Exploring the Secrets of Turner Falls
I’m on a quest to see the world’s most beautiful waterfalls, and I’m starting with all the ones I can get to in Oklahoma!
Next up on my Waterfall Wanderlust list is Turner Falls in Davis.
Oklahoma’s most famous waterfall: Turner Falls
If you live in Oklahoma, you have most likely visited Turner Falls Park in the Arbuckle Mountains before.
This time around, I wanted to make sure we explored off the beaten path and did something a bit different. The result was TOTALLY worth it, so much so that I knew I had to share what we learned with everyone!
What to know before you go
Turner Falls is touted as Oklahoma’s largest waterfall, and sometimes falsely as the tallest. At 77-feet tall, Turner Falls is actually the same height as Natural Falls in Colcord, but certainly more robust.
During spring, summer and fall, Turner Falls is gorgeous. The falls are sizable and the crystal-clear water is unlike anything else found in Oklahoma.
Unfortunately, the area is so gorgeous that it’s heavily exploited, and yet sadly under-maintained.
You can expect crowds almost any day of the week and admission is pretty pricey. Be prepared to pay about $20 per adult (with taxes and fees), plus newly added parking fees on weekends and holidays. You’ll also need to purchase your tickets online in advance to guarantee entry. Capacity fills quickly in the busy months.
Visit on a weekday
Turner Falls is a highly trafficked tourist spot because it’s a quick drive from Dallas, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Interestingly enough, when we visited, almost every license plate we saw was from Texas. It’s EXTREMELY crowded during the weekends and on holidays. We made the mistake of visiting the Sunday before Memorial Day, and let’s just say I won’t ever make that mistake again. The park was overflowing with both people and litter.
If you’re searching for some solace, I have heard the park is better during a weekday and best on weekday mornings.
All the things to do
The park offers a variety of amenities aside from the main falls, including a historic castle, novelty shops, caves and plenty of wading ares. They also have campsites and cabins available, although those will run you additional costs.
If you’re traveling with kids, there’s plenty of areas to relax in both the blue swimming hole and creek leading up to the falls. The park also offers flotation and water sport rentals.
The headliner
Turner Falls cascades into a large natural swimming hole supported by a dam on one side that doubles as a pedestrian bridge, allowing access to a sandy beach area. Pro Tip: The falls are most photogenic from the center of the bridge, or on either side.
Once you get the perfect picture of the main falls and drink your fill of the view, be sure to take the trail directly past the nearest restrooms into the woods. This short path will lead you to a gorgeous small pool and cave. The area had already been claimed by several people when we made it there, but it’s on my list to explore when we visit again.
After visiting the 77′ foot falls, the castle, and a couple of caves, we decided to get away from the large crowds and ditch the ‘trail’ we were currently following. Because, who doesn’t love a little exploring?
Hike your own trail
AllTrails is my go-to, but unfortunately in the instance of Turner Falls, the hiking trail provided is a hot mess that leads you through a multitude of populated spaces as well as busy roads and parking lots.
Knowing what I know now, I highly recommend you opt for paving your own path to have the best experience. I say that on the caveat that you should definitely bring water hiking shoes for the best experience.
We decided to park at the furthest camp area in the park and hike downstream along Honey Creek until we reached the main falls.
This path involves trekking through the creek at points, but I was pretty excited to try out my new water hiking shoes, so I didn’t mind.
My companion, on the other hand, put his hiking boots to the waterproof test. They did pretty well but the creek was too high at some points, and I am very determined, so he ended up with wet socks when it was all said and done.
The Best Kept Secret: Honey Creek to Bridal Veil Falls
The hike downstream Honey Creek provides some of the most amazing scenery in the park — so amazing I think it’s the best-kept secret in the area! Unless your camping spot is nearby or you wandered to the edge of the area (like we did), you’re not likely to ever know it’s worth exploring or even accessible.
Here, the crystal clear water gives off an energy of rejuvenation and calm. The serene forest scenery lasts for a while before merging with a more rocky landscape. The marriage creates a series of smaller, elegant falls and pools perfect for wading or enjoying from the creek’s edge.
The largest of these falls is Bridal Veil Falls, which can actually be viewed from above at the scenic overlook near the main parking area. We saw several people attempting to climb down the cliff, but also witnessed a couple people almost fall so I don’t recommend trying this unless you’re a rock-climber.
The creek, falls and pools in this stretch of the park are perfect for splashing and having fun. One of the falls at Bridal Veil even has a small cave inside! The bank nearby is smooth rock and great for stashing your gear to keep dry while you explore the creek.
The best part about Bridal Veil Falls is that even though it’s not anywhere near as large as the main falls, they are just as beautiful and FAR less crowded. In fact, there were only a handful of people hanging out here while we were visiting.
You can venture past Bridal Veil Falls a bit if you brought your water shoes, and hang out in the pools that create the Turner Falls waterfall. I personally relished in this view. Seeing the large mass of people in the pool below compared to the quiet of the space we were in felt like a win.
If you’re planning a visit to Turner Falls Park in Davis anytime soon, I highly recommend planning to explore off the beaten path, preferably on a weekday, and don’t forget to check out Bridal Veil Falls!
