Army Corps of Engineers · Birch Lake · Skiatook, OK

Birch Cove

Birch Cove is located at Birch Lake in Osage County, Oklahoma. Cradled in valleys surrounded by rolling, forested hills, the lake is a perfect setting for nature lovers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The lake is small yet scenic and offers several excellent outdoor recreational opportunities for year-round enjoyment, such as fishing, boating, swimming, horseback riding and picnicking.

More like this: electric hookups in Oklahoma · reservable in Oklahoma · big rigs in Oklahoma · pets allowed in Oklahoma

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Birch Cove swim beach.Birch Cove, Birch LakeBirch CoveView of private swim beach
Photos courtesy of Birch Lake Office · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric98
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 100 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

98 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
B002B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes
B003B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes
B004B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes
B005B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes
B006B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes
B007B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes
B008B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes
B009B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes
B010B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes
B011B-Loop (Outside of Gated Main Campground)Back-inFull30 ampYes / –15 / 3Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length132 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 38, 39 are listed accessible

With a boat ramp, fishing dock, playground, and a swim beach, Birch Cove has something for everyone. All campsites are on the waterfront or within a short walk from the lake. There are also two group camping shelters that can be reserved; one shelter accommodates 6 rv/trailers, 100 people and 21 vehicles, and the other accommodates 4 rv/trailers, 60 people and 11 vehicles.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Birch Cove30°40°50°60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 37.0°F averageFebruary: 41.4°F averageMarch: 51.0°F averageApril: 60.2°F averageMay: 68.5°F averageJune: 76.7°F averageJuly: 81.9°F averageAugust: 80.7°F averageSeptember: 72.2°F averageOctober: 60.6°F averageNovember: 49.0°F averageDecember: 39.4°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Barnsdall, 2 miles from the campground at 770 feet, station USC00340535 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

From Tulsa, take Highway 75 north to Hwy 20 west. First light in Skiatook turn right (north) on Hwy 11 to Barnsdall for 19 miles. Take a left on West Chestnut Avenue, then left on South Eighth Street at T. Travel 3 miles and Birch Cove entrance will be on the right.

Nearest townSkiatook, Oklahoma
Coordinates36.5344° N, 96.1622° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗14.1 mi
RV sales & serviceAdventure Time RV ↗26.1 mi
Outdoor gearREI ↗33.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

First Look: Blue Mountain Birch Cove Wilderness Area

Worth a stop

Natural features

Birch Cove Campground is forested, and most sites have a mix of sun and shade. The 1,137-acre lake is part of Birch Creek, a tributary of Bird Creek. The shoreline ranges from gentle to steep slopes with numerous rock outcrops. The hilltops and upper slopes are generously forested with small hardwood trees, primarily post oak, blackjack, other oaks, hickory, hackberry and elm. Numerous species of grasses and wildflowers bloom in spring and fall. Forests, tallgrass prairie and shrub ecosystems surround the lake area.

Recreation

Birch Lake is popular for fishing and hunting, as well as family fun and relaxation. Fish species available for the angler include largemouth bass, walleye, spotted bass, smallmouth bass, hybrid striped bass, black and white crappie, channel and flathead catfish and sunfish. Principal game species for hunting enthusiasts include bobwhite quail, mourning dove, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit and whitetail deer.

Guidebooks for Oklahoma

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Birch Cove?

Sites at Birch Cove are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Birch Cove?

Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Birch Cove have?

98 sites, including 98 standard sites with power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Birch Cove?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Birch Cove have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Birch Cove?

Yes, pets are allowed at Birch Cove. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Birch Cove?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Birch Cove?

Sites 38 and 39 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Birch Cove?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Birch Cove?

Birch Lake is popular for fishing and hunting, as well as family fun and relaxation. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Birch Cove?

Skiatook, Oklahoma.

Source: Getting there

What if Birch Cove is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Twin Cove Point (0.3 mi), Twin Points (10.8 mi), and Tall Chief Cove (14.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby