Camp Observer1 of 9 photos
Bear Creek Cove
Overview
Bear Creek Cove Campground is situated along the banks of Kaw Lake in north central Oklahoma.Recreation
The lake and river are known for producing some of Oklahoma's largest catfish, as well as crappie, white bass and walleye, making it a popular destination for anglers.Hikers and horseback riders are attracted to the beautiful trails along the eastern shore. The Eagle View Hiking Trail is approximately 12 miles long and runs between Osage Cove and Burbank Landing. The Five Fingers Equestrian Trail extends from Burbank Landing to the Sarge Creek Cove Public Use Area.
Hunters' skills are tested with excellent populations of whitetail deer, turkey, quail, rabbit and squirrel. During the fall waterfowl seasons Kaw Lake often attracts large numbers of migrating ducks and geese.
During the winter visitors are likely to spot migrating bald eagles, as Kaw Lake has one of the biggest populations in the state.
Facilities
Bear Creek Cove offers 22 campsites with modern amenities like electric hookups, drinking water and flush toilets. A boat ramp provides easy access to the lake.Natural Features
The lake covers 17,000 surface acres and has 168 miles of shoreline. Completed in 1976, the dam and lake help provide a recreational oasis for outdoor enthusiasts of all types.Nearby Attractions
The area holds a number of historical sites, including several Native American settlements, archeological sites and the Pioneer Woman Museum.Camp site features
Across 22 camp sites:
- Electric hookups: all 22 sites
- Water hookups: all 22 sites
- Sewer hookups: 1 of 22 sites
- Fire pit: all 22 sites
- Picnic table: all 22 sites
- Pets allowed: all 22 sites
- Longest rig: 40 ft
- Largest party: 8 people
- Power up to 30 amps
- Equipment: Boat, CAR, CARAVAN/CAMPER VAN, FIFTH WHEEL, Hammock, Horse, LARGE TENT OVER 9X12`, PICKUP CAMPER, POP UP, RV, SMALL TENT, Tent, Trailer, VEHICLE
Directions
From Newkirk, Oklahoma, take Peckham Road and travel east for about 8 miles,
turn right on Bear Creek Road and continue south for 3 miles. Campground will
be on the right.
Stay Limit
Check in from 6 PM, check out by 4 PM.
Reviews
Ratings (83)
5 stars
48
4 stars
22
3 stars
8
2 stars
4
1 stars
1
Melissa A
Loop:Bcrc
Site:14
Reviewed 15 days ago
Beautiful location but can’t predict weather. Not their fault but unable to enjoy experience. Should have closed it down. Lake flooded. There was only a fire pit. No grill for us old folks to cook.
Frederick Arnold R
Loop:Bcrc
Site:18
Reviewed a month ago
This campground is beautiful!! The maintenance and upkeep is immaculate. Neal is a wonderful camp host. Enjoyed our stay and definitely will be back.
Dennis D
Loop:Bcrc
Site:18
Reviewed a month ago
We camp at several parks in Oklahoma and other states,This place by far was the most well kept campground we have been to,wish the caretaker could travel to other campgrounds and teach host how to keep a campground taken care of this nice,the boat ramp was horrible,not the responsibility of the caretaker at Bear Creek.
Katherine P
Loop:Bcrc
Site:09
Reviewed a month ago
We loved camping at Bear Creek! It's quiet with lots of green forest. My only suggestion is that when there is a boil water directive, that it is emailed out to the campers so we can bring extra water with us. However, the camp host is amazing! I loved listening to all of his stories, and I appreciated the advice he gave about being a camp host. Thanks for a great time!
James C
Loop:Bcrc
Site:21
Reviewed 2 months ago
We always enjoy bear creek always clean campgrounds always clean bathrooms compost Neal is great , would recommend
Christina B
Loop:Bcrc
Site:18
Reviewed 3 months ago
The campsite were well maintained. And Neal, the host, was absolutely great.
Thomas M
Loop:Bcrc
Site:21
Reviewed 8 months ago
Park was amazing clean and neat. Bathrooms were always in good order and clean. Only problem was the water. Drinking water shouldn’t have dirt in it
Curt b
Loop:Bcrc
Site:19
Reviewed 8 months ago
Check in process late at night is a bit difficult with the lack of cell service. Other than that the Host was so kind.
Josh B
Loop:Bcrc
Site:16
Reviewed 8 months ago
This campground was great! Beautiful scenery with plenty of tree cover, and the campsites were nicely spaced out for privacy. The bathrooms were decent, and overall the experience was excellent. I’d definitely recommend it!
Steve R
Loop:Bcrc
Site:12
Reviewed 9 months ago
The caretaker of the Bear Creek Campground has done a really excellent job of keeping the grounds from being overgrown and the grounds were really clean as well. It was a good visit. Looking forward to next year’s camp out.
