East central Oklahoma's Hardwood Forest (aka
Arkansas Valley) celebrates the Sooner State's earliest inhabitants
at the Spiro Mounds Archeological Center and at Heavener Runestone
State Park. At Robbers Cave State Park, walk in the footsteps
of outlaws as you explore the hideout used by Belle Starr, Frank
and Jesse James and other notorious notables. The forested valleys
and ridges of the Hardwood Forest provide spectacular scenery
and outdoor adventure. Whether you're looking for a gentle nature
trail or a more rugged rock-climbing experience, you'll find
it in the Hardwood Forest. There's also plenty of water fun
at Lake Eufaula State Park, Robert S. Kerr Lake and other regional
favorites.
|
|
Counties: |
 |
McIntosh, Hughes, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Pittsburg,
Coal, Latimer, Haskell, Le Flore, Sequoyah, Muskogee and Atoka
Counties
|
|
Area of OK: |
|
East Central Oklahoma
|
|
Major Cities: |
|
McAlester, Henryetta, Eufaula, Wilburton, Poteau, and Stigler
|
|
Outdoor Activites: |
|
Hunting, birdwatching, photography, boating, water skiing,
fishing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, cycling, golfing,
rock climbing, rappelling
|
|
Wildlife: |
|
Deer, owls, raccoons, bears, ducks, red & gray fox,
bobcat, hawk, snow geese, river otter, 312 vertebrate species
are native to this ecoregion, 100 species of birds
|
|
Of Interest: |
|
- Lake Eufaula State Park - located on the largest
lake in Oklahoma, offering full water recreation and lake-front
cabins
- Outlaws Belle and Sam Starr, Cole Younger, Frank and
Jesse James used Wilburton's sandstone cliffs and natural
rock corrals as hideouts. The area is now part of Robbers
Cave State Park. The 12-mile Robbers Cave trail offers
a nature walk near the notorious cave, backpacking trail
that meanders over the park's rugged terrain; and 25 miles
of horse trails and equestrian campground
- Spiro Mounds Archeological Center - where evidence
of Oklahoma’s ancient inhabitants is contained within
11 earthen burial and ceremonial mounds
- Lake Wister State Park - located within the Winding
Stairs Scenic Bypass. Known for exceptional fishing, thanks
to the Poteau River, the only river in Oklahoma which flows
north
- Heavener Runestone State Park - home of the Heavener
Runestone, which has been studied since its discovery in
1874.
- Robert S. Kerr Lake
- Arrowhead State Park
- The Sans Bois Mountain Range
- Poteau was listed in the book Best 100 Small Towns
in America
- Tamaha is the oldest, active, incorporated town in Oklahoma.
The community's stone jail is the oldest in the state, housing
prisoners during the 1830s. Pretty Boy Floyd, the 1920s
gangster, spent a night here.
- Poteau’s Cavanal Hill is the tallest hill in the
world
|
|
Annual Events:
|
|
- Italian Festival (McAlester) (May)
Whole Hawg Dogs (Eufaula) (July)
- Dusk Til Dawn Blues Festival (Rentiesville) (Aug)
- Oklahoma Prison Rodeo (McAlester) (Aug)
- Oklahoma Heritage Festival (Lake Eufaula State Park)
(Oct)
- Robbers Dave Fall Festival (Robbers Cave State Park)
(Oct)
- Southeastern Oklahoma Arts & Crafts Show (McAlester)
(Nov)
|
|
Terrain Description: |
|
A region of mostly forested valleys and ridges, the terrain
of the Hardwood Forest (aka Arkansas Valley)is much less irregular
than that of the Ozark Forest/Boston Mountains to the north
and the Ouachita Mountains to the south.
Robbers Cave State Park -
Near Wilburton, OK
|
|
|
Back To Ecoregions Map
Click photo to view the full picture.
Heavener Runestone State Park
Heavener, OK
Lake Eufaula - Oklahoma's largest
lake with 102,000 surface acres 7 600 miles of shoreline.
Lake Wister State Park - Near Wister,
OK
Robbers Cave State Park State Highway
2
Near Wilburton, OK
|
REQUEST FREE BROCHURE
