Ponca State Park

About Ponca State Park

Ponca State Park is located at the confluence of the Ponca River and the San Joaquin River in eastern Oklahoma and is part of a 60 km stretch of river that includes the largest single river park in the state in the United States. The section of this river, designated under the Scenic River Act of 1978, offers visitors a unique opportunity to contemplate an untamed river before modern man changed it forever.

The park is located 3 km from the city of Ponca and the park town is named after the proud Indian tribe that once inhabited the area. It was the famous "Ponca Chief Standing Bear" who won the battle to have an Indian declared a person under American law. His achievement earned him the title of "Chief of the Indian Tribe" in the United States and was also called "The Great Indian" by the Indians.

Ponca State Park is designated by the National Park Service as part of the Lewis and Clark Historical Trail. The scenic area offers park visitors all the amenities of a modern state park, but with the scenic beauty of the heavily wooded Ponca Hills, it covers more than 2,500 acres and covers the same area as the Missouri River crossing that Lewis & Clark crossed in Missouri in 1804.

In 1934, the first 200 hectares were donated by citizens of the city and sponsored by the American Legion Post in Ponca.

The dense forest provides an oasis for many species of wildlife, and until today, white deer and wild turkeys are often seen in the area.

The howling of coyotes and owls echoes through the evening in the mountains, and occasionally visitors also see a large number of wild turkeys and other birds of prey such as deer, elk, elk, coyote, fox, wolf, bear or even wolf.

The park attracts both amateurs and experienced birdwatchers, and the forest comes to life with a variety of birds of prey and many other species. Red-breasted red woodpecker, large-beaked-beak, ruby-red-throat hummingbird, black-nose sparrow, blue-bellied chameleon and yellow-eyed sparrow are just some of the highlights.

Prairie plants include prairie grasses such as locusts, wildflowers, shrubs, trees and grassland. The most common forest flowers include black-eyed sparrows, blue-footed spruce, red-bellied woodpeckers, white-breasted woodpeckers, black and yellow-platypus, and black and goldfinch.

Oaks are the predominant tree species in the park and are generously scattered, but the Old Oak is almost the heart of this park. The native gooseberries include black gooseberry with leaves, blue gooseberry with belly and black and yellow gooseberry with platypus and white gooseberry with breasts.

In 1964, this ancient specimen was officially 320 years old, and the seedlings were born on the Mayflower, which landed at Plymouth Rock.

On a warm summer day, vultures from Turkey are seen hovering over our heads, and in the nearby river, it's time to catch catfish. On summer nights, the repeated cry of the vulture "Bam, Bam, bam" echoes through the steep slopes of this gorge.

In the fall, the sky is bright blue and air-conditioned, and Ponca State Park has one of the best air-conditioning systems in Kansas State. In winter, the park is home to bald eagles, which often breed and fly over the river. Winter is also a good time to observe a variety of hardy songbirds at the bird feeders in the parks.

Each room has a kitchenette with hob, hob, oven, microwave, dishwasher and sink, as well as a bathroom and shower.

Normally the property is available from the end of May to September, but these dates are subject to change and are usually available between May and September.

Reservations are accepted for all 50 modern campsites and confirmed with a deposit of two nights.

Reservation is accepted 1 year before arrival date and on one year - to - date reservation accepted from 09.00 am. Reservations are accepted until the end of the day on the first Monday of each month from May to September. Reservations are accepted 1 week before arrival.

Ponca State Park offers excellent camping with over 50 modern campsites and a variety of primitive camping facilities. Electric tar pitches, camping stoves, campfires, fireplaces, picnic tables, portable toilets and camping chairs are available.

The modern facilities are open from April to October when the weather is good, but primitive camping is possible all year round, and primitive campsites are open from May to September.

The park also offers a variety of recreational fishing opportunities along the Missouri National Recreational River and its tributaries. Normally, anglers catch trout, salmon and perch, as well as trout and mackerel, but the park's 3,000-foot river bridge offers boaters and anglers the chance to experience it in all its glory.

With more than 20 km of hiking trails, the park offers hikers and mountain bikers many opportunities to explore the hinterland of the parks. Every year, several mountain bike races are held, making the network of paths of the park famous for its different routes and a variety of other activities.

Ponca State Park has developed very well in recent years and attracts a good number of visitors and visitors from all over the world.

Staff and volunteers on site help inform visitors about the park's activities such as camping, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities. Many such activities are also offered, including a variety of activities for children and adults, as well as a wide range of educational programs for adults.

In late spring, summer and early autumn there are daily programs for adults and children. In summer, swimmers can cool off in the park's swimming pools, where lifeguards are deployed.

Organized rides are led by experienced rangers and Gogo from Memorial Day to Labor Day and from May to September from late May to early September.

For more information, timetables and tickets, please contact the park office or call (855) 888-4357.

Highland Oaks public golf course is located on the southern edge of the park. The clubhouse offers a variety of activities, including picnics, hiking, fishing, camping, golfing and other activities.

In autumn, hayloft rides are available and reservations are made for groups of 15 or more. In spring and summer, a hay cart ghost ride is offered, and in summer a horse and buggy ride. The cooking classes take place from July to September every first Saturday of the month from 12 noon to 4 pm.

In the summer and fall, the Ponca State Park Fire Department and the Pennsylvania State Police Department serve as the official New York State Fire Department in the fall.

For more details, please call the Park Office at (718) 888-467-5555 or the Ponca State Park website.

The park's office is housed in the former New York State Department of Environmental Protection office building. New opportunities for education and recreation are being developed in the State Park, but also in several other State Parks and other public spaces.

The meeting room can accommodate groups of up to 250 people and can be divided into smaller events. The fully equipped kitchen can be rented, click here for more information, and the meeting rooms can accommodate a group of 250 + people.