Updated in 2022.
Not long after our family vacation in Beavers Bend State Park, I returned with a group of girlfriends from college. The group meets somewhere for a long weekend every summer, and this year was Broken Bow and Beavers Bend.
As much fun as our trip to Broken Bow with kids was—it was also LOTS of fun without kids! And although I went for a girls’ trip, I think it would be a great place for guys or couples to get together as well.
Escape to Broken Bow WITH THE GIRLS
Girls Gone Wine
After we settled into our cabin that first afternoon, the girls headed to Girls Gone Wine, a wine-themed gift shop and tasting room near the state park.
You can choose to taste either the “dry” wines or the “sweet” wines, although both are pretty sweet! If you find a wine you like, you can purchase a glass to enjoy on the patio (and you get to keep the souvenir glass).
While our group was at Girls Gone Wine, we saw mainly other women, but we did see a few men there as well.
Even if you don’t care for the wine, I think the gift shop is neat and worth a visit.
River Float Trip
The most adventurous part of our girls’ trip was our 8-mile float down the lower Mountain Fork River.
We were hoping to rent 2-person kayaks so that the more experienced members of our group could pair up with the less experienced ones. But the rental company was out of two-person kayaks, so our group ended up with 2-person canoes and a couple of single kayaks.
The first 3 miles of our float trip had rapids (described as having a Class 2+ rating, dependent upon the water level) and the “Presbyterian Falls,” which is a 3-foot waterfall that spans the river.
As my canoe partner and I made our way through the rapids, it didn’t take long for our canoe to tip over and begin to fill with water. The more water that got into our canoe, the more we got stuck on rocks. Several other kayakers along the way helped us get our canoe moving again (sometimes forwards, sometimes backwards; we couldn’t be picky about this!), but we were never able to get enough water out of it.
When we finally made it through most of the rocky rapids, we found ourselves being carried down the river sideways, in a partly submerged canoe, toward the waterfall drop. As we reached Presbyterian Falls, our canoe got caught on rocks once again, and we became suspended on the edge of the waterfall. I’m honestly not sure how long we were there. When you’re in a partially submerged canoe, hovering sideways on the edge of a 3-foot waterfall drop, time seems to stand still. You know you’re going over and it’s not going to be pretty.
But everyone in our group made it through the rapids and the waterfall drop without any injuries other than bumps, bruises, and damaged egos. Thank goodness for the kindness of so many strangers along the way.
I found the last 5 miles of our float trip—which can be done as its own trip—to be more enjoyable. It was quite beautiful and at times relaxing. In some places the river was almost still, but in other places the water would move fast enough that we struggled to keep our canoe going in the right direction, and we nearly collided with a couple of low-hanging tree branches.
If I do another float trip down the Mountain Fork River, I’ll stick with the 5-mile version of the trip or investigate other trips on parts of the river that might be easier. But know that if you are looking for an adventure, you can find it on the 8-mile float down the lower Mountain Fork River.
For our float trip, we used Wild Goose Canoe & Kayak Rentals. If you go, be sure to wear water shoes and take plenty of sunscreen, bug repellant, water, snacks, and something to secure all of your belongings. And don’t take anything you don’t want to get wet. Very, very wet.
Massages
After our river float adventure, we were ready to relax. We opted for massage therapists who came to our cabin, Stephanie Mullins and Josh Roberts. The massages were a splurge, but excellent.
Another option is the nearby Body Harmony Day Spa, but I haven’t been there yet.
Other Girls’ Trip Activities
Other Broken Bow activities that I didn’t try but are worth mentioning are golf and fishing. For golf, there is the Cedar Creek State Park Golf Course.
In addition, Broken Bow is known for its trout fishing in the river and streams, and for its bass fishing in the lake (adults need an Oklahoma fishing license.) Boats and jet skis can be rented at Beavers Bend Marina on Broken Bow Lake.
Where to Eat for Any Occasion
Some of our best meals in Broken Bow were ones that we cooked at our own cabin! I brought a few cooking supplies from home, but we found everything else we needed at Broken Bow’s grocery store, Pruett’s Food, which is a 15-minute drive from the state park.
Grateful Head Pizza is my favorite restaurant in the area for adults and kids alike. The pizza is great, and they have take-out available.
Abendigo’s Grill & Patio is the most upscale restaurant in the area. I went there twice and had very slow service both times. The waiting made it difficult with the kids (and the kids’ menu is a bit pricey). But it was fun with the girls. If you go, try the Sicilian Nachos.
The Blue Rooster has awesome fried yellow squash like my mom and grandma used to make when I was a kid. The fried catfish is good, too. But be warned that almost everything on the menu is fried. If you’re with a group and can order family style, you can get a lot of food for your money.
Steven’s Gap Restaurant is known for having excellent fried catfish, but I haven’t been there yet.
Beaver’s Bend Restaurant is the restaurant located within the state park. I haven’t had a chance to try it either, but it’s supposed to be a great place for breakfast (opens at 8am) and has a nice view of the Mountain Fork River. (580) 494-6551.
Where to Stay in Broken Bow
Beavers Bend has many beautiful cabins in wooded areas close to the state park that can be rented through various management companies. If you’re traveling with a group, you can rent a large cabin or two or more smaller cabins that are near each other.
Our best cabin-rental experience this summer was with Beavers Bend Getaways. I’ve also heard good things about Beavers Bend Creative Escapes—although I haven’t had any personal experience with that company yet.
And of course, there are also smaller cabins available within the park, along with RV and tent camping, as well as Lakeview Lodge.
Other Broken Bown vacation rental options: Hidden Hills Cabins, Blue Beaver Cabins
Read More: Broken Bow also makes an easy family vacation!
