Life at Sequoyah State Park
AT THE PARK
One of my favorite things about living in the park is the access I have to the outdoors. Here is how I have been recently enjoying the park:
Sunrise Coffee on the Docks
Riding Bikes in the Park
Full Moon Hiking / Night Hikes
Hot Tip: Go for the sunrise, stay for the birds.
My favorite part of sunrise in the park is that the birds, among other animals, are super active. We have seen loons, grebes, pelicans, cormorants, bald eagles, geese, coots, egrets, and great blue herons — or as I like to call them, grumps.
The first time I visited Angelina at the Park, we hiked Deer Run Trail — a 2.4 mile out-and-back trail located near the entrance of the park. The trail meanders through the forest with very minimal elevation change. We hiked it as an out-and-back, but many hikers connect this trail to Whispering Pines to create a bigger loop. While the trail floor was well-maintained keeping the ticks at bay in August, we did have to move several spiderwebs out of the trail for our safe passage.
The Fossil Trail was the first trail I hiked as a resident of the Park. It starts at the Nature Center where you can say a quick hello to the resident animal ambassadors before heading off into the woods. The trail drops down through the bluff edge along the lake where you can see hundreds of crinoid fossils. This is one of my favorite places to sit for a moment of solitude, or as I mentioned, watch the sun rise.
This trail is only about a half mile loop, but it has a connecting trail to the Lodge or to Three Forks Trail if you want to extend your time in the woods.
Note: The lower part of the trail may be underwater if the lake levels are on the rise, making the bluffs and fossils inaccessible.
One of my favorite stretches of trail in the park is on The Whispering Pines Trail. The end of the trail has a tuft of pines on a small hill that opens up into a small bay where you can watch pelicans, and maybe even an eagle if you are lucky. Bikes are allowed on the trails here, and it would be a fun natural playground for anyone who prefers to be on two wheels.
For First Day Hikes (2021), we worked on making a 3.5-mile loop combo of Deer Run & Whispering Pines. Cutting up the powerline clearing, we were able to minimize the amount of pavement stomping to a very short road crossing. You can start the hike from the Park Office. The upper Whispering Pines trail had beautiful meadows, and is subject to flooding — but worth slogging through.
Here is a map of our First Day Loop on All Trails:
Bluebird Trail is one of those trails that people love or hate, and both opinions are correct. Bluebird was built on a floodplain, so depending on when you attempt the hike… you are going to have a strong opinion. With an eagle scout project, an upper trail with a bridge will be accessible for when the main trail is flooded out or for anyone making a loop of the trail. The loop clocked in on my Strava at 1.68 miles with 134 ft elevation gain.
Sequoyah State Park’s Nature Center is a highlight for families and wildlife lovers.
The animals that we care for at our nature center are animals who cannot be released back into the wild due to injury, disorder, prior human interaction, or some other factor. They are given sanctuary in our state park as an educational resource for park visitors for the remainder of their life, often exceeding their species life expectancy in the wild.
Bixby Beaver
Timber Beaver
Ranger Coyote
Roxy Red Fox
Ruby Red Fox
Shadow & Luna Striped Skunks
Pretty Girl the Barred Owl
and other slithering, creeping things.
Pretty Girl
Our Naturalists & Recreation Staff also host First Day Hikes, nature-themed craft nights for the local ladies, Santa & Mrs. Claus Visits, guided hikes, field trips, and other various programming for park visitors.
EXPLORING THE ILLINOIS RIVER
I’ve floated the Illinois River around ten times in my life before moving to Cherokee County. Now, there are never enough river days. While I may only get to kayak or float the Illinois 1-2 times a season, there are countless river days where we swim until it is dark. The Baron Fork of the Illinois is my favorite water out here, so clear and cool — and often times you can find a little bit of solitude if you are brave enough for the roads to get there, and patient enough to wait out the crowds.
If you are going to float the river in the summer — the best, family friend option I have found is getting on the last trip at Riverside Resort, or getting on the river during the week.
The JT Nickel Preserve is also on the Illinois River, and while you can hike or bike the trails in the preserve — most people are really on the hunt for the “bathtub rocks.” While they are currently “closed to the public,” they also exist on a public road and are cool to see in any weather.
May 2024 - Taylor and I rode a loop through the Preserve and through the bathtub rocks — and it was incredible, until we were chased by farm dogs. I’m not sure that I am brave enough to ride it again, which is unfortunate because it was a beautiful ride.
COUSIN CAMPOUT SPRING 2021
WHY I’M HERE
November 2020, I started my job at the Lodge as Sales Coordinator, which meant that I worked with the large group reservations and private events here at the Lodge and around the park. You can read more about my moving out here on my blog.
When large groups like family reunions and business retreats want to come to Sequoyah Lodge, our Sales Coordinator helps book meeting spaces as well as block lodging accommodations for groups to stay here.
Fun Fact: Sequoyah Lodge is the largest state park lodge in Oklahoma. Although many may remember the lodge under another name, Western Hills Guest Ranch, the lodge was first named Sequoyah Lodge when it was built in 1956 and returned to that name after renovations were made in 2015.
January 2023, I became the Lodge Manager at Sequoyah Lodge — and it has been so challenging, and fun, taking care of our staff and this historic piece of mid-century architecture.
Sequoyah Hall
Sequoyah Hall is the grand banquet hall with panoramic views of Fort Gibson Lake. The event space can be separated into three meeting rooms for break-out sessions. Sequoyah Hall can accommodate 320 banquet style, and up to 775 theatre style. The rental includes a mobile stage, projector and screen, tables, chairs, linens, and A/V equipment. Sequoyah Hall is complimentary with lodging reservations of 40+ rooms.
