Hideouts and Hikes: Exploring Robbers Cave State Park

Robbers Cave State Park is in eastern Oklahoma’s scenic Sans Bois Mountains. The park uniquely blends natural beauty and Wild West outlaw lore. Today, it is known for its rugged rock outcroppings, peaceful lakes, and dense surrounding forests.

However, according to legend… At one time, the cave was a haven for some of the most notorious outlaws, including Belle Starr, who is often called the “Bandit Queen,” Cole Younger, the Dalton Gang, the Rufus Buck Gang, and most famously, Jesse James.

Visiting Robbers Cave State Park

We visited Robbers Cave State Park early on a cool spring day. The sun had only been up for about half an hour when we pulled into the large empty parking lot next to the Robbers Cave Nature Trail. The trail is short, only about a half-mile loop, and on the way up to the cave, it has some steep places.

This is where Jesse James and the outlaws are believed to have stayed. The jagged rocks, remote location, and cave made it a natural fortress. Along the way to the top, we passed the corral, a natural rock corral used to conceal horses while hiding out in the cave.

At the top, we carefully entered the cave on a steep rock slope. While there’s no hard physical evidence that Jesse James and others stayed here, the legend persists, and given how rugged the area is, it’s easy to believe that they did hide from the law here. The legend and lore surrounding Robbers Cave make it so special for us.

Plan Your Visit

The park is located near Wilburton, Oklahoma, about 125 miles or about a 2-hour drive southeast of Tulsa and a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Oklahoma City.

It is open year-round, but fall is especially magical, with brilliant foliage lighting up the hills.

Where to stay at Robbers Cave State Park?

Robbers Cave State Park offers various places to stay. There is a campground with RV and tent sites, and if camping is not your thing, the park also has a lodge.