Corina F
Loop:Bcrc
Site:06
Reviewed 9 months ago
The campground was clean and well-kept. We enjoyed our experience there and would return.
Chris P
Loop:Bcrc
Site:03
Reviewed 10 months ago
I am beginning to hate picking sites based on reviews. I chose the site based on a 5 star review. There were waterfront sites I would have chosen over this site. The campground was pretty empty. I should have moved and dealt with the camp host later. The bathrooms were nice and the shower hot. I would stay there again no problem.
Bruce L
Loop:Bcrc
Site:01
Reviewed a year ago
Very well maintained the gentleman that takes care of the park does a excellent job keeping it clean and the grass moved he is always doing something outside cleaning restrooms and picking up and very friendly
Christina B
Loop:Bcrc
Site:18
Reviewed a year ago
The campsite was in good shape, roomy, with shade trees and recently mowed.
Neil, the host, was exceptional. He went over the top to make our stay enjoyable.
David L
Loop:Bcrc
Site:18
Reviewed a year ago
This campground was one of the cleanest and well kept campgrounds we’ve stayed at. We enjoyed all aspects of camping there. Neil the campground attendant is super nice and friendly but does a great job keeping order in the campground, example he had to call a group of campers that were blaring their music after quite time hours so other campers were not disturbed during sleep hours.
Few miles of dirt roads can be challenging for some either dusty or muddy depending on the weather.
We will be returning and is now one of our regular camping spots.
Thanks to Neil for the fabulous job he does for all of us so we can have a clean and well kept campground to enjoy!
Dee H
Loop:Bcrc
Site:22
Reviewed a year ago
The grounds keeper is very kind and knowledgeable. Extremely clean restrooms and camp sites. Mowed and branches kept trimmed. Will definitely 💯 recommend to anyone looking for an amazing environment to camp and get away.
David T
Loop:Bcrc
Site:06
Reviewed a year ago
Lake is flooded. Our campsite well away from water. Some campsites nearly flooded. Of course the bugs were out! None is the fault of the COE.
The main road in the campsite has been repaved which is very nice. Also some campsite pads have had repair work done.
The bathrooms need updating and cleaning. Men's was pretty much unusable. We still like this campground and will undoubtedly return.
Kelley M
Loop:Bcrc
Site:17
Reviewed 2 years ago
We camped at Bear Creek Cove on Kaw Lake in Oklahoma for 3 nights the last week of November. This is near Ponca City. New lake and campground for us. We were in site 17. Very quiet and other campers seemed to be deer hunters. Water is low at this end of the lake, but we enjoyed the ducks landing and taking off in the shallow water.
While kept up, it was a bit rougher than other COE campgrounds we've been to. The other campgrounds on the lake have had or are in the process of some improvements, so maybe this one is next. Our picnic table didn't have a shade top like most others which was actually fine for November. The table is in a strange spot in the back of the site, but again fine for spreading out.
There is a boil water advisory that we were not aware of until my husband happened to go check out the bathhouse. It was only posted there. There's not a check in station where this would have been posted otherwise. The other campgrounds did have gates/stations and it was posted at all of them. Something to be aware of. The water was silty, so we ended up buying water in addition to the water we had packed. It was fine for flushing, washing dishes, and showering.
We drove over to Pawhuska one day to shop and explore. There's other interesting things to do in the area, especially off lake season.
The lake sits near/on Osage and Kaw reservation land.
Elizabeth R
Loop:Bcrc
Site:19
Reviewed 2 years ago
Clean, very well maintained grounds, grassy campsite with great views.
David B
Loop:Bcrc
Site:09
Reviewed 2 years ago
Bear Creek Cove is a quiet and somewhat isolated campground on the dry end of Kaw Lake. It appears to be a deer hunters dream spot. The camp areas are well spaced and the campground was clean and mowed with lots of trees. The bathroom was locked, but may have been due to the end of the season as we showed up there around November the 1st. Our dogs were very intrigued by the critters, especially the Armadillos, saw a few of them. Not real close to town but when we camp it's to get away from town. Our site had a slight grade and had to unhook to get our travel trailer level. No big deal, we notice a few others doing the same. Not to say all the campsites are like that. Saw some the looked perfectly level.
Wesley W
Loop:Bcrc
Site:08
Reviewed 2 years ago
Everything we needed, plenty of privacy, highly recommended!
Thomas M
Loop:Bcrc
Site:22
Reviewed 2 years ago
The park is the cleanest I’ve gone too. Camp host is the best. Working every time I see him. Bathrooms spottless
Nicole R
Loop:Bcrc
Site:12
Reviewed 2 years ago
The site was clean, the camp host was friendly. Not our first stay at this campground. Will be back.