Cedar
The Cedar Room is one of our larger meeting rooms perfect for luncheons, conferences and celebrations. Cedar accommodates 90 guests banquet style and up to 130 guests theatre style while providing views of the lake from our private event hallway. The rental includes tables, chairs linens, and A/V equipment with a built-in projector and screen. Cedar is complimentary with lodging reservations of 30+ rooms.
Council
A little bored of the boardroom? Council is our executive meeting space with floor to ceiling view of the lake. Located next to guest registration at Sequoyah Lodge, this room can seat 30 banquet style, and 45 theatre style and would be great for luncheons, business meetings, and small celebrations. The rental includes tables, chairs, linens, and A/V equipment.
Hickory
With beautiful artwork, windows that open to the lake and a unique view of our historic lodge sign, The Hickory Room in perfect for smaller gatherings. Hickory accommodates 48 banquet style and up to 80 guests theatre style. The rental includes tables, chairs, linens, and A/V equipment with a built-in projector and screen.
Birch
Our smallest meeting space in the Lodge, Birch may be set up for a small banquet up to 18 guests or theatre style for 40 guests. This room may also be rented alongside Hickory to extend the room size between their connecting double doors. The rental includes tables, chairs, linens, and A/V equipment.
Oak
The Oak Cabin is one of our more casual venues, perfect for reunions and groups that want a space to make their own. This comes with a kitchen in the space, two outdoor grills, and picnic tables outside the cabin. Oak can accommodate 32 guests banquet style, or up to 45 theatre style. The rental includes tables and chairs. Linens and set up may be added to the rental for an additional fee.
Great Room
This beautiful room has a grand fireplace with comfy, casual seating, a full kitchen, and can accommodate up to 50 for a seated dinner. The Great Room is included with lodging reservations of The Bunkhouse which sleeps 38, and may also be available for private booking whenever The Bunkhouse is not reserved within 60 days of the inquired event date.
For reservations, go to okstateparks.camp/Sequoyah or call (918) 772-2545.WEDDINGS AT SEQUOYAH LODGE
Sequoyah State Park has some of the best sunsets on Fort Gibson Lake and it makes for a beautiful spot to get married. Most of our weddings take place out on “The Point.”
HISTORY & CULTURE
Sequoyah State Park is located in Cherokee Nation, and is named for the Cherokee man who created the Cherokee syllabary, Sequoyah himself.
Infographic Timeline of the Cherokee People
by VisitCherokeeNation.com
From Angelina, Interpretive Ranger:
“I am not a member of the Cherokee Nation and don’t present myself as an expert, but have had some great help from interpretive services personnel in the Cherokee Nation and personal research.”
“Our park is named for Sequoyah, the creator of the Cherokee syllabary. Similar to an alphabet, a syllabary is a series of sounds versus letters. Sequoyah was not a chief, that is an oft quipped term for native peoples, but he was a great leader nonetheless. Another bit of misinformation is that he was on the Trail of Tears, but that is inaccurate, he had come westward before that time from his birthplace of Tennessee.”
“The Sequoia trees are a latin-ized version of the man’s name. Many species of flora and fauna were “described” - aka named/discovered by biologists/etc. - before Sequoyah’s time. However, because Sequoia trees are in the western US, they were not officially “described” until closer to Sequoyah’s time. They were named in his honor - they stand tall as he stood tall as a pillar in the Cherokee tribe.”
“Something that I find especially interesting is that Sequoyah had a limp due to “a physical lameness”. Had he not had this affliction, who knows what his life would have looked like. Would he have led a life that inspired him to turn the spoken language into a written one? His timing was also vital to help preserve the Cherokee tradition as Europeans spread across the Americas.”
SMALL TOWN THRILLS
It’s kind of nice to return to the land of small Oklahoma towns. These may not be the small towns I grew up around, but I intend to find all of their charm. Please be patient as I develop this section… 2020 is not the best year for exploring small town communities.
WAGONER, OK
TAHLEQUAH, OK
Sam & Ella’s Chicken Palace Pick a pretty day and pick up a pizza and mushroom caps from Sam & Ella’s. I honestly wish they would make a pizza out of the stuffed mushrooms, they are that good. We made two meals out of a small pizza, side salads, and the caps, and the pizza passed the ‘eat it cold for breakfast’ test.
Kroner & Baer Brewpub
We took our pizza to the patio of Kroner & Baer to add local craft brews to our sunny lunch. With 16 rotating craft beers, featuring some of my favorite OKC breweries, I felt reconnected to my city life.
Briar Patch Market
One of the things I miss about OKC is the Rink Gallery, a massive warehouse of antique dealer booths, and Briar Patch Market totally fills that void. There are definitely some great finds to be found, like the marble top cabinet with hand-carved raccoon knobs that is now our coffee bar at home.
Cherokee Nation Gift Shop
I try to be very conscious when purchasing Native jewelry that it is Native-Made, and not Native-Inspired. The Cherokee Nation Gift Shop had gifts for every occasion, books, art, jewelry, and a large Pendleton collection. If you aren’t traveling through, you can also shop the Cherokee Nation Gift Shop online, or at their other locations.
FORT GIBSON, OK
OKAY, OK
MUSKOGEE, OK
PORTER, OK
LOCAL VENDORS
Photographers
Wedding Cake & Desserts
Florist
DJ Services
Bar Services