Outdoor Adventure Mutts in Oklahoma’s Arbuckle Mountains
- Luie Boone
- 8 hours ago
- 9 min read
This travel spot is featured in our fifth blog series, Bowwows Belong.
If you ask Luie Boone, the Arbuckle Mountains aren’t just hills. They’re a full-on sniffari adventure. And Luie Boone loves adventure. And snacks. Mostly snacks. But definitely adventure too.
Tucked into southern Oklahoma, the Arbuckle Mountains are home to Travertine Creek and Turner Falls, where the water glows a dreamy blue-green as it flows over limestone and travertine. This mineral-rich water has been shaping the land for thousands of years, carving out caves, forming natural swimming holes, and creating Oklahoma’s tallest waterfall. Luie Boone thinks the water looks like a giant dog bowl carved by time itself.
But these mountains are more than pretty views. The Arbuckles are over 1.4 billion years old, making them some of the oldest exposed rock formations in North America. Long before dinosaurs roamed—long before trees, grass, or squirrels to chase—these rocks were forming beneath ancient seas.
Today, visitors at Turner Falls Park can see folded limestone layers and even fossils that tell the story of Earth’s distant past. Luie Boone doesn’t fully understand “1.4 billion years,” but he respects anything that old. As a senior woofer himself at thirteen-years-young, he thinks he's a subject matter expert on anything older.
Though erosion has softened their peaks, the Arbuckles have endured massive geological change. They may not be the tallest mountains, but they tell one of the oldest stories as a quiet reminder of time, resilience, and natural beauty. And the best part? It’s a fantastic getaway for dogs.
Rolling hills, scenic hiking trails, sparkling lakes, and gentle waterfalls offer plenty of space for pups to explore. Many trails welcome leashed dogs, making it easy to plan nature walks, picnic stops, and long, satisfying sniff sessions. Fresh air, wide-open spaces, and new scents around every bend. You know, according to Luie Boone, it’s basically a canine dream vacation.
Throughout the Arbuckles, small towns make traveling with your dog easy and welcoming.
In Davis, you’ll find dog-friendly patios and outdoor fun. Smokin’ Joe’s Rib Ranch is a local favorite where pups are welcome outside while humans enjoy brisket, pulled pork, Polish sausage, ribs, sandwiches, and desserts.
Cross Bar Ranch Off-Road Park allows dogs under owner supervision, offering a rugged landscape that’s perfect for adventurous explorers.
The City of Sulphur, Oklahoma is a charming small town situated in the foothills of the Arbuckle Mountains. Luie Boone has heard about Fat Bully’s in Sulphur. Why? Cause it keeps trying to steal all the hoomans' fiddles. He doesn't mind though, because his hoomans are taking him to the Fat Bully’s restaurant. This spot offers outdoor seating for pups while serving up hearty burgers with names like the Shovel Head and Death by Meat. Personally, Luie Boone wouldn't mind dying with a belly full of the best, most tasty meats. Nearby, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, City Lake Trails, and Lake of the Arbuckles in Sulphur provide scenic walks and lakeside lounging opportunities.
Explore the charming town of Tishomingo – a hidden gem brimming with Southern hospitality, rich history, and plenty of fun! Whether you're a music lover, history buff, outdoor enthusiast, or simply looking for a relaxing getaway, Tishomingo has something special for everyone. Tishomingo, the hometown of country music superstar Blake Shelton, will offer a big dose of country at his Ole Red Tishomingo, a restaurant with a live music venue. Inspired by Blake Shelton’s No. 1 hit “Ol’ Red,” visitors are invited to paint the town red seven days a week while enjoying delicious food, great music and must-have souvenirs. Created by Shelton to promote local business in his hometown, Ole Red Tishomingo has become a tourist destination welcoming old and new friends from across the globe.
Luie Boone don't care much about country, but he knows some of his hoomans do, so he supposes they can enjoy that restaurant, as long as they get to go to the nearby Pennington Creek Park. Pennington Creek Park invites visitors to hike and even splash in the creek. There's also the Blue River Public Fishing & Hunting Area, which features scenic, more primitive trails.
In Ardmore, Luie Boone will be visiting the Ardmore Regional Dog Park and walking trails at Ardmore Community Park. Both offer excellent spots for exercise and social time.
