2024's Towns In Oklahoma That Come Alive In The Fall
Famous for its southern hospitality, landmark Route 66, and medley of hills, plains, and mountains, Oklahoma is undeniably one of the coziest southern states to celebrate the changing seasons. As one of the country’s top agricultural centers (producing over $7 billion worth of crops and livestock every year), fall is also an especially magical time in this rural haven. From State Park hiking trails brightened with the season’s hues to local festivals celebrating autumn’s beauty and bountiful harvest, there is truly no better time to see Oklahoma at its liveliest in 2024.
Davis
Davis is a quaint Oklahoma town dubbed “the poster child for small-town America,” making it the perfect place for a cozy fall getaway. But beyond its renowned southern hospitality, what truly distinguishes this town is Turner Falls Park. Home to the 77-foot Turner Falls (one of Oklahoma’s tallest cascades), fall is one of the best times to savor views of this stunning natural landmark, with summer heat giving way to cool autumn days. In October, Davis’ average high temperatures mellow to 70°F, with an average low of 48°F.
Along with the chill winds of October, red and yellow hues begin to replace the usual lush greenery of this Chickasaw Country town. If you visit the park from late October to mid-November, you will likely see the waterfall illuminated with a deep crimson halo, and the rest of the park is spotted with similar fall hues.
After hiking the Turner Falls Trail or Falls Creek scenic overlook, this 1,500-acre park has plenty of other scenes and experiences to enjoy without the summer heat and crowds. The 3-mile Collings Castle Trail takes you to its namesake historic castle (with some really stunning overlooks along the way), and you can even embark on a caving adventure beneath the beautiful Arbuckle Mountains.
Broken Bow
Heading deeper into southeastern Oklahoma, Broken Bow is an underrated town with a gateway to the wonders of Beavers Bend State Park, an outdoor lover’s paradise. While breathtaking year-round, the park is especially enchanting in the fall, its foliage warming the landscape from late September through mid-November. To see the season’s colors reflected into the Mountain Fork River, head to the Cedar Bluff Trail. As a follow-up, the Friendship Trail is another crowd-favorite, offering a stunning path beneath a canopy of orange and ruby trees.
For a bird’s eye view of the park’s colors, zipline tours are a popular way to take in over a half mile of scenery. 3 Hour Lake Tours and fishing services like Rudy's Guide Service can also be booked to appreciate the tree-studded shores and waters of Broken Bow Lake. For anglers, fall is one of the best seasons, since the lake comes alive with fish busy getting ready for winter.
For those who would prefer to stay on land, Beavers Bend State Park has miles upon miles of other scenic hiking paths. For more advanced hikers, the Skyline Trail rewards adventurers with an aerial view of the river below, while the laid-back, 1-mile Tree Trail provides a flatter path suitable for all ages. In terms of non-hiking activities, the park’s Beavers Bend Folk Festival & Craft Show is a fun event for marking your calendars. Taking place November 8th to 10th, 2024, the festival promises artisan vendors, folk music, and vintage craft demonstrations amidst the fall trees.
Talihina
About an hour and a half northeast of Broken Bow, Talihina offers entry to the splendors of Talimena State Park. Like other southeast Oklahoma towns, Talihina sees its richest foliage from late October to mid-November, with the Ouachita National Forest splashed with different shades of ochre, amber, and crimson. The Talihina Fall Foliage Festival (on November 1st and 2nd, 2024) is a fun way to take in the colors alongside an art show, food vendors, live entertainment, and interactive exhibits to learn about the Choctaw culture.
For nature lovers craving more of an outdoor adventure, Talihina’s landscape is a hiker and backpackers’s dream. Granting access to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail’s western entrance, (the forest’s longest trail, spanning 192 miles), Talimena State Park takes travelers through the Ouachita Mountains’ jaw-dropping landscapes and foliage. Fall is also one of the best times to spot the forest’s wildlife, including turkeys, deer, bears, and eagles.
For wanderers looking to embark on a foliage road trip, Talimena State Park is also the entrance to the Talimena National Scenic Drive, one of the prettiest road trip destinations in the country. The 54-mile byway extends from Talihina to Mena, Arkansas, and since the majority of the road weaves through the Ouachita National Forest, the views in fall are absolutely sublime.
