Robbers Cave State Park

Tucked into the San Bois Mountains of Latimer County, Robbers Cave State Park spans 8,246 acres of rugged sandstone bluffs, forested ravines, and spring-fed streams. Established in 1935 as one of Oklahoma’s original state parks — built by the Civilian Conservation Corps — the park takes its name from the cave hideouts once used by outlaws like Belle Starr and Jesse James. The cave itself remains accessible and is a must-see stop, its cool, narrow passages carved from moss-covered rock.

Beyond the outlaw lore, the park rewards visitors with some of the best outdoor terrain in eastern Oklahoma. Hikers can explore miles of trails winding through hardwood forests and past dramatic rock formations, while rock climbers find reliable sandstone routes ranging from beginner to intermediate. The park’s lake and Carlton Lake offer bass fishing, paddleboating, and swimming, and equestrian trails thread through the backcountry for riders looking to cover more ground.

The landscape here feels more like the Ozarks than the Great Plains — dense canopy, elevation changes, and scenery that shifts with every season. Fall brings outstanding foliage color, making October through mid-November the most popular window. Spring wildflower season runs a close second.

Whether you’re scrambling up boulders, casting a line from shore, or simply exploring the cave that gave this place its name, Robbers Cave delivers a side of Oklahoma most visitors don’t expect. It’s well worth the drive from Tulsa or Oklahoma City.

Explore Nearby

• Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in North Carolina
• Clayton Lake State Park — Dark Sky Site in New Mexico
• Talimena Scenic Drive — Scenic Byway in Arkansas
• Ouachita National Forest — National Forest in Arkansas, Oklahoma