Overbrook is a small town with big appeal thanks to its proximity to Lake Murray State Park. Leashed dogs are welcome on many wooded trails, picnic areas, and lakeside paths. The park also offers pet-friendly camping, and the surrounding countryside is ideal for relaxed evening strolls.
For those who love a slower pace, Pauls Valley and Wynnewood provide charming, easygoing stops. Pauls Valley features Paws Valley Dog Park and a walkable downtown, while Wynnewood offers peaceful parks and scenic rural routes.
At the heart of it all, traveling with your dog in the Arbuckle Mountains is about sharing the moment. Breathing fresh air, chasing new scents, discovering waterfalls, and ending the day tired and happy... that sounds awesome to Luie Boone. In fact, Luie Boone sums it up best: “Big rocks. Blue water. Good food. Best friends. Let’s go again!"
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay at Oklahoma’s Arbuckle Mountains. Check it out below!
Rental Name: The Lodge
This rental has 4 bedrooms with 6 beds and 3 baths and outdoor shower.
Photos by Airbnb.com
It features the following amenities:
Sits on the side of a cliff
Cliff overlooks the Lake of the Arbuckles
Feels like your own private oasis because it is surrounded by woods
2 large decks on both sides of the living room
Outdoor grill
Fire pit
Outdoor shower
Outdoor waterfall
Located at the end of road
Within walking distance to the lake
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
My hoomans say we’re going on a paw-cation to a place called The Lodge in the Arbuckle Mountains of southern Oklahoma, and it sounds paw-fect for a dog like me. It’s a big rustic cabin in the woods overlooking a lake. Quiet and peaceful! It has cozy spots inside like a huge fireplace, soft nap places, and everything my hoomans need to relax (which means I get extra cuddle time). Outside, there are decks to relax on, nature trails right out the door, and a path down to the lake. Deer and other wildlife wander by, birds sing, and the air smells like trees and fresh water. There’s a fire pit, a grill (I will be supervising for dropped snacks), a tree swing, and even an outdoor shower for post-zoomie rinse-offs. There are waterfalls too! One's a big one with several falls! My hoomans say the sound is perfect for naps; I think it's paw-some for barking out my lungs. They even told me a former guest once brought their sixteen-year-old dog, and he loved how calm it was. That makes my tail wag slow and happy, because I'm a thirteen-year-young pooch. Mostly, I’m just excited I get to go with my hoomans. I'll explore the woods, watch the animals, sniff everything, and listen to the water together. That’s my kind of adventure.
Paws Venture Here
Luie Boone sniffed out and dug up these local gems for you to check out while vacationing in Oklahoma’s Arbuckle Mountains!
Robbers Roost
Robbers Roost is in Chickasaw National Recreation Area. It's a nearly vertical 140 foot bluff that looks out over Sulphur with big views of the Arbuckle Mountains and the Washita River Valley. Luie Boone thinks high places are excellent for wind sniffing. Hoomans can take the Bromide Hill Trail with their canine buddy, as it winds through the forest, past giant rocks and along Rock Creek, all the way up to the summit!
Luie Boone believes every trail is better with your favorite hooman. Local legend says outlaws once used this spot, which is why it is called Robbers Roost. Luie Boone thinks that sounds suspicious, but he's also hopeful that said robbers were hiding some tasty snacks up there. If they were, Luie Boone is there to solve the crime!
Travertine Creek Trail
The Travertine Creek Trail is a wide and well maintained pooch friendly trail that is paw-some for happy paws. The path winds through the forest along Travertine Creek, padding past Sycamore Falls where little waterfalls tumble and splash.
Luie Boone thinks moving water is nature’s lullaby, but also, more importantly, the best spot to dip his paws and get wet! At the start of the trail, the park museum has maps for hoomans who like to know where they are going. Luie Boone prefers to navigate by sniff, but he supports prepared hoomans. As good as his sniffer is, he doesn't want to be responsible for saving the day if his hoomans get lost.
Tucker Tower
Tucker Tower sits high above Lake Murray State Park in Ardmore. It's a true icon for southern Oklahoma. Built in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration, the stone tower was originally meant to be a retreat for Oklahoma governors, though it never ended up serving that purpose. Luie Boone thinks that sounds like a missed opportunity for official nap supervision. He said he would've guarded it, but we all know he would've fell asleep on shift.
