Skyline Trail

The Skyline Trail at Beavers Bend State Park climbs to the ridgelines overlooking the Mountain Fork River valley, providing the most elevated perspectives available within the park and sweeping views across the rolling Ouachita Mountain foothills. This is the most challenging day hike at Beavers Bend, with 600 feet of cumulative elevation gain across a series of ridge ascents and descents through dense mixed pine and hardwood forest. The ridgeline sections offer filtered views through the tree canopy toward the river below and the surrounding forested hills of the Ouachita National Forest. The trail passes through habitat supporting populations of red-tailed hawks, pileated woodpeckers, and numerous songbird species that make Beavers Bend one of the finest birding locations in Oklahoma. Fall is particularly spectacular on the Skyline Trail when the hardwood trees turn amber and gold against the evergreen backdrop of the shortleaf pines. The isolated ridgeline sections provide a sense of wilderness solitude even within a popular state park. The trail connects with other park pathways for hikers wishing to extend their outing along the river bottomlands below.