The once-upon-a-time hidden gem of Oklahoma is now a popular weekend getaway from nearby bustling cities like Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Little Rock. Broken Bow is the perfect escape to connect with nature, reunite with friends and family, and enjoy local activities.
Some would say that Broken Bow is an extension of Dallas’ backyard because locals frequently escape the city to Broken Bow. After a wonderful college reunion with my friends and our families, I finally understand why. Broken Bow is unbelievably charming and beautiful.
There are so many fun things to do in Broken Bow that make it appealing to families and adults for a weekend getaway. You can stay in luxury cabins, hike beautiful trails, enjoy craft beer, wine, and spirits, zipline through the trees, play a round of mini golf, rent a pontoon boat for a lake day, and more.
My guide to the best things to do in Broken Bow has something for everyone. By the end of this post, you will want to add an extra day to your trip because this charming town has so much to offer!
Stay in a Luxurious Cabin
Staying in a luxurious cabin is one of the most popular things to do in Broken Bow, especially since there are very few lodges or resorts. It is literally one of the main reasons people visit Broken Bow, and because of the high demand, new cabins are constantly being built.
You can find luxury 1-bedroom cabins for a romantic getaway or a 7-bedroom cabin that fits up to 36 people for a friends or family reunion. There are cabins with resort-style swimming pools, a three-story winding slide, jacuzzis, game rooms, playgrounds, putt-putt courses, movie theatres—you name it, I bet Broken Bow has it.
For my reunion with college friends, we stayed at The Hive. A beautiful 4-bedroom cabin tucked away in a pine tree forest. It had a gorgeous patio fitted with a pool, jacuzzi, fire pit, and grill. It was spacious and the perfect place for our families to hang out.
Cabins can be booked six months in advance, especially during peak seasons such as summer and fall. So I recommend booking a cabin ASAP!
Hike at Beavers Bend State Park
Beavers Bend State Park is one of Oklahoma’s most beautiful state parks. Its dense forest of tall pine and hardwood trees is surrounded by mountainous terrain, the Mountain Fork River, and Broken Bow Lake.
Beavers Bend State Park is one of the best things to do in Broken Bow. You can easily spend an entire day here because the park is full of adventures. Fun activities include fly fishing, train rides, horseback riding, bike riding, paddle boats, canoeing, kayaking, boating, and hiking.
Beavers Bend State Park boasts several hiking trails spanning over 16 miles. These trails cater to families looking for time outside to avid hikers seeking a challenge.
The most popular hikes are the moderately challenging Friends Trail (1.5 miles/45 minutes) and Cedar Bluff Nature (0.8 miles/25 minutes). Both trails offer stunning views of the Mountain Fork River.
Two easy, family-friendly hikes are the Tree Trail (1.2 miles/30 minutes) and Pine Ridge Trail (0.75 miles/15 minutes). The most challenging hike is the Skyline Trail (a staggering 8.6 miles/4 hours and 15 minutes) with water crossings, a steep incline, and scenic views of the Mountain Fork River.
Go Off-Roading
One of the most unique things to do in Broken Bow is to go off-roading in a funky swincar. A swincar is an all-terrain, 4-wheel electric vehicle entirely operated by handheld controls. It’s a smoother and quieter ride than an ATV but just as fun!
Rugaru Adventures offers a swincar tour that takes you on a 2-mile cross-country expedition through Beaver’s Bend State Park. Along the journey, you will see breathtaking views of the mountains, weave through trees, and gain a new driving experience.
Another option for off-roading in Broken Bow is to rent an ATV or UTV and enjoy a self-guided tour along 60 miles of scenic trails in the Ouachita National Forest. Rental companies will provide a trail map, but you have to tow a trailer with your rental to a nearby trailhead.
A few recommended ATV and UTV rental companies include Bandits ATV & Boat Rental, Captain’s Hideaway Powersports Rentals, and Outlaws UTV Rentals (ask about their guided tours).
All Aboard a Scenic Train
Beavers Bend Depot and Trail Rides is nestled in Beavers Bend State Park and offers families a nostalgic journey. Guests will hop aboard a charming 1/3 size replica of the C.P. Huntington S.P. train built in 1863 and enjoy a scenic ride through the natural forest.
Along the way, the conductor will share history about the area, spot deer sightings, and (my family’s favorite part) scream “wahoo” while speeding down Wahoo Hill.
After the train ride, grab a refreshing scoop of ice cream or a sweet treat at the gift shop. You can continue the fun at Beavers Bend Depot with a pony ride or guided horseback ride meandering through the forest.
