Robbers Cave State Park

Type: state park in the Sans Bois Mountains, Latimer County, Oklahoma, about 5 miles north of Wilburton on State Highway 2. Originally called Latimer State Park before taking its current name in 1936. Park and adjoining wildlife management area total more than 8,000 acres, including three lakes (Lake Carlton, Lake Wayne Wallace, Coon Creek Lake) with a combined 189 surface acres. Attracted 983,131 visitors in 2021.

Robbers Cave State Park sits in the rugged, wooded Sans Bois Mountains of southeast Oklahoma, built around a sandstone cave long associated with outlaw legend. The area served as a hunting ground for centuries, with ties to Spiro Mounds-era peoples and later Osage and Caddo groups, before post-Civil War outlaws including Jesse James, Belle Starr, the Dalton Gang and the Rufus Buck Gang reportedly used the cave as a hideout. The park itself traces to a 1929 donation of 120 acres near the cave to the Boy Scouts of America by Wilburton editor Carlton Weaver, and it was renamed Robbers Cave in 1936. Today the park combines that outlaw-era cave with three lakes, extensive hiking and mountain-biking trails, and both rustic and modern lodging, making it one of the more developed state parks in Oklahoma. It is also historically notable in social psychology as the 1954 site of Muzafer Sherif's Robbers Cave experiment on intergroup conflict among 22 teenage boys.

The park is in Latimer County in southeast Oklahoma, roughly 5 miles north of Wilburton on State Highway 2, within the Sans Bois Mountains (part of the Ouachita range). It sits at approximately 35°00'10"N, 95°20'29"W.

Southeast Oklahoma has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild-to-cool winters. Specific park-level temperature and rainfall data were not found on the sources fetched for this profile; visitors should check a current regional forecast before traveling.

Spring and fall generally offer the most comfortable hiking and camping conditions in this part of Oklahoma, avoiding peak summer heat and humidity; specific park-published seasonal guidance was not found in the sources used here.

The region around the cave was used as a hunting ground for hundreds of years, with archaeological connections to the Spiro Mounds culture and, by the 1600s, to Osage and Caddo peoples. After the Civil War, the cave gained notoriety as a hideout for outlaws, reportedly including Jesse James, Belle Starr, the Dalton Gang and the Rufus Buck Gang. The park itself began in 1929 when Wilburton editor Carlton Weaver donated 120 acres near the cave to the Boy Scouts of America for a campground; it was established as Latimer State Park and renamed Robbers Cave in 1936. In 1954, the park hosted psychologist Muzafer Sherif's landmark 'Robbers Cave experiment' on intergroup conflict, conducted with 22 teenage boys at a summer camp there.

Popular activities include hiking and mountain biking on the park's wooded trail network, fishing and boating on Lake Carlton, Lake Wayne Wallace and Coon Creek Lake, and exploring the historic Robbers Cave itself. The park also offers camping, cabin stays, and equestrian-friendly terrain typical of Oklahoma's mountain state parks; confirm current trail conditions and any guided-tour options directly with the park.

Key features include Robbers Cave itself, the three park lakes (Lake Carlton, Lake Wayne Wallace, Coon Creek Lake), and the Belle Starr View Lodge. The surrounding Sans Bois Mountains provide the scenic backdrop for the park's trails and overlooks.

The park is reached via Oklahoma State Highway 2, about 5 miles north of Wilburton, in Latimer County. There is no commercial airport in Wilburton; visitors typically drive in via regional highways, with Tulsa and Fort Smith, Arkansas the nearest larger cities with commercial airports (specific mileage not confirmed in sources used here).

Specific daily gate hours were not confirmed from the sources fetched for this profile; Oklahoma state parks are generally open year-round for day use and camping. Confirm current hours by calling the park or checking robberscavestatepark.com before visiting.

Oklahoma state park vehicle day-use fees generally start at $10 per vehicle per day ($8 for Oklahoma-plated vehicles), with fees waived for honorably discharged veterans and Oklahoma residents 62 and older with spouses; multi-day and annual passes (around $75 out-of-state / $60 resident) are also available. Cabin and campsite rates are set separately; call the park directly for current pricing.

A half-day to full day covers the cave and a lake, while an overnight or multi-day stay allows time for hiking, fishing and the full trail network; specific park-recommended durations were not found in sources used here.

The park itself offers 26 cabins (18 single, 8 duplex, all park-view with fireplaces and full kitchens) and the Belle Starr View Lodge, plus 22 full-hookup RV sites, 92 semi-modern water/electric sites, and 86 primitive tent sites. Pet-friendly cabins are available for an additional per-day fee. Additional lodging options exist in nearby Wilburton, about 5 miles south.

In-park dining options were not confirmed from sources used here; nearby Wilburton offers small-town restaurant and grocery options for visitors who prefer not to cook at their cabin or campsite.

Wilburton, about 5 miles south, is the closest town for supplies and additional services. The wider Sans Bois and Winding Stair mountain areas of southeast Oklahoma, including other state parks and the Ouachita National Forest, are within driving distance for visitors extending their trip.

There is no on-site or nearby commercial airport; visitors reach the park by car via State Highway 2. Specific nearest-airport mileage was not confirmed in sources used here.

Cave exploration and mountain trails call for sturdy footwear and caution on uneven terrain; check with park staff about current cave-access rules before entering. Lake activities should follow standard water-safety practices (life jackets for boating, awareness of swimming areas). For any emergency, dial 911.

Sturdy hiking shoes, a flashlight if exploring the cave, insect repellent, sunscreen, and layered clothing for mountain weather that can shift quickly. Camping gear or cabin essentials depend on your chosen accommodation type.

Book cabins or the lodge well ahead, especially for weekends, since availability is limited; call the park directly for cabin/campsite rates not published online. Bringing cash or checking accepted payment methods ahead of a visit is worthwhile at a rural park like this.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For park information, cabin and lodge reservations, the Robbers Cave State Park cabin/lodge line is listed as 918-465-2562.

Robbers Cave State Park - https://www.robberscavestatepark.com ; TravelOK (Oklahoma Tourism) - https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/robbers-cave-state-park

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.