David L Boren Hiking Trail

The David L. Boren Hiking Trail is the premier hiking experience at Beavers Bend State Park, the most visited state park in Oklahoma, winding through some of the finest old-growth forest remaining in the Ouachita Mountains. The trail meanders along the banks of the Mountain Fork River, a designated Oklahoma Scenic River renowned for its cold clear water and excellent trout fishing supported by regular stocking programs. The surrounding forest is dominated by massive shortleaf pines, water oaks, and sycamores that create a cathedral canopy shading the trail throughout the day. The Mountain Fork River is visible from multiple points along the loop, offering access to swimming holes and fishing spots popular with visitors throughout the year. Spring brings wildflower blooms along the trail edges, while fall foliage from October through November transforms the forest with brilliant yellows and oranges rarely seen this far south in Oklahoma. Wildlife including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and river otters inhabit the riparian corridor. The park sits in the Ouachita Mountains of the Arkansas border region, offering the most topographically diverse landscape in Oklahoma.