Zip Through Tree Canopies
Soak in the breathtaking views of the Broken Bow area while zipping through the air! The Rugaru Adventures zipline tour is one of the most exciting things to do in Broken Bow. The thrilling zip line course consists of six zips ranging from 300-1100 feet through the dense tree canopy of Beavers Bend State Park and over the pristine waters of Broken Bow Lake.
Read next: A Guide to Turner Falls Park in Oklahoma
Go Horseback Riding
Saddle up and take in the scenic landscape of Broken Bow by horseback. The Beavers Bend area features more than a half-million acres of land available for horseback riding.
Beavers Bend Depot and Trail Rides offer pony rides and a picturesque 2.5-mile trail in Beavers Bend State Park, where riders can seek deer and various other wildlife. Riverman Trail Rides offers scenic trails through the Ouachita National Forest, where riders cross the Glover River and soak in breathtaking views of the mountains.
Both horseback riding outfitters are great for beginners, families, and experienced riders. Children 6 and under can saddle up with an adult for a buddy ride.
Spend the Day at Broken Bow Lake
Spending the day on Broken Bow Lake is one of the best things to do in Broken Bow. It is one of Oklahoma’s most beautiful lakes, with over 14,000 acres of clear water and ample water sports activities for a fun day on the lake.
Rent a pontoon boat (or a double-decker with a slide) at Beavers Bend Marina and have an epic day with your family or friends on the lake. Go tubing, have a refreshing swim, or enjoy a leisurely cruise around the gorgeous lake. You can also rent jet skis for a more thrilling adventure on the lake!
Party on a Tiki Boat
Grab your party shirt and board the Broken Tiki boat for a fun day on Broken Bow Lake. The Broken Tiki has guided boat tours for everyone! There is an all-ages (family-friendly) and adults-only boat tour.
Both boat tours offer a great way to explore Broken Bow Lake’s serene beauty while learning about the area’s history, listening to fun music, and enjoying the good company around you. The adults-only boat tour is more suited for those who want to party and drink a little harder.
Drink Craft Beer
Grab a cold pint of craft beer in Broken Bow at Beavers Bend Brewery or Mountain Fork Brewery (or both). The breweries have subtle differences, but both are kid-friendly and have revolving taps with signature and seasonal beers, live music, and delicious dining options.
Beavers Bend Brewery has a wide selection of creative ales, lagers, IPAs, and stouts such as Front Porch Peach, Strawberry Blonde, Hoppin Howlapeno, and Bigfoot Brown Butter Pecan. The outdoor area has a covered patio, cornhole, Connect Four, and other fun yard games. They also have a food truck that serves gourmet hot dogs, nachos, and quesadillas.
Mountain Fork Brewery brews their craft beer with water from (you guessed it) the Mountain Fork River. They have a variety of beer styles, such as Belgian Golden Ale, English Brown Ale, German Hefaweizein, Mexican Ale, American Stouts, IPAs, and barrel-aged beers. The brewery also has a full-service restaurant with brick oven pizza, juicy burgers, crispy wings, sharable appetizers, and more. Outside has a shaded seating area and a gated outdoor playground—a perfect place for young families.
Visit a Speakeasy
If you like whiskey, visit Hochatown Distilling Company to taste handcrafted artisan spirits. Hochatown Distilling Company produces the finest quality whiskey in Oklahoma.
From small batch whiskey to single barrel whiskey, the first and only bottled in bond straight bourbon whiskey in Oklahoma, and a vodka chill-filtered at 25 degrees through charcoal.
Step inside Hochatown Distilling Company to find their speakeasy and enjoy a glass of straight whiskey or a classic old-fashioned. You can further your experience by taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the distillery and learn the process of distilling.
Enjoy a Wine Tasting
Do you like wine? Do you like free? Then, you will love Broken Bow because the wineries offer free or $1 wine tastings!
Girls Gone Wine provides guests with a fine place to enjoy FUN wine. They offer a free, fast-paced dry or sweet wine tasting or a private, elevated wine tasting experience at an extra cost.
Girls Gone Wine is also among the most popular wineries for a girl’s getaway in Broken Bow because they have frozen wine-a-ritas. They are so delicious, it’s like drinking a boozy ICEE! You can drink frozen wine-a-ritas on-site or take the fun to go.
Fish Tales Winery & Bistro is a cozy winery serving unique wines and tasty comfort food, like a four-cheese dip sampler. The wine menu has a mix of dry red and white wine, sweet wines, and a selection of muscadine wines. After you enjoy a free six-wine tasting, purchase a glass or bottle of your favorite wine and pair it with something delicious from the bistro.
