Cave Trail

The Cave Trail is the centerpiece attraction of Robbers Cave State Park, leading through dramatic sandstone formations to the historic cave complex that served as a hideout for some of the most notorious outlaws of the American West. Belle Starr, Jesse James, and the Younger gang are among the legendary figures said to have used this remote Ouachita Mountain canyon as a refuge from pursuing lawmen in the decades following the Civil War. The sandstone boulders that form the cave are part of the San Bois Mountains formation, sculpted by millions of years of erosion into a labyrinth of overhanging cliffs, narrow passages, and sheltered alcoves. The trail winds through the boulder chaos and up to elevated sandstone outcrops offering views across the park. The cave itself is a true rock shelter rather than a true cave, but the sense of enclosure and the historical associations make it one of the most evocative natural sites in Oklahoma. Interpretive signage along the route tells the stories of the outlaw era and explains the geology of the unique sandstone landscape. The trail is suitable for older children and makes an excellent family adventure.