COE Campground in OK

[Casinojunkie]

Am looking to spend the night of Nov. 16th in a COE campground close to Hugo, OK.
Heading south on hwy. 271. Any information appreciated. Thanks

[LowRyter]

there several COE and State Parks in the area. It's nowhere near the Wichita Mtns so that's not even close.

Besides the list of COEs, there is Broken Bow and Talimena and lots more State Parks in SE OK. There are forests, lakes and steep hills in the area. Gte on the web and check out. The only place I've camped is Talimena which is about 110 miles away.

[tatest]

Casinojunkie wrote:

tatest wrote:
Tulsa District COE operates three campgrounds on Hugo Lake, just east of Hugo.

You might check COE availability on the National Recreation Reservation System, this is an "iffy" time of year. In northern Oklahoma, most of the COE operated campgrounds on COE projects are closed Nov 1st through March 31st because operation depends on volunteer labor that moves on to warmer places for the winter. If there is a ranger stationed permanently at the facility, one small CG may be open close to the ranger station. But Hugo Lake is just far enough south that the season might be a month or two longer.

This is where it gets tricky. After the closing date, the NRRS will usually show all campsites as "not available" which really means not reservable. If there is a CG that is kept open year round, it will usually be operating non-reservable, so you have to call the project office or the district office to find out whether or not such a CG is open, and whether or not "first-come" sites are available. The latter, only the project office or ranger station might know.

There are often other campgrounds on COE lakes in the Tulsa District, operated by other entities, that stay open year round. Cities, counties, tribes and the state all operate facilities on various lakes in the Tulsa District. In your case, Hugo Lake State Park, on Hugo Lake, offers cabins and tent sites, but operates no RV campground.

Pat Mayes Lake, just east of US-271, just south of the Red River, may have a longer season. Also, there are several low-cost RV parks along US-271 between Powderly and Arthur City, serving overflow for Pat Mayes lake, hunters using the WMA outside the COE camping season, and snowbirds on their way south, as well as a good number of permanent residents (often TDY military families).

There is also RV camping at Cooper Lake State Park, on TX-19 south of Paris, but the one time I tried to pull in there during the winter season, I learned that the campgrounds were open only on weekends. That was probably a February. Check Texas State Parks for availability there.

I used to go through the area several times a year, traveling to and from Houston for medical care.

Thank you for the detailed information.
One question, is there a state fee to use the state CG's, for one night?

Oklahoma state parks (with maybe some resort park exceptions) do not charge entry fees, but there are fees to use the campsites. It varies with the park and the site, I've seen $4 to $18. I've known the rangers or hosts at some campgrounds to allow a senior discount for camping, especially off-season extended stays, but there is no generally policy.

My experience with Texas state parks has been camping fees in the $12 to $20 range for sites with RV facilities, and in that range I've never had a full hookup site. There are daily per-person entry fees at Texas state parks; if I'm going to use them at all, I will buy an annual pass.

[jamway]

Casinojunkie wrote:

tatest wrote:
Tulsa District COE operates three campgrounds on Hugo Lake, just east of Hugo.

You might check COE availability on the National Recreation Reservation System, this is an "iffy" time of year. In northern Oklahoma, most of the COE operated campgrounds on COE projects are closed Nov 1st through March 31st because operation depends on volunteer labor that moves on to warmer places for the winter. If there is a ranger stationed permanently at the facility, one small CG may be open close to the ranger station. But Hugo Lake is just far enough south that the season might be a month or two longer.

This is where it gets tricky. After the closing date, the NRRS will usually show all campsites as "not available" which really means not reservable. If there is a CG that is kept open year round, it will usually be operating non-reservable, so you have to call the project office or the district office to find out whether or not such a CG is open, and whether or not "first-come" sites are available. The latter, only the project office or ranger station might know.

There are often other campgrounds on COE lakes in the Tulsa District, operated by other entities, that stay open year round. Cities, counties, tribes and the state all operate facilities on various lakes in the Tulsa District. In your case, Hugo Lake State Park, on Hugo Lake, offers cabins and tent sites, but operates no RV campground.