Today, the building is a geological museum. The observation deck gives hoomans and their pooch spectacular views over the sparkling lake. Luie Boone believes any place with big views and fresh lake breezes deserves a stop. “Sniff the air, admire the water, then ask for a treat,” he advises for your next visit.
Bison Pasture Viewpoint
Bison Pasture Viewpoint is a tail wag worthy stop for hoomans and their pooch. You can reach it by hiking the Bison Pasture Trail, which climbs up a bluff and follows along the river’s edge with plenty of fresh scents to investigate. Luie Boone thinks bluff climbing builds strong adventure paws.
At the viewpoint, hoomans can take in the wide open views and watch for bison grazing nearby while their dog carefully supervises the scene. Luie Boone believes large fluffy creatures should always be observed with respectful curiosity. As the trail continues, it follows Rock Creek until it reaches a multi arch bridge crossing. The bridge is a peaceful place to pause, listen to the water, and let your pooch enjoy a well earned rest beside the creek.
Craven Nature Trail
Crane Nature Trail, located in Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, is a 0.25 mile path that is pawfect for bird watching, photography, and a peaceful stroll with your pup. Surrounded by natural woods and wetlands, it offers plenty of wildlife sightings and interesting scents for curious noses. Luie Boone thinks marsh air carries very important updates from ducks and frogs.
About half of the trail is wheelchair accessible, making it welcoming for many hoomans and their canine companions. The trailhead connects to Dick’s Pond boardwalk and gently descends through woodland habitat to the bottomlands around the pond. The boardwalk gives lovely views of the water and surrounding marsh, creating a calm spot for hoomans to pause while their pooch enjoys a quiet sniff break.
Lake of the Arbuckles
Lake of the Arbuckles features 36 miles of shoreline and 2,300 acres of open water, giving hoomans and their pups plenty of room to roam. To reach the lake, take the Lake of the Arbuckles View Trail, a scenic path that winds along the shore inside Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Luie Boone thinks long shorelines mean long sniff walks.
Along the way, visitors find sweeping lake views, granite cliffs, mature hardwood forest, and the occasional wildlife sighting that keeps curious noses busy. Shaded paths, clear blue water, nearby springs, and quiet rest spots beside the lake make it a peaceful place to pause. Luie Boone believes every good lake adventure should end with a happy pant and a well earned treat.
Platt National Park
In 1976, Platt National Park was renamed Chickasaw National Recreation Area to honor the Chickasaw people and their deep connection to the land and nature. The park was first created to protect the area’s natural springs, which many believed had special healing properties. Luie Boone thinks fresh spring water sounds like premium hydration. Today, hoomans and their pups can enjoy swimming, hiking, fishing, and camping throughout the park.
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Ardmore, OK
Freddy’s Frozen Custard is best known for its cooked to order burgers, with each patty pressed thin to create those perfectly crispy edges. Every steakburger is made fresh with your choice of toppings, served hot and just the way your hooman likes it. Luie Boone believes crispy edges increase the chance of delicious crumbs. They also serve freshly churned frozen custard treats, which makes tails wag instantly. Best of all, they offer pup cups for your furry best friend. Luie Boone fully supports any establishment that understands dessert should include dogs.
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Oklahoma’s Arbuckle Mountains
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
My hoomans planned a pawcation to the Arbuckle Mountains, and I was very excited because vacations mean long walks, new smells, and snacks in strange places. They kept talking about Turner Falls, a famous waterfall with clear water, hiking trails, caves, and giant rocky views where hoomans like to splash and take pictures. They said it’s one of the prettiest spots in Oklahoma, and I could tell their tails would be wagging too if they had them. Then they found out Turner Falls is not dog friendly. Only service animals are allowed, and regular wonderful pups like me are not. My hoomans looked at each other, then looked at me, and decided they were not going without their favorite adventure dog. That's right! Very correct. My tail wagged at maximum speed. So now we’re planning different trails, creeks, and sniff worthy spots where I can explore properly by their side. We have not gone yet, but I already know it will be a good trip. The best part of any adventure is not the waterfall. It is being together, paws and hoomans as one happy pack.
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