Knotted Rope Winery is a charming family business that caters to all palates with its wide variety of exquisite wines. There’s something for everyone, from dry red and white with a few select reserves to sweet wines and wine slushes. You can enjoy wine by the glass or taste five wines for five dollars until you’ve tried them all.
Wild Horse Winery is Broken Bow’s newest arrival and quickly a local and tourist favorite. It offers a diverse selection of red and white wines and one-ounce wine tastings for one dollar. Enjoy your wine and a charcuterie board inside the lovely wine-tasting room or on the vast covered patio.
Grab a Slice of the Best Pizza in Town
Before our weekend getaway in Broken Bow, I heard about the pizza at Grateful Head Pizzeria—but how good could it really be? IT IS AMAZING!
So yes, grabbing a slice of pizza at Grateful Head Pizzeria is one of the best things to do in Broken Bow. Whether you dine inside their cute restaurant or take boxes of pizza to-go to enjoy in your cabin, make sure you get some of this delicious pizza (and their homemade ranch sauce).
If you visit Hot Springs, Arkansas (which I highly recommend), they have a location there too!
Mine for Arrowheads, Gems, and Fossils
Beaver’s Bend Mining Company is one of the best things to do in Broken Bow with kids. There are so many fun activities at Beaver’s Bend Mining Company that you can easily spend an entire morning or afternoon here.
The most popular activity is mining. Kids can pan for arrowheads, gems, and fossils and take home their treasure bag for the coolest souvenir.
Mini-golf is another fun activity at Beaver’s Bend Mining Company. They have two courses: a dinosaur-themed indoor course and an outdoor pirate-themed course. You can also ride an animatronic dinosaur, make wax hands and sand creations, and play on the outdoor pirate ship playground.
Drive Go-Karts
Drivers, start your engines for a family fun adventure in Broken Bow at two speedways! Both speedways offer buddy rides for kids at least 36″ inches tall so everyone can enjoy the need for speed.
Hochatown Amusements has the fastest go-karts in Broken Bow for a 5-minute heat. The speedway has many turns, a tunnel, and a bridge to make an exciting race. After the race, grab a victory (world-famous) hand-dipped McKinney corndog and play a round of mini-golf on the 18-hole course.
Bigfoot Speedway has a fun racetrack with a few turns and two long straights to put the pedal to the metal. The race equates to 1.5 miles of driving, so there is lots of time to pass your competitors by. Bigfoot Speedway also has a small concession stand of snow cones, a VR roller coaster, and a 360° spinning car ride.
Read next: Fun and FREE Things to Do in Oklahoma City with Toddlers
Can You Escape?
If you are looking for a more puzzling and brain-teasing adventure in Broken Bow, then you are in luck! Navigate through a life-size maze or solve puzzles to escape a themed room.
The Maze of Hochatown is unlike any maze you have experienced! The 29,000 sq ft wooden fence maze will challenge your navigation skills and mind to figure out how to escape. You will not only try to find your way out but also face challenges and collect stamps to complete the maze. Can you collect them all and escape?
Hochatown Escape Rooms has various rotating themed escape rooms that will put your problem-solving skills to the test. You can diffuse a bomb, find an antidote to kill a virus or solve a murder mystery. Race against the clock and solve your way out of the escape room before it’s too late!
Get a Hole in One
Mini-golf is one of the most popular things to do in Broken Bow because several courses are found throughout this charming town. There are mini-golf courses that look like a professional 18-hole golf course, an Old West town, a dinosaur dig, a pirate’s journey, and classic green putting courses—there is no shortage of mini-golf courses in Broken Bow.
Chili Dippers Golf Club is a luxurious 18-hole mini-golf course replicating a traditional golf course. Its meticulously designed green fairway holes with sand traps make it fun for all skill levels, but it can challenge even the most experienced golfers.
Beavers Bend Mining Company has an indoor dinosaur course and an outdoor pirate course. The dinosaur course has simple putting holes, but it’s a great way to beat the heat or stay warm. The pirate course is more challenging, with unique and highly decorated holes that fit the theme.
Old West Town Miniature Golf will make you feel like you took a step back in time. The fun mini-golf course has horse carriages and Old Western buildings, such as a bank, blacksmith, and stables—a great place for family photo ops! Some holes also have buttons that give you a brief history lesson about the Old West and other fun tidbits.
