Lake Skiatook is located on Highway 20, 4 miles west of Skiatook City and 11 miles east of Hominy, Oklahoma, about an hour’s drive from Tulsa. This beautiful lake is surrounded by rolling hills of Blackjack, Post Oak, and Tallgrass prairie.

Lake Skiatook has an area of ​​approximately 10,500 acres and 160 miles of shoreline. The winding coastline is highlighted by rugged picturesque cliffs that offer spectacular views.

Skiatook history

The city of Skiatook was born in the late 1880s. There are conflicting historical records as to the origin of the name Skiatook. One story says that the city was founded on land that was home to a prominent Osage Indian named Skiatooka. They called the community that surrounded their home, the Skiatooka settlement. There is another story that says the name was taken from Ski-A-Took, which is a Cherokee word that means “great injun me” or that describes a large man or a vast expanse of land.

But what is generally accepted is that the Cherokee Chief William C. Rogers founded Skiatook when he established a trading post in the Cherokee Nation located south of Bird Creek. Skiatooka, the Osage Indian, was a frequent trader at the post, which may be why his name was related to the name of the city.

In the early 1920s a road was paved to Tulsa. With good roads leading in all directions, Skiatook became known as the gateway to all points north, south, east, and west. Skiatook began purchasing water from Spavinaw in the 1930s, but when Lake Skiatook was finally completed in 1984, Skiatook had its own water source. Records show that the town of Skiatook has grown steadily since its inception in the 1880s. The population has increased by 93% since 1990.

On October 23, 1962, the 87th Congress passed the Flood Control Act. This authorized the construction of the dam and Lake Skiatook. It is one of five projects in the Bird Creek Basin plan. These projects were recommended to meet the comprehensive water needs within the area. The purpose of the construction of the dam and Skiatook Lake was flood control, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife management. When the project was completed on October 31, 1984, its total cost was $ 120 million.

The dam is a rolled earth fill embankment that is 3,590 feet long, including the spillway. It rises 143 feet above the river bed. The embankment has a crown width of 32 feet. The uncontrolled spillway consists of a concrete threshold in the right abutment. The spillway bottom is 100 feet wide and its crest elevation is 732.0 and has a design capacity of 21,700 cubic feet per minute. Exit works include a gate tower with selective intakes; a 10.5-foot conduit tunneled through the right pillar with two 4.67 by 10.5 floor low-flow gates and a 36-inch water supply line.

Lake Skiatook offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, including:

1. Boating and sailing

   You can ride a speedboat on Lake Skiatook. Boaters can explore islands and coves that have natural rocky outcrops. There are secluded areas where people can go on family outings. Boaters can launch from public boat ramps or rent boats at the two marinas on the lake. The lake also has deep shores that give sailboats the ability to make the most of the available area of ​​the lake. The winds come from the south or north and this gives the boats the ability to go up and down along the lake. Wave heights are also minimized.

2. Swimming

   The water is clean and clear, making it safe for swimmers.

3. Camping and picnic

   There are several camping areas on the lake that visitors can choose from. The most popular is Tall Chief Cove. The campgrounds at Twin Points and Tall Chief Cove have water and electricity. So does Crystal Bay Marina, which is located on a point overlooking the lake. The Bull Creek Peninsula has camping sites that are more primitive. Also Armadillo Island. Stony Ridge Campground, located near the dam on Highway 20, can accommodate RV campers.

4. Trekking

   There are hiking trails located in the Skiatook Lake Wildlife Management areas.

5. Hunting

   The shoreline around Skiatook Lake is controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers and is home to different types of wildlife such as squirrels, rabbits, deer, some coyotes, quail, ducks, and other native bird species. There are approximately 8,000 acres of land open to all hunters (according to state and federal hunting regulations) at different times of the year.

6. Fishing

   Lake Skiatook is known for offering one of the best bass fishing experiences in the country. Bass fishermen are always rewarded for their efforts, whether they fish the main body of the lake or the lake plains. The water is clean and clear year-round because there are no tributaries from farmland, waste, or chemicals. In addition, water discharges through the dam maintain downstream water quality and improve certain types of fishing. Lake Skiatook is always in perfect ecological balance. Very little land was cleared when Lake Skiatook was formed. Many of the trees remained standing in most of the coves. This provided good habitat for the fish, as well as privacy for the bass fishermen. The lake hosts several fishing tournaments throughout the year. Lake Skiatook is fast becoming a hot spot for smallmouth bass. Tournament records have shown that bass fishermen catch smallmouth bass weighing up to five pounds. Other sport fish include largemouth bass, black and white crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, bluegill, carp, lake perch, and others.

Lake Skiatook is a pristine body of water that is a paradise for fish and outdoor enthusiasts, especially bass anglers. It is perfect for people who want to be in communion with nature. So, if you want to relax for a few days or more, visit Skiatook Lake in Oklahoma.