McAlester, OK Outdoor Activities

There was a time when Robbers Cave State Park wasn’t named as such. If it had been, that would have been a pretty obvious tip for police to go searching there, and they might have stumbled upon outlaws such as Jesse James, Belle Starr, and the Youngers hiding out from the law. The wooded hills, rugged caves, and remote location made it an ideal place for the infamous to disappear after robbing a train or showing the townsfolk their bare ankles.

Today, this same natural landscape attracts a different sort of adventurer—rappellers, cave explorers, and all manner of outdoor enthusiasts. The park's 8,200 acres play host to three fishable lakes that teem with trout and perch, and the trails offer scenic trips for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Climbers scale and rappel sandstone cliffs, and the wilderness area's wildlife attracts hunters and nature watchers alike.

After days spent trying to track down the old outlaw cave among sandstone hills and cliffs—some of which tower to 1,500 feet—visitors can cozy up to the fireplace in one of the 26 park-view cabins. To make visits comfortable, the cabins feature fully equipped kitchens, linens, and satellite TV, as well as central heat and air. The Belle Starr lodge also welcomes guests, and there are plenty of sites for tents, RVs, and stockpiles of loot as well.

Dust clouds form from the hooves of two warhorses thundering across the jousting field. Across the way, a falcon wheels in the sky, spotting prey for his master. Meanwhile, King Henry watches from a tall stone tower, pleased with the bustling marketplace below. It isn’t the year 1539, and it isn’t planet Camelot IV in the Avalonian system. It’s the modern-day Oklahoma Renaissance Festival, held at the Castle of Muskogee every summer for nearly 20 years.

Every merchant and performer has a story to tell, from Sir Robert Vinterhawk of Birds of Prey to the painter Lady Anne, who creates lush portraits of the castle’s guests. The Tribal Circus performs gravity-defying feats without the aid of strings or wizardry, and the mysterious masked man of Cast in Bronze enraptures his audience with the sanctified tones of carillon bells. For adrenaline-pumping thrills, the human chess game —where life-size pieces engage in full battle—is second only to the raucous jousting tourney. Guests can further immerse themselves in a lost era with a spin around the maypole or by dressing up for the daily costume contest.

The Randy Heckenkemper–designed layout of South Lakes Golf Course winds its way through seven lakes, resulting in a watery, 6,413-yard wonderland worthy of exploration. The course’s sinuous fairways slink around the lakes at many points, forcing players to aim carefully for the dry bermuda grass. Large bentgrass greens crown each hole, offering a welcome reward for golfers who manage to keep their balls dry or those who require a running start in order to give themselves a jumping high-five. And when the round is done, players can always head back to the clubhouse area to utilize the 13,000-square-foot practice putting green or all-grass driving range.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Total length of 6,413 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 70.7 from the back tees
• Course slope of 119 from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard

A gorge filled with foam, a mountain made of tires, and a system of endless mud rivers—it’s not the nightmare of a man hoping to pogo stick across America, but a 5K obstacle course. Participants in The Hillbilly Porkchop Roundup start the day by picking up their swag bag stocked with a racing bib, t-shirt, and chip timer before lining up for an individual or team race. They'll then wind their way through 16 muddy obstacles where the object is to not only garner the best time, but to rescue the largest number of plastic pigs scattered throughout the course. After swinging through the hillbilly high bars and navigating the teetering tire bridge, runners dive into the muddy pig crawl before inadvertently hosing off in streams of a super soaker water canon.

Visitors waiting for their own circuit, or toweling off after a run can check on the kid’s in the 1-mile race, critique the eats at the State BBQ Championship, or fix their hair in the reflective chrome of a car show.

An acronym for "Ridiculously Awesome Visual Expedition," Run to Rave combines the healthiness of a 5K with the party energy of a rave. DJs blasting electronic music energize the event, inspiring participants to power through 3.1 miles of light shows while donning complimentary glow kits. Across the finish line, electronic dance music thrums even louder in Glow Village, where runners become serious dancers. Proceeds from the event benefit Run It Forward, which helps endurance athletes raise money for inner-city children.