For a quick round of mini-golf, check out Hochatown Amusements and Beavers Bend Land & Water Park. They offer classic putting green courses that you can play after you enjoy their other fun activities on-site.
Go on an Exotic Safari
At Beavers Bend Safari Park, you can see beautiful animals up close as they roam around a dense forest of 90 acres. Start your journey with a self-guided drive through the park to find over 175 animals, such as bison, zebra, ostrich, kudu, elk, red stag, and other majestic hooved animals.
After you drive through the park, finish your journey on foot at the walk-about exhibit. You can see smaller exotic animals such as kangaroos, llamas, lemurs, spider monkeys, and otters.
You can also enhance your experience at the park with private animal encounters that will surely leave you with core memories. Hang out with Ronnie, the rhino, as you learn more about his endangered species and feed him a snack. Spend time with tortoises and kangaroos and feed sweet elands (the largest antelope breed).
Feed Furry Friends
The Hochatown Rescue Center & Petting Zoo is one of the best things to do in Broken Bow with kids. The family-friendly petting zoo is a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center that welcomes rescued, orphaned, and surrendered animals. Grab a pail of food or fresh fruit from the front office and get ready to meet friendly faces.
Since the petting zoo always takes in animals and rescues them back to health, you never know what you will find, but chances are you can see an array of birds, reptiles, peacocks, rabbits, tortoises, donkeys, and your typical barnyard animals (ducks, pigs, sheep, and goats). We even saw skunks, kangaroos, cavies, and a porcupine.
Our family favorite was Happy, the camel. He loved eating our banana peels!
Cast a Line
Fishing in Broken Bow is an angler’s dream, as the lake and rivers are brimming with crappie, bass, and year-round trout. Cast a line at Broken Bow Lake, Grover River, and Mountain Fork River to reel in a prized catch while enjoying the serene beauty of the dense forest and pristine waters.
For the best fishing experience in Broken Bow, hire a fishing guide. Beavers Bend Fly Shop and Broken Bow Trout Pro offer guided fly fishing trips in the Mountain Fork River. Rudy’s Guide Service and Huffman’s Guide Service offer guided boat tours on Broken Bow Lake to fish for all bass species and crappie. Do not forget your valid fishing license for Oklahoma.
See Broken Bow from the Sky
Take flight and soar over Broken Bow’s stunning landscape for a bird’s-eye view. A hike at Beavers Bend State Park or a boat tour around Broken Bow Lake are amazing ways to experience its beauty, but seeing it by air will take your breath away.
Sky Tours offers one of the most unique things to do in Broken Bow—an aerial adventure. They have an array of private helicopter tours to different locations for quick 3-minute rides to an ultimate sky tour up to 30 minutes long. Whichever tour you choose, you are guaranteed to have a memorable journey!
Place a Bet
Choctaw Landing is an exclusive luxury resort and casino that offers Broken Bow guests a different kind of adventure—a thrilling gaming experience of (hopefully) luck! The beautiful casino floor boasts over 600 slot machines and eight table games. It’s an intimate space with a vibrant atmosphere of the Choctaw Nation and the flair of Las Vegas.
Anyone can place a bet at the casino. You do not have to be a hotel guest. Try your hand at the five-dollar blackjack table or play one of the many immersive slot games.
Unfortunately, the house won when I played. Hopefully, you have better luck than me!
Dance the Night Away
If you want a fun-filled evening out, grab your cowboy boots and get ready to two-step the night away at the Hochatown Saloon! This Western-themed saloon turns from a family-friendly restaurant to a lively dance hall every Friday and Saturday at 9 pm.
Start your evening with a delicious Southern cuisine entree, drink signature cocktails, and then hit the dance floor for a night of live music and dancing. Hochatown Saloon is also a concert venue, so check their calendar to see who is playing during your weekend getaway. You can also elevate your experience at their VIP Lounge and enjoy bottle service with the best seat in the house.
Throw an Axe or Throw a Strike!
Who is ready to throw a bullseye or throw a strike? Most of the activities in Broken Bow are outside, so if you are looking for an indoor activity, check out Bigfoot Axe Throwing and Gutter Chaos.
Gather your friends and family for a friendly or competitive game at Bigfoot Axe Throwing. Don’t worry if you are new to the activity because the staff are tremendous at helping you get your first bullseye! Just make sure you bring closed-toe shoes and reserve your time slot.
Gutter Chaos is a fun, family-friendly bowling alley with small-town charm. In addition to six bowling lanes, it also has billiards, arcade games, an expansive patio with backyard games, a full-service bar, and tasty food.
