Find these swimming holes, deluxe splash pads and pools to cool off this weekend
While finding a place to get wet hasn’t been hard this spring, the Oklahoma summer is now upon us, and a cool spot to splash around and chill out will be just the ticket.
From Oklahoma swimming holes to water playgrounds, city pools and splash pads, we’ve got a list of all the best water escapes.
The swollen creeks and water ways have receded after recent floods, but it’s still a good idea to call ahead or check online to make sure Mother Nature hasn’t taken a toll on your favorite swimming hole before you go.
Blue Hole near Salina
Blue Hole near Salina
$10 per carload
918-434-5507
Located between Kenwood and Salina on Kenwood Road, this family-owned park features cold, cold water fed by three springs. Swimming areas are suitable for all ages. Camping and food concessions are available.
Turner Falls in Davis
Turner Falls in Davis
$14 for adults; $7 for kids ages 6-12, seniors 55-and-older and military with ID. Children 5 and younger admitted free.
Oklahoma’s largest waterfall spills into a pool of clear water for swimming. A large rock is good for jumping, and visitors may swim around behind the falls, where the more adventurous may want to explore caves. Near the entrance to the park is another natural swimming hole with diving boards and slides. It’s on U.S. 77 off Interstate 35, about 50 miles south of Oklahoma City.
Illinois River near Tahlequah
Illinois River near Tahlequah
The stretch of the river outside Tahlequah is perhaps the most popular in the state for canoe float trips through crystal-clear water surrounded by high bluffs, rocky islands, river birch and giant sycamore trees. Peavine Access is one of several swimming holes along the Illinois River near Tahlequah.
Keystone Lake
Keystone Lake
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round
918-865-4991
Families can find several places to swim and play along Lake Keystone, including at Washington Irving Recreation area. Keystone is about 15 minutes from Tulsa.
Skiatook Lake
Skiatook Lake
Find a great swimming spot on Skiatook Lake at Twin Points. The Twin Points area is made up of large expanses of tallgrass prairie and rolling hills of oak and hickory trees. The shoreline is accentuated by steep picturesque bluffs, which offer views of the water.
Natural Falls State Park
Natural Falls State Park
$5 per car up to six people
918-422-5802
The park features a 77-foot waterfall cascading through rock formations and creating a hidden, serene atmosphere at the bottom of a V-shaped valley. Swimming is not allowed in the waterfall, but people are able to wade through the creek. It’s located off U.S. 412 about 6 miles west of West Siloam Springs.
Medicine Park
Medicine Park
Medicine Park Creek becomes a favorite swimming hole during the hot summer months in Medicine Park in southwestern Oklahoma. It’s a ways from Tulsa, but plan to spend time in the quaint town and visit the nearby Wichita Mountains for a lovely getaway.
Gathering Place
Gathering Place
On Riverside Drive between 26th and 31st streets
Charlie’s Water Mountain is one of many elements within the park that has been designed specifically to provide an exciting way to beat the heat. Located next to Picnic Grove and the Adventure Playground, this play feature is the perfect way to cool off during a summer day. Charlie’s Water Mountain includes a spray area, mist area, tunnels, dams and streams, a water lab and the water plaza. It is open from 10 a.m. to dusk through Labor Day.
Hydrate and engage in the various water features of Mist Mountain, including soaring water cannons, leaping jets of water, mist areas and interactive water fountains.
Located just south of Mist Mountain, Water Maze brings an artistic splash unlike other water features or splash pads. It is programmed to shoot sheets of water up almost seven feet high, making walls of water. As guests walk through, different water walls shoot up around them, creating a maze-like activity that will entertain for hours on end.
Safari Joe's H20
Safari Joe’s H2O
4707 E. 21st St.
Tulsa’s water/adventure park at 21st Street and Yale Avenue, formerly known as Big Splash, is still letting kids of all ages get wet and wild and hang out for the day with the family, their friends or a big group of both.
