Oklahoma City Outdoor Activities

The breadth of water activities at OKC Riversport is nearly as diverse as the natural terrain and wildlife that surround their locations. Across Lake Overholser and the Oklahoma River, fleets of kayaks and standup paddleboards cut across the water. The sounds of drums fill the air as instructors teach students how to man the dragon boats—inspired by festive Chinese fishing vessels—or battle maritime knights. Pupils can discover a water sport for the first time or hone existing watercraft skills.

Like a fish with excellent breath control, OKC Riversport's visitors aren't regulated entirely to the water. There are 13 miles of riverside trails surrounding the area, beckoning cyclists and runners to test their mettle.

After starting off your evening at Regatta Park Landing, you'll glide along a seven-mile stretch down the Oklahoma River that takes you past the gorgeous sights of the city and alongside riverbanks where enterprising frogs and crickets exhibit their paintings. The 90-minute cruise includes music, light appetizers, soft drinks, and a modest cash bar so that you can relax on the deck in the company of fresh breezes or celebrate inside the climate-controlled cabin. During the cruise, the boat will lazily circle back to swallow its own wake, dropping you off where you started in a perfect ouroboros.

Sisters Mary Shappee and Gert Shuckhart have been taming horses for most of their lives, beginning as children in 4-H club. While Gert manages Majic Stables' office and rare bookmark collection, Mary's passion for riding keeps her in the saddle, where she teaches private and group lessons that rein in riders as young as 5 years old. A 70'x198' indoor arena allows for nighttime and fair-weather rides, and the 100'x200' outdoor area is dotted with jumps and dressage letters for tricky choreography.

Designed by esteemed fairway artist P.B. Dye, Crimson Creek Golf Club's 18-hole course summons golfers with 6,992 yards of well-groomed greenery. Constantly primped by a cavalry of lawnmowers and displaced hairstylists, the course sports a high-quality grass to help putts smoothly hold their line. A segment of the scenic course runs in a wide horseshoe pattern around the north end of Lake El Reno, which—along with a series of ponds that come into play throughout the round—compensates for the layout's scarce population of trees by gobbling up errant shots. Before taking to the first tee, golfers can take a few practice cuts at the club's driving range, check out the pro shop to load up on balls, or visit the Hook-N-Slice Restaurant for a bite to eat or a fork to use as a makeshift divot tool.

Originally built in 1945 and redesigned by renowned golf architect Tripp Davis in 1998, Lakeside Golf Course’s 18-hole layout spans 6,756 yards of pristine terrain dotted with mature oak trees. The men's par 70 and women's par 71 course has served as a training ground for several veteran PGA Tour winners, including Scott Verplank and Bob Tway. The course’s rolling, bermuda-grass fairways blend into its bentgrass greens, ensuring a smooth surface for putting or lying down to catch golf balls in your teeth.