Deep in the Arbuckle Mountains, Oklahoma is hiding a waterfall you can actually swim in

Turner Falls is worth the drive to Davis

Deep in the Arbuckle Mountains, a 77-foot wall of water crashes into a clear natural pool, and you can swim right up to the base of it. That’s not something you find every day in Oklahoma.

Turner Falls Park covers 1,500 acres near the small town of Davis, and it packs in caves, castle ruins, creek swimming, hiking trails, and a zipline alongside that waterfall.

You’ll hear the falls before you get close enough to see them. That’s your first sign you picked the right park.

One of the oldest parks in all of Oklahoma

The land around Turner Falls has drawn people since 1868, making it widely known as Oklahoma’s oldest park. The falls carry the name of Mazeppa Thomas Turner, who came across them in the late 1800s.

The City of Davis runs the park today, but the mountains underneath it go back much further than any human story.

The Arbuckle Mountains rank among the oldest rock formations in the country, and the ancient geology shapes everything you see here, from the cliffs to the creek cutting through the valley below.

Wade into the pool at the base of the falls

Standing at the base of Turner Falls with 77 feet of water roaring down in front of you is not something you forget quickly.

Honey Creek spills over the edge and drops straight into the clear pool below, and on a hot Oklahoma afternoon, that water feels like relief. Families and couples fill this spot all summer.

If you’re bringing kids 12 and under, the park requires a life jacket for them in the water. It’s a rare thing to swim next to a waterfall this size, especially one this accessible.

The Blue Hole greets you right at the entrance

You spot the Blue Hole the moment you pull into the park.

The water runs a bright, almost electric blue, and sandy beaches line the edges where people spread out towels and settle in for the afternoon.

A water slide and diving board give kids something to aim for. Most families with younger children make this their base for the day, and it’s easy to see why.

The combination of blue water, soft sand, and a slide keeps them busy without anyone needing to hike anywhere.

Honey Creek hides pools and small falls downstream

Honey Creek runs the length of the park, fed by natural springs that keep the water cool and clear even in July. When the main swimming areas fill up, the creek gives you a quieter option.

Hop across rocks, wade through shallow stretches, or follow the banks downstream where smaller pools and mini-falls tuck themselves away from the crowds. The creek doesn’t roar like the falls.

It just runs steady and cold through the shade, and that can be exactly what you need by mid-afternoon.

Find the caves carved into the cliffside above the falls

Three natural caves sit inside the park, and reaching them takes some effort.

One cave perches high above the waterfall, and the only way up is a steep rock scramble along the cliffside. The climb runs moderate to tough depending on the route.

Wear solid shoes with grip, because the rock gets slick near the water. Not everyone makes it up, but those who do get a different angle on the falls and the valley below.

The caves are raw and unimproved. You explore them on your own.

Hike through wildflowers and rock formations to the ridge

Trails cut through the park in every direction, ranging from short flat walks near the creek to longer moderate climbs toward the cave country and upper ridgelines. Most hikers start near the falls and work their way up.

The paths take you through tall trees and past rock formations worn smooth by millions of years of water and wind. Wildflowers push up through the cracks in spring.

Overlooks along the upper trails put the falls and Honey Creek below you, with the Arbuckle Mountains filling the horizon on every side.

A Depression-era castle stands in the middle of the woods

Somewhere above the falls, past the caves and up a steep staircase, there’s a stone castle.

Dr. Ellsworth Collings, a professor at the University of Oklahoma, built Collings Castle in 1930 as a private summer home.

He raised it during the Great Depression using local stone and a design that copies Old English style.

The result looks completely out of place in southern Oklahoma, which is part of what makes it so worth climbing up to see. The castle has stood in those woods for nearly a century.

Roam the castle rooms and climb to the tower for open views

Inside the castle, the rooms run small, the ceilings hang low, and the windows are narrow like something out of a medieval keep.

Several crumbling structures spread out around the main building, and you can wander through all of it at your own pace. The best part is the rooftop tower.

Climb up there and Honey Creek shrinks to a thin line winding through the trees below. The park spreads out in every direction.

Castles anywhere in Oklahoma are rare enough. One with a view like that is something else entirely.

Fall turns the Arbuckle Mountains into something worth a second trip

The Arbuckles don’t reach high by mountain standards, but what they lack in elevation they make up for in age and character.

The rugged geology sits exposed in the creek beds, along the trail walls, and in the stone of Collings Castle itself.

When fall arrives, the hills shift into orange and red, and the overlooks above the falls earn their climb twice over. From the castle tower in October, the creek below cuts through color instead of green.

The park draws summer crowds, but fall gets the best version of the scenery.

Deer, wild turkeys and more share the trails with you

The mix of water, woods, and limestone draws more wildlife than most people expect.

Whitetail deer move through the wooded sections of the park, especially in the early morning and late afternoon when the trails quiet down.

Wild turkeys turn up often enough that spotting one barely surprises the regulars. The quieter creek paths downstream give you the best shot at seeing something.

The park packs a lot of landscape into 1,500 acres, and the animals use all of it. Slow down on the trail and keep your eyes on the tree line.

Zip over the falls, picnic by the creek and stay longer than you planned

Near the park, 777 Zip runs a zipline that crosses above Turner Falls and Collings Castle, giving you a bird’s-eye look at both in one pass.

Back inside the park, picnic areas sit along the creek where you can eat in the shade and listen to the water. Most people walk in planning to spend a few hours.

Most of them end up staying longer.

The park keeps revealing something new around each bend, and by the time you’ve hit the falls, the Blue Hole, the creek, the caves and the castle, a whole day has gone.

Visit Turner Falls Park in Davis, Oklahoma

To see Oklahoma’s tallest waterfall up close, head to Turner Falls Park off Highway 77, just south of Davis in the Arbuckle Mountains. The park charges a general admission fee, with lower rates for children.

Hours and prices shift by season, so check the official website before you go.

Pack water shoes for the creek and cave scrambles, and bring enough food if you plan to stay most of the day. The nearest town is Davis, about five miles north, if you need to stock up first.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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