Andre E
Loop:Bcrc
Site:17
Reviewed 2 years ago
Had a nice stay. Sites and grounds were clean and well maintained. Unfortunately we went and the water was down so was just a dry lake bed to look at. Look ahead and see if the lake is up if you want to be by the water.
Kenny B
Loop:Bcrc
Site:17
Reviewed 2 years ago
The camp host was very friendly and informative about the lake. The water is dried up at this location. We were told it has been 3 years without water. Very quite and nice site.
Beverly H
Loop:Bcrc
Site:21
Reviewed 2 years ago
The park is always beautiful and well maintained. Neal (the caretaker) is the best there is. I would like to see some cleaner water coming from the hydrants however. The water was very bad.
David T
Loop:Bcrc
Site:06
Reviewed 2 years ago
Nice, quiet stay. Improvements being made, especially clearing the undergrowth back away from the sites. Very nice.
Wade V
Loop:Bcrc
Site:18
Reviewed 3 years ago
Very nice, and well maintained campground in a beautiful location. Sites are nice, easy to level your rig and easy to get in and out. You do have to traverse about 3 miles of gravel county road so be prepared for dust when dry and mud when wet. All in all, a nice campground.
Jason S
Loop:Bcrc
Site:16
Reviewed 3 years ago
Very pretty camp. Did not know that the water would be drained, but that is my fault for not doing research. Campsite had water and electric. Very pleased with our view and ease of access.
Thomas M
Loop:Bcrc
Site:21
Reviewed 3 years ago
The park itself is in great condition. One of the cleanest parks I go too. The bathrooms are clean and always taken care of. If there was one thing that should be considered is updating power spots. They seem to trip off even at night when lower power is being used
Milton H
Loop:Bcrc
Site:14
Reviewed 3 years ago
It was great camp host was fantastic. The camp was real neat and clean
Marilyn J
Loop:Bcrc
Site:19
Reviewed 3 years ago
It is a beautiful campground. The camp host is great and takes wonderful care of the campground. We will be planning more trips to Bear Creek Cove.
Nicole R
Loop:Bcrc
Site:18
Reviewed 3 years ago
The park was well kept and there was even fire wood ready for buring left by the host. ait was a very nice visit. We will be back.
Rickey D
Loop:Bcrc
Site:03
Reviewed 3 years ago
This location is one of my favorites. It is always clean and quiet. There is a lot of space between sites so you don’t fill like you’re in each other’s business. I plan to come back over and over.
Demi B
Loop:Bcrc
Site:12
Reviewed 3 years ago
Great campground, 10/10 recommend. Kaw lake is beautiful and had an awesome view of the sunset. Not over crowded and a nice place to relax after going through the tall grass prairie.
Rickey D
Loop:Bcrc
Site:19
Reviewed 3 years ago
What a beautiful and quiet campground. The sites are spacious, have paved pads with covered picnic tables, fire pit, and a grill. The campground is well maintained with big shade trees and lots of room to roam. We stayed at site #19 which has a view of the lake. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the grass isn’t mowed along the shoreline. It is very tall and overgrown so you can’t access the water. We will definitely be back!
Sharla K
Loop:Bcrc
Site:16
Reviewed 3 years ago
We had a good experience at site 16! There was shade and trees that we hung some hammocks from. We stayed a few nights and it was really peaceful. The campgrounds were really clean and bathroom was also clean aside from some bugs coming in. We will be back! Only thing I could complain about is the lake was low.
Bill W
Loop:Bcrc
Site:19
Reviewed 3 years ago
Very enjoyable experience…we went for the quiet and we’re not disappointed…the lake wasn’t high enough for the water to reach our area but the view of the lake was great…the park was very clean and well maintained…we stayed for 10 days with our pets and they were able to enjoy the park and wildlife as well…we had water & 30 amp electric hookups and took advantage of the on-site dump station…traveling down dirt roads to get there was a little tiring but well worth it…we will be back
Stacy C
Loop:Bcrc
Site:07
Reviewed 4 years ago
Difficult to get to, 3 miles of dirt roads. No cell service, but lots of deer and deer hunters.
Broke my ankle falling off the broken pad. Pad is 6”+ drop. Won’t be back.
Scotty S
Loop:Bcrc
Site:06
Reviewed 4 years ago
I am amazed at how much the camp host does at bear creek it’s more than I’ve ever seen in my 40 years of camping .What it sad there should be me amenities at this camp ground before he was the host I would not stay there it was bad but he and his hard work made this a beautiful campground and safe and that means alot when you bring your family I have spoken with numerous campers and they feel the same but also believe he should have money put back into this campground I can’t imagine how much nicer it could be
Popularity
Quiet · 30%
Busiest in July, when about 30% of sites are booked. Based on 9 years of reservations.