41st Street Plaza
41st Street Plaza
Enjoy multiple interactive water features, a playground, picnic areas, a covered pavilion, restrooms and a river overlook. The $2.8 million plaza was privately-funded in its entirety, with Tulsa-based QuikTrip Corp. as the lead donor. The water features normally operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. May through October, with brief periodic shut downs for water treatment.
Guthrie Green
Guthrie Green
111 E. M.B. Brady St.
Enjoy a movie in the park or a snack at Green-Wich Sammie Shop & Market while the kids enjoy the water.
Rose District Splash Pad
Rose District Interactive Water Feature
Main Street, downtown Broken Arrow
The water feature includes changing color lights and different spray patterns.
ONEOK Field
ONEOK Field
201 N. Elgin Ave.
The kids will appreciate this splash pad during long summer games. The splash pad has rubber surfacing too.
McClure Pool
McClure Pool
7440 E. Seventh St.
11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Admission: $3 per person, or $12 for a group of six with at least one adult
Tulsa World file
LaFortune Park Pool
LaFortune Park Pool
5501 S. Yale Ave.
1-6:30 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, noon to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Closed Wednesday.
Admission: $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and younger. Buddy special: 1 adult and 1 child for $5. Group special: 2 adults and 2 children for $10, add a child for $1.
Tulsa World file
Berry Pool
Berry Pool
5002 N. Wheeling Ave.
Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Free admission
Tulsa World file
Whiteside Park Pool
Whiteside Park Pool
4013 S. Pittsburg Ave.
Open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Free admission
Tulsa World file
Reed Pool
Reed Pool
4233 S. Yukon Ave.
11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Admission: $1 per person, or $4 for a group of six with at least one adult
Matt Barnard/Tulsa World file
Chamberlain Park water playground
Chamberlain Park water playground
4949 N. Frankfort Ave.
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Tulsa World file
Helmerich Park water playground
Helmerich Park water playground
7301 S. Riverside Drive
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Tulsa World file
Hunter Park water playground
Hunter Park water playground
5804 E. 91st St.
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Kendall-Whittier water playground
Kendall-Whittier water playground
2645 E. Fifth St.
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Matt Barnard/Tulsa World file
Manion Park water playground
Manion Park water playground
3003 E. 56th St.
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Tulsa World file
Mohawk Park water playground
Mohawk Park water playground
5701 E. 36th St. North
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Tulsa World file
Owen Park water playground
Owen Park water playground
560 N. Maybelle St.
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Tulsa World file
Schlegel water playground
Schlegel water playground
3825 W. 53rd Place
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Tulsa World file
Springdale water playground
Springdale water playground
2223 E. Pine St.
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Tulsa World file
Whiteside Park water playground
Whiteside Park water playground
4009 S. Pittsburg
Open noon to 8 p.m.
Tulsa World file
Splash pads
City Parks splash pads are open from noon to 8 p.m.
Archer, 2831 E. Archer St.
Benedict, 1630 E. 12th St.
Braden, 5036 E. Seventh St.
Carbondale, 2802 W. 48th St.
Crutchfield, 1345 E. Independence Ave.
Dawson, 2035 N. Kingston
Florence, 1936 S. Gary Ave
Highland, 4909 E. 36th St.
Johnson, 6002 S. Riverside Drive
Maple, 404 E. 15th St.
Penney, 531 S. 49th West Ave.
Reed, 4233 S. Yukon Ave.
Starks, 1622 N. Main St.
Tracy, 1134 S. Peoria Ave.
Veterans, 1875 S. Boulder Ave.
Wheeling, 2209 W. Wheeling Ave.
Zeigler, 3903 W. Fourth St.
Zink, 3216 S. Trenton Ave.
Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World file
Journalism worth your time and money
Subscribe to get unlimited digital access for 99 cents the first month and $5.95 after that. tulsaworld.com/subscribe.
March 2018: Baby penguin takes its first swim at Tulsa Zoo
As featured on
Officials continued to urge caution when approaching lakes that remain in flood stage due to debris and hidden obstacles under water, especially near shore.
Related: Find these swimming holes, deluxe splash pads and pools to cool off this weekend
