10 Best Things to Do in Broken Bow

Beavers Bend Resort Park is home to endless opportunities for relaxation and adventure with a lake, walking trails, a river, a golf course, and a museum. Broken Bow Lake is situated within the park, and you can venture out in a boat or simply fish from the shore. Walking paths can be found throughout the area, so you can explore the best of the Ouachita National Forest. The Cedar Creek Golf Course is especially popular with travelers looking for a relaxing afternoon surrounded by vibrant greenery. The Forest Heritage Center lets you explore the local surroundings from a historical or scientific perspective. You'll find it all on the south side of the lake a few miles northeast of downtown.

Broken Bow Lake is the central attraction of Broken Bow and the namesake of the town offering extensive aquatic adventure in scenic surroundings. The lake stretches 22 miles at its longest point, and that massive size presents endless opportunities. You can fish off the many piers surrounding the lake or venture out on a boat. The lake's surroundings are full of scenic walking trails like the Big Oak Nature Tail and Beaver Lodge Nature Trail, the former of which is easy enough that the elderly and small children can enjoy the hike. You'll find this lake a few miles north of town.

Hochatown Petting Zoo is home to numerous friendly barn animals you can meet along with exotic birds that fill the air with their enchanting singing. Among the barn animals, you'll find donkeys, rabbits, goats, and domestic cats. Additionally, this petting zoo is home to deer and bearded dragons among others. This petting zoo doubles as a rehabilitation center, so there will often be orphaned animals and injured animals here in recovery. You can see it all by heading north up 259 from downtown for about 10 minutes.

Bigfoot Speedway is a go-kart track where you and your friends can race around a winding track in karts that are surprisingly fast for their size. All ages are welcome here, and safety regulations are strictly enforced, so no other riders can make kids or first-time drivers feel unwelcome. This track is known for having a friendly and helpful staff. It's a family-owned business, so guests visiting as a family tend to get the kind of service necessary to ensure every last person can have fun on the track together. You'll find this track a few miles north of town by Beavers Bend State Park.

Hochatown State Park is a tranquil park where you can relax with a lovely hike or a day out fishing in the lake with amenities and facilities easily accessible. Fishing is popular here not only thanks to the populated waters of Broken Bow Lake but the local fish cleaning stations as well. In addition to the walking trails you'll find here, you can also go for a swim on the beach. The lake waters are calm, so the whole family can enjoy some fun in the sun. You'll find this park on the southwestern side of the lake north of downtown.

Lower Mountain Fork River is a popular trout fishing spot that you can enjoy all year long, or you can venture out into the river itself in a kayak. The trout fishing portion of the river is 12 miles long, so you'll have plenty of space to cast out and see what you can catch. The boating opportunities here are available from spring through fall. While there are plenty of places to set out with your boat, the 5 miles of the river that's located within Beavers Bend State Park offers unlimited boat access. You'll find this river east of town near Eagletown.

Fish Tales Winery and Vineyards is a local winemaker that offers a variety of delicious wines alongside fishing guide trips along the Lower Mountain Fork River. Among their selection of wines, you'll find red, white, sweet, semi-sweet, and semi-dry options all made from Muscadines Grapes. The fishing trips let you add a bit of adventure to your winery outing. They have a catch and release stance on fishing and extensive knowledge of the area, so they'll guide you to the best spots. You'll find this winery due north of Broken Bow's downtown off Highway 259.

Choctaw Casino is a world-class gaming center that lets you enjoy all the fun and opulence of gaming alongside the small-town charm that Broken Bow is known for. You'll find hundreds of slot machines inside along with table games like blackjack, three card poker, and heads up hold 'em. If you're looking to relax, be sure to check out their bar and lounge area. You'll find regular drink specials along with live entertainment most nights. You can enjoy it all by visiting the casino just south of town down the main highway.