Pawhuska
Up in northern Oklahoma, the whimsical town of Pawhuska is famous for Osage Hills State Park, whose hilly terrain takes on a breathtaking quilt of colors in the fall. Similar to the state’s southern towns, foliage in Pawhuska peaks from late October and early November. October is also an excellent time to visit since the town’s weather mellows dramatically, ranging from a crisp 50°F to a mild 74°. With summer heat at bay, Osage Hills State Park transforms into an autumnal wonderland, with trees ditching their usual green for shades of rust, red, and mustard.
With 1,100 acres of rugged bluffs, dense woodlands, and tranquil waters, the park is a fabulous nature retreat, especially without the summer crowds. The Osage Hills State Park Trail System, while somewhat rugged, is very beginner-friendly and offers some really stunning scenes in the fall. The 1.5-mile Creek Loop Trail is one example, guiding hikers through a bright wooded path that descends onto rocky bluffs for vista views at the Sand Creek Lookout. This path is also a popular wildlife trail, so you may spot wild turkeys and white-tailed deer.
For those looking to visit Pawhuska in late October for fun events like their Downtown Trick or Treat on October 31st, 2024, Osage Hills State Park is also perfect for a night (or more) under the stars. Whether pitching a tent or booking one of the park’s 8 rustic cabins, an overnight stay opens up more time to take in the park’s natural beauty, from views of Lookout Lake to waterfall paths like the half-mile Falls Trail.
Wilburton
Making our way back to southeast Oklahoma, the tiny town of Wilburton is the proud home of Robber Caves State Park, one of the best places in the state to celebrate fall. In the hilly San Bois Mountains, there are tons of scenic hiking paths where you can see the foliage at its peak in late October to early November. This includes paths like the 6-mile Mountain Trail to Lake Carlton and Lake Wayne Wallace. As the name suggests, hikers are blessed with stunning views of the lakes, along with cliffside vistas and stunning shades of red, yellow, and orange. From here, adventurers can even reach the park’s namesake attraction, a cave once used to shelter outlaws after the Civil War.
Other leaf-peepers may prefer to wait for the park’s foliage festivities, taking place October 18th to 20th, 2024. The annual Robbers Cave Fall Festival welcomes over 80,000 people every year, and this year’s event will feature over 200 vendors, amusement rides, delicious seasonal foods, and a Fall Foliage Cruise. On Saturday the 19th, out-of-towners can also take advantage of the free shuttle buses departing to and from downtown Wilburton.
Sulphur
Finally, a trip to the town of Sulphur grants passage to the gorgeous Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Oklahoma’s oldest national park. For over a century, this nature haven has welcomed outdoor enthusiasts looking for wide open air and stunning natural scenes. This is no exception in the fall when the Area’s 30 miles of trails come to life with gold leaves (brightest in late October and early November). Wildlife spotting is also more frequent this time of year, so if you keep your eyes peeled, you may just spot a fox, white-tailed deer, or beaver hard at work preparing for winter.
October through April is when this spirited park is at its least crowded, making autumn one of the best times to take in the sights without packed parking lots and hiking trails. For those hoping to snap some cute photos, the 1.5-mile Travertine Creek Trail is a super pretty path with gentle slopes, bridges, and stone stairs, perfect for posing the perfect scene. Alternatively, the 2-mile West Bison Pasture Loop is an excellent path for animal lovers, with the trail circling around the Area’s West Bison Pasture. Inside this reserve, you may just spot one of the buffalos from a herd Sulphur has maintained and preserved for almost a century.
Why Oklahoma is a Top Fall Destination in 2024
Autumn in Oklahoma is undeniably one of the best times to see the state’s natural beauty in all its glory. With harsh summer heat giving way to the crisp breeze of fall, cooler airs call for longer days and more experiences. Whether hiking to Oklahoma’s tallest waterfall at Turner Falls Park or breathing in the vibrant blufftop vistas in Pawhuska without the throngs of summer tourists, fall is when you can really embrace the splendor and savor Oklahoma's sights and scenes.