Pat Mayes Lake, just east of US-271, just south of the Red River, may have a longer season. Also, there are several low-cost RV parks along US-271 between Powderly and Arthur City, serving overflow for Pat Mayes lake, hunters using the WMA outside the COE camping season, and snowbirds on their way south, as well as a good number of permanent residents (often TDY military families).

There is also RV camping at Cooper Lake State Park, on TX-19 south of Paris, but the one time I tried to pull in there during the winter season, I learned that the campgrounds were open only on weekends. That was probably a February. Check Texas State Parks for availability there.

I used to go through the area several times a year, traveling to and from Houston for medical care.

Thank you for the detailed information.
One question, is there a state fee to use the state CG's, for one night?

Here is some info. on TX. Park fees.
http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-information/passes/park-passes

[Casinojunkie]

tatest wrote:
Tulsa District COE operates three campgrounds on Hugo Lake, just east of Hugo.

You might check COE availability on the National Recreation Reservation System, this is an "iffy" time of year. In northern Oklahoma, most of the COE operated campgrounds on COE projects are closed Nov 1st through March 31st because operation depends on volunteer labor that moves on to warmer places for the winter. If there is a ranger stationed permanently at the facility, one small CG may be open close to the ranger station. But Hugo Lake is just far enough south that the season might be a month or two longer.

This is where it gets tricky. After the closing date, the NRRS will usually show all campsites as "not available" which really means not reservable. If there is a CG that is kept open year round, it will usually be operating non-reservable, so you have to call the project office or the district office to find out whether or not such a CG is open, and whether or not "first-come" sites are available. The latter, only the project office or ranger station might know.

There are often other campgrounds on COE lakes in the Tulsa District, operated by other entities, that stay open year round. Cities, counties, tribes and the state all operate facilities on various lakes in the Tulsa District. In your case, Hugo Lake State Park, on Hugo Lake, offers cabins and tent sites, but operates no RV campground.

Pat Mayes Lake, just east of US-271, just south of the Red River, may have a longer season. Also, there are several low-cost RV parks along US-271 between Powderly and Arthur City, serving overflow for Pat Mayes lake, hunters using the WMA outside the COE camping season, and snowbirds on their way south, as well as a good number of permanent residents (often TDY military families).

There is also RV camping at Cooper Lake State Park, on TX-19 south of Paris, but the one time I tried to pull in there during the winter season, I learned that the campgrounds were open only on weekends. That was probably a February. Check Texas State Parks for availability there.

I used to go through the area several times a year, traveling to and from Houston for medical care.

Thank you for the detailed information.
One question, is there a state fee to use the state CG's, for one night?

[tatest]

Tulsa District COE operates three campgrounds on Hugo Lake, just east of Hugo.

You might check COE availability on the National Recreation Reservation System, this is an "iffy" time of year. In northern Oklahoma, most of the COE operated campgrounds on COE projects are closed Nov 1st through March 31st because operation depends on volunteer labor that moves on to warmer places for the winter. If there is a ranger stationed permanently at the facility, one small CG may be open close to the ranger station. But Hugo Lake is just far enough south that the season might be a month or two longer.

This is where it gets tricky. After the closing date, the NRRS will usually show all campsites as "not available" which really means not reservable. If there is a CG that is kept open year round, it will usually be operating non-reservable, so you have to call the project office or the district office to find out whether or not such a CG is open, and whether or not "first-come" sites are available. The latter, only the project office or ranger station might know.

There are often other campgrounds on COE lakes in the Tulsa District, operated by other entities, that stay open year round. Cities, counties, tribes and the state all operate facilities on various lakes in the Tulsa District. In your case, Hugo Lake State Park, on Hugo Lake, offers cabins and tent sites, but operates no RV campground.

Pat Mayes Lake, just east of US-271, just south of the Red River, may have a longer season. Also, there are several low-cost RV parks along US-271 between Powderly and Arthur City, serving overflow for Pat Mayes lake, hunters using the WMA outside the COE camping season, and snowbirds on their way south, as well as a good number of permanent residents (often TDY military families).

There is also RV camping at Cooper Lake State Park, on TX-19 south of Paris, but the one time I tried to pull in there during the winter season, I learned that the campgrounds were open only on weekends. That was probably a February. Check Texas State Parks for availability there.

