Hi there! Today we are going to talk about Grand Cherokee State Park.

 

Located in Oklahoma’s Green Country, this state park was the ideal getaway to spend some time kayaking and camping.

 

What’s even better? I got to spend some time here during the week to beat the crowds!

 

I was also fortunate enough to enjoy this park without the mercy of Mother Nature derailing my plans. Often at times when you go camping in the spring time, you roll the dice when it comes to the heavy rain and wind. This time the dice landed in my favor!

 

Today, I will give you the inside track when it comes to choosing the right campsite and how to manage the famous Neosho River.

 

Without further ado, let’s go camping!

 

For more information on Grand Cherokee State Park, please check out Travel Oklahoma. You can find their website right here.

 

 

 

Grand Cherokee State Park: A Complete Review

 

 

Firstly, if you’re looking for a state park in Oklahoma that’s well kept- This is your park!

 

Secondly, if you’re looking for a quiet spot near grand lake, this is also your park.

 

Arriving on a Tuesday, I had the double whammy of peace and quiet. Remote plus solitude equals a great experience in my book.

 

I loaded my Toyota Tacoma with all of my gear and food for a couple of days and I made my way up Interstate 44.

 

When I checked the weather beforehand, it was looking pretty iffy to be honest.

 

Weather in the sooner state during the spring can be polarizing. It’s either perfect or dangerously bad. But I was able to have a little luck on my side this time around. It was absolutely perfect for camping and Kayaking!

 

The Neosho River

 

 

 

Thirdly, if you like kayaking- Grand Cherokee State Park will also be a park you’ll enjoy.

 

Typically speaking, the wind becomes a big factor whether or not I’m going to participate or not. Again, luck was on my side and the wind didn’t derail my favorite hobby.

 

The Neosho River is a monster of a river. It runs over 400 miles through a few states that include Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. One thing I have learned in my time kayaking any river, you have to respect the river.

 

Camping right off campsite# 4, I was able to see the South end part of the Pensacola Dam.

 

Why was this important?

 

Well, the Pensacola releases water every few hours. This definitely dictates the strength of the current and I was able to manage this and mitigate error.

 

With that being said, my cousin Russell who joined me , we were able to brainstorm and plan on how we were going to kayak the Neosho based off what the Pensacola was doing.

 

So, we spent Wednesday afternoon kayaking and fishing the necks of the Neosho. The easy part, was the beginning of the trip. Gliding with the current, we were able to find our opportunities fishing and enjoying the scenery.

 

Going against the Current

 

So we had our work cut out for us coming back. Paddling against the current, we were in for 2.5 hours of calorie burning paddling. All kidding aside, this was a lot of work. Visualize this, 6 strong paddles of really digging into the river felt like we were only moving an inch at a time. By the time we were done, it was time to grab a bite to eat.

 

 

The Cove Club

 

 

 

I love trying out new food places no matter the town. So we decided on the Cove Club.

Russell and I were famished, so we both elected on a couple of tasty cheeseburgers to do the trick. The burgers were delicious and were combined with friendly service. A win-win. We will both recommend this place for those who visit Grand Lake.

 

Sunsets are Great and So is the Wildlife

 

 

Lastly, if you’re looking for bird watching and outstanding sunsets- this is also your state park. Grand Cherokee State Park is known for Eagle landing.

 

At least this is what the locals call it. Often at times, especially in the winter, you can see lots of bald eagles here. I’m going to have to try and make it back here for winter camping.

 

As far as the sunsets go, nothing beats a good ole fashioned Oklahoma sunset. Especially on the river.

 

With a full moon on the horizon, Russell and I busted out our cast iron skillets, threw together some chicken fajitas, and enjoyed us a sunset.

 

 

Thoughts & Takeaways

And that will wrap things up for today. Grand Cherokee State Park is a great state park located near Grand Lake. For those who are looking for a clean campground, fun on the river, and fishing and wildlife opportunities, you will love this park. Just don’t forget about the sunsets and respecting the river. Please share your experiences in the comment section below.

 

 

-CT