the chinquapin oak trees that are numerous in this forest, the Chinkapin Trail is another wide dirt/grass trail that undulates gently through lowland forest.  Near 0.8 miles, you pass a small pond on the left.  Several iron bridges with wooden decks are crossed, and they saved me from getting my feet wet several times.

Crossing a trail bridge

            At 1.6 miles, you intersect what appears to be an old road: an eroded, graded strip that runs through a steep trough perpendicular to your current route.  Though no trail markers indicate such, you want to turn left and begin hiking uphill on the old road.  This point is the only place on the entire hike where I found route-finding a bit challenging.

Intersecting the old road

            1.7 miles into the hike, you reach a major intersection with a newer two-track dirt road going left and right and the old road you have been hiking continuing straight.  We will go all 3 directions eventually, but first turn right to hike down to the best lake view, which is reached at 1.8 miles.  Lake levels were fairly low when I came here, leaving a wide exposed rocky shore.  The wind buffeted me as I looked across the lake, and I saw several birds here including a blue heron.

Lake Eufaula

            Next retrace your steps to the major intersection and continue straight (left from the way you originally came in) to quickly arrive at a campground and picnic area.  Some interesting round concrete picnic tables sit here, and this area makes a nice place to rest and have a snack near the midpoint of this hike.  Finally, continue down the old road you hiked in on to reach the yurts and amphitheater in the park's Longhorn Area.  A sign warns you that the trail is not maintained beyond this point, and although you can see the lake ahead, that lake view is inferior to the one you got earlier.

Longhorn Area

            After exploring the Longhorn Area, retrace your steps to the Savanna Loop.  Turn right to continue the Savanna Loop.  Passing a couple more savannahs brings you to the close of the Savanna Loop.  Turn right to retrace your steps to the park office and complete the hike.  While you are here, the park has an excellent disc golf course, and the Hummingbird Beach Trail starting near the park's Nature Center offers an interesting hike through forest and prairie.