I used to go through the area several times a year, traveling to and from Houston for medical care.

[FordDiesel250]

Spent many days camping at Wichita Mts. Wildlife Refuge. Our kids loved seeing the buffalo wandering around free.

[RoyB]

JFKMK - Wichita Mtns Wildlife Refuge is certainly stuck back off to itself... We first found the place back in the 60's working for DOD Contractor in Wichita Falls TX for a few years. Was a hugh tent camping experience back then... Made many trips back to area over the years as recent as 2010. This is my OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer with VIRGINIA TAGS on it haha...

CAMP DORIS - Wichita Mtns Wildlife Refuge

Love the trail heads and the two or three hidden lakes. You can get off to yourself big time around there.

The DORIS camp is OK situated on the biggest Lake inside the refuge. Today's CAMP DORIS has both sites with hookups and tents only layout. Love the tent camping close to the Lake shore line listening to all of the night sounds most people don't get to hear. Camp Doris has great security with the camp gates closing in the evenings supported by SPIKES across the main gate only allowing passage coming out haha... You learn real quick that Momabear can stand on the spikes and depress them down while you drive over when getting back to the camp ground after closing time. Or you can get the Ranger to let you back in who is staying in their quarters just inside the campground.

At night you really have to watch where you step with all of the Buffalo traffic roaming over most of the refuge. That midnight pee tree run might get exciting...

We also came face to face with a large Mountain Cat a couple of times...

Our kids fell in love with Prairie Dog City and you can stand there watching them for hours doing their daily routine only to find out that loud snort behind you is a couple of Buffalo that had wandered up behind you blocking your escape route back to the truck. I think they know what they have done and enjoying it... I have a great photo here somewhere of a herd of Buffalo's crossing the road near the Prairie Dog city area saying "Prairie Dog Crossing". I titled it "Biggest Dang Prairie Dogs I ever saw" I know it didn't happen without photos - I looked for it here but came up empty.

I think the longest we have ever stayed there was a full week one time. Back in the day the trip up on Mount Scott is where all the lovers from Lawton would go and all of the CB RADIO guys would use their radios to talk to far away places like Wichita Falls TX etc...

We use to go to the hidden lakes for the all day picnics just to hang out. We also learned you had a hard time finding groceries at Medicine Park. Everyone in that area drives back to Lawton I guess for grocery shopping. We found all we needed at the LOVE's Truck on the interstate exit.

I hope you dove into a couple of BUFFALO Diners at MEARS just north of the Refuge. Great shopping around shops there as well...

Roy Ken

[rexlion]

I've never been there, but according to my copy of "Camping with the Corps of Engineers" there are 3 COE CGs on Hugo Lake: Kiamichi, Rattan Landing, and Virgil Point. Looks like Kiamichi and Virgil Point have flush toilets and showers. Info and reservations available on Recreation.gov site.

[jfkmk]

RoyB wrote:
I guess is the LAWTON area at Medicine Park, OK is too far West of Hugo. They have a real nice camp ground called CAMP DORIS inside the Wichita Mtns WILDLIFE REFUGE...

We always try to spend a few night there when we are in thee North Texas area.. I'm sure you can find a good site at the Lakes just east of Hugo...

We usually search the areas using GOOGLE MAPS search and type campgrounds in the search form...

Roy Ken

My son graduated boot camp at Fort Sill. He had some family leave time for a couple of days and I was wondering what on earth we would do in Lawton (sorry if I've insulted anyone from the area). Discovered Wichita mt refuge and a festival was going on in Medicine Creek. Actually turned out to be very nice, although I couldn't imagine being there for more than a couple of days.

[RoyB]

I guess is the LAWTON area at Medicine Park, OK is too far West of Hugo. They have a real nice camp ground called CAMP DORIS inside the Wichita Mtns WILDLIFE REFUGE...

We always try to spend a few night there when we are in thee North Texas area.. I'm sure you can find a good site at the Lakes just east of Hugo...

We usually search the areas using GOOGLE MAPS search and type campgrounds in the search form...

Roy Ken