Waterfalls in Oklahoma

Overview of waterfalls in Oklahoma

Turner Falls in Davis pours into a natural swimming pool in a park run by the City of Davis. Turner Falls Park bills the falls as "Oklahoma's largest waterfall," though Wikipedia notes that Natural Falls matches its 77-foot height. Natural Falls is in Natural Falls State Park, in the Ozark Highlands near the Arkansas border. The half-mile Dripping Springs Trail starts with an accessible walk to an overlook. Swimming isn't allowed anywhere in the park, TravelOK says.

Little Niagara sits on Travertine Creek at Sulphur, in what was Platt National Park. Platt National Park began in 1902 as a 640-acre reservation bought from the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations, NPS says. In 1976 it was combined with other lands into the nearly 10,000-acre recreation area. The National Park Service charges nothing to get in, and you can swim from Little Niagara downstream.

South-central Oklahoma waterfalls between Oklahoma City and Dallas

Turner Falls and Little Niagara are the two falls on this site in south-central Oklahoma, in Davis and Sulphur. NPS places Chickasaw National Recreation Area between Dallas, Texas and Oklahoma City. NPS says Sulphur is about 10 miles east of I-35, the interstate that links the two cities.

We found no official drive time or distance from Oklahoma City to either falls. Natural Falls is in the Ozark Highlands near the Arkansas border instead.

Which fee or pass applies where

Each Oklahoma falls on this site uses a different fee system: city admission at Turner Falls, a Parking Pass at Natural Falls and free entry at Little Niagara.

Turner Falls (City of Davis): admission is charged per person. In winter (October to April), adults pay $9 on weekdays and $12 on weekends; in summer (May to September), $16 and $20. Kids under 5 are free. The park's pricing page shows no year, and its homepage says guests must present ID to enter.

Natural Falls (Oklahoma State Parks): there's no entrance fee, but a vehicle Parking Pass is required. Buy it online through Oklahoma State Parks reservations. We found no current official rate page, so we don't list a price. See our Natural Falls page or TravelOK for current details.

Little Niagara Falls (National Park Service): Chickasaw National Recreation Area has no entry fee, and the state Parking Pass doesn't apply there. NPS charges only for camping and boat launches, per its fees page updated October 19, 2026. Because entry is already free, the NPS fee-free days make no difference at Chickasaw. You can get Senior and Access passes at the Travertine Nature Center, but call 580-622-7234 first to check that someone can issue one.

Will Oklahoma park fees change?

We found no 2026 change, but no official 2026 rate page either. A 2024 bill, SB 1253, would have dropped day-use fees for residents; we found no evidence it became law. In October 2025 a Senate interim study looked at ending the fees. These state park fees don't cover Chickasaw National Recreation Area, which is run by the National Park Service.

Waterfalls in Oklahoma where you can swim

Two of the three falls allow swimming. Natural Falls does not.

• Turner Falls: swimming in the natural pool is allowed in summer only, and not after dark. Children 12 and under must wear a Coast Guard-certified flotation device. As of October 2026, the park says swimming is closed for the winter season.
• Little Niagara Falls: NPS opens Travertine Creek to swimming from the falls downstream (west). Upstream (east) is closed to swimming and wading. There are no lifeguards, and NPS says to enter feet first.
• Natural Falls: TravelOK says swimming isn't allowed anywhere in the park.

See our waterfall safety guide before you go.

Oklahoma waterfall closures and conditions (Oct 2026)

As of October 2026, Natural Falls and Little Niagara Falls are open, and Turner Falls is seasonal: the park is open, but swimming is closed for the winter.

• Turner Falls: seasonal. The park is open, but its homepage says swimming is closed for the winter season (October 2026). Winter check-in hours are 8am to 8pm Sunday to Thursday and 7am to 9:30pm Friday and Saturday. The park closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Heavy rain has closed it in past years when Honey Creek flooded low-water crossings. For cabins and campsites, see cabins and camping at Turner Falls.
• Natural Falls: open. We found no 2025-2026 closure. TravelOK lists the park open year-round, dawn to dusk, and all trails close at dusk.
• Little Niagara Falls: open. NPS says Chickasaw's outdoor areas are open all the time, and its October 4, 2026 alerts update named no closure at Little Niagara. On busy summer days, Travertine Creek parking shuts once its spaces fill. NPS bacteria tests for Little Niagara in August 2026 all came in under its swim-advisory limits.

Water quality, pets and easy walks

Turner Falls bans pets, NPS tests the water at Little Niagara in summer, and Natural Falls has an accessible walk to its overlook.

• Check the water at Chickasaw: NPS samples Little Niagara for E. coli in summer and posts an advisory where a site goes over its limits. Look at the NPS water-quality page before a swim.
• Pets: Turner Falls doesn't allow pets anywhere in the park. Natural Falls allows dogs on a leash of 10 feet or less. At Little Niagara, NPS bars pets from the water "and their immediate environs," but leashed dogs (6 feet or less) may use the Travertine Creek picnic areas.
• Alcohol and glass at Chickasaw: NPS bans alcohol east of Highway 177, Little Niagara included, from May 1 to September 30. It also bans glass containers on or near the creeks.
• Easy walks and accessibility: at Natural Falls the walk to the overlook at the top of the falls is accessible. Reaching the base means 47 steps down and back up. Turner Falls is a short walk from park roads, and Little Niagara has its own lot off the Perimeter Road. At Little Niagara, we could not confirm wheelchair access; NPS says the Travertine Nature Center and most park restrooms are accessible.

Oklahoma waterfalls FAQ