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The 77-foot Natural Falls waterfall plunging in a silver ribbon into a lush, fern-lined, moss-draped canyon in northeast Oklahoma, soft diffused light.

State Park · Oklahoma

Natural Falls State Park

A small northeast Oklahoma park built around a 77-foot waterfall dropping into a fern-lined canyon, with viewing platforms, short forest trails, yurts, and tent and RV sites.

A wooden viewing platform and stairway descending into the green shaded canyon toward the base of the Natural Falls waterfall, ferns and hardwoods all around.

Field briefing

Natural Falls State Park changes fast with season and elevation.

Before you go

Natural Falls is a waterfall stop first, so the trip is about flow and timing: spring rains make the 77-foot falls roar, and the canyon stays cool in summer heat.

The short trails and viewing platforms make for an easy half day, and yurts or campsites let you turn it into an overnight.

Best window
March to June for full waterfall flow and mild hiking, with fall color in October
Signature routes
The 77-foot waterfall and viewing platforms, Dripping Springs and Ghost Coon trails
Pack focus
Water, weather checks, layers

The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.

Location
Oklahoma
Best time
March to June for full waterfall flow and mild hiking, with fall color in October
Entrance
Free day-use entry; Oklahoma charges only for camping, yurts, and certain facilities

When to go

Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.

Spring

High crowds

Mild, green, and lush, with the strongest waterfall flow after spring rains.

Pack Rain shell, grippy footwear, and layers for the cool, shaded canyon.

Summer

High crowds

Warm and humid, with the canyon staying cooler than the surrounding hills.

Pack Water, sun protection on the rim, and shoes for damp stairs and boardwalk.

Fall

Moderate crowds

Crisp and colorful, a strong second window as the hardwoods turn.

Pack Warm layer, headlamp for shorter days, and traction for leaf-covered steps.

Winter

Low crowds

Cold and quiet, with lower flow but the chance of striking ice formations.

Pack Insulation, traction, and caution on icy boardwalk stairs.

Top things to do

  • The 77-foot waterfall and viewing platforms

    The park's centerpiece: a spring-fed 77-foot waterfall, locally known as Dripping Springs, plunging into a mossy canyon. Two platforms, one above and one at the base, frame the falls. Scenes from the 1974 film Where the Red Fern Grows were shot here.

  • Dripping Springs and Ghost Coon trails

    Short forested loops above the falls passing a spring, a small fishing lake, bluffs, and a creek, enough to turn a quick waterfall stop into a half-day visit.

  • Yurts and the day-use area

    The park added Mongolian-style yurts to meet demand, blending camping with a roof. A reunion center, picnic shelters, and disc golf round out the day-use side.

How long to spend

Anchor the day around The 77-foot waterfall and viewing platforms

Move exposed miles to the morning and keep water, shade, and storm checks ahead of the wish list. For one day in Natural Falls State Park, make The 77-foot waterfall and viewing platforms the non-negotiable, add Dripping Springs and Ghost Coon trails only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Yurts and the day-use area as the flexible finish.

  1. 1Start with The 77-foot waterfall and viewing platforms: The park's centerpiece: a spring-fed 77-foot waterfall, locally known as Dripping Springs, plunging into a mossy canyon. Two platforms, one above and one at the.
  2. 2Add Dripping Springs and Ghost Coon trails: Short forested loops above the falls passing a spring, a small fishing lake, bluffs, and a creek, enough to turn a quick waterfall stop into a half-day visit.
  3. 3Use Yurts and the day-use area as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.

Plan your trip

Turn Natural Falls's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.

A Mongolian-style yurt nestled among autumn hardwoods at Natural Falls State Park, warm light glowing from within at dusk.

Build around conditions

Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.

Plan your trip

4 quick tools, already seeded for Natural Falls State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.

  1. 01Size your water for a mild day on the trail
  2. 02Find the right daypack size for a day out
  3. 03Check you will sleep warm down to about 30F
  4. 04Estimate the stove fuel to pack for the trip

What to pack

Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.

Pack planning

Decide what Natural Falls State Park asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.

Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.

  • First constraintHydration and exposureWater, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, Navigationmap, downloaded GPS, or a GPS watch, 3 more
  • Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
  • Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
  • If overnightSleep and shelterTent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad

Checklist mode

22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.

  1. Dates and season are set.
  2. Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
  3. Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.

Gear for Natural Falls

The buying guides that match what Natural Falls asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.

Where to stay

Camp or book a yurt inside the park to enjoy the falls before and after the day crowds. Siloam Springs in Arkansas and Tahlequah, Oklahoma are the nearest towns for hotels, food, and fuel.

Camping reservations

Camping reservations

Reserve Natural Falls camping or a yurt for spring waterfall weekends.

Natural Falls books camping and yurts through the Oklahoma State Parks reservation system. Spring, when the falls run hardest, is the busiest window, so reserve ahead.

Reviewed June 11, 2026

Booking window

Oklahoma State Parks campsites and yurts are reservation-only, booked online through ReserveAmerica.

  • Oklahoma day-use entry is free; camping, yurts, and certain facilities carry fees.
  • There are no first-come campsites at Oklahoma state parks; all sites are reserved online.
  • Spring after heavy rain gives the fullest waterfall flow and the highest demand.

Where to book or verify

Reserve Natural Falls camping

Official Oklahoma State Parks reservation portal for campsites and yurts.

Natural Falls official page

Park profile with the waterfall, trails, yurts, and facility details.

Search Recreation.gov

Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.

Campgrounds to know

Natural Falls campground and yurts

Details
Booking
Reserve online through Oklahoma State Parks and ReserveAmerica.
Sites
Tent and RV sites plus Mongolian-style yurts near the falls.
Best base for early and late views of the falls; yurts blend camping with a roof.

Getting there and practical info

The 77-foot Natural Falls waterfall plunging in a silver ribbon into a lush, fern-lined, moss-draped canyon in northeast Oklahoma, soft diffused light.

Plan the last mile as carefully as the destination.

Airports, roads, entrances, and local movement belong in the same plan.

Getting there

Get to Natural Falls State Park, then move through the park without wasting the day.

Access rhythm
Plan the last mile
Region
Oklahoma
  1. Arrival note

    Natural Falls is near Colcord and West Siloam Springs in far northeast Oklahoma, just west of the Arkansas line and about an hour from Fayetteville, Arkansas.

  2. Car strategy

    A car is required, and the falls and trailheads sit close together inside the compact park.

Pair this with lodging: the simplest base is the one that removes a real morning problem, not just the one nearest the map pin.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is the waterfall at Natural Falls State Park?

The spring-fed waterfall drops about 77 feet into a fern-lined canyon. Two viewing platforms, one above and one at the base, frame it, and the short trail down is an easy walk.

Can you camp at Natural Falls State Park?

Yes. The park has tent and RV sites plus Mongolian-style yurts, all reserved online through the Oklahoma State Parks system. Day-use entry is free.

When is the best time to see the falls?

Spring, after rain, gives the strongest flow. The canyon stays cool through summer, and fall adds hardwood color, while winter can produce striking ice formations at lower flow.

Keep planning