Boat Ramps At Canton Lake: Open Or Closed?

Canton Lake, located in the plains of western Oklahoma, is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The lake offers a wide range of recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, and swimming. With its 12 sq. miles of water, it is a haven for water-based activities, and its shores are dotted with boat ramps that provide easy access for visitors. Canton Lake is also known for its diverse fish species, making it a popular fishing destination, especially for walleye. The lake is managed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, who maintain campgrounds, boat ramps, and swimming beaches, ensuring that visitors have a range of amenities to enjoy during their stay.

Canton Lake's boat ramps

Canton Lake in Oklahoma offers a wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, and swimming. The lake has several boat ramps to facilitate easy access to the water for boaters and anglers. Here is a detailed description of the boat ramps and their features:

Big Bend Recreation Area Boat Ramps:

The Big Bend Recreation Area features two separate boat ramps, one on the north side of the lake and the other on the south. The north boat ramp, located off N4260 Road, is a three-lane concrete ramp with paved parking. The south boat ramp, situated off N2463 Road, offers two lanes, a dock, and paved parking. Both ramps provide convenient access to the lake for boaters.

Canadian Recreation Area Boat Ramps:

Located in the southwest corner of Canton Lake, off N2466 Road, the Canadian Recreation Area boasts two sets of two-lane concrete boat ramps. Each set of ramps is equipped with docks, and paved parking is available. These ramps offer quick and easy access to the water, making them a popular choice for boaters.

Longdale Recreation Area Boat Launch Ramp:

The Longdale Recreation Area, situated on the east side of the lake off E0610 Road, features a two-lane concrete boat ramp with paved parking. This ramp provides convenient access to the lake for those looking to launch their boats or engage in fishing from the shore.

Sandy Cove Boat Ramp:

Sandy Cove, located on the northern end of Canton Dam, offers a boat ramp as part of its campground amenities. The ramp is concrete and has paved parking. The campground is open between April and October and closed from November to March. This ramp is a great option for those camping at Sandy Cove who want to get out on the water.

Fairview Campground Boat Ramp:

Fairview Campground offers a group campsite with a boat ramp available by reservation or on a first-come, first-served basis for group activities and family reunions between April and September. This ramp can accommodate up to four RVs and several tents, with a length limit of 40 feet. The campground provides pit toilets, potable water, and a large picnic shelter.

In addition to these boat ramps, Canton Lake also offers various camping and recreation areas with amenities such as disc golf courses, swimming beaches, hiking trails, and fishing spots. These facilities are managed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, ensuring the proper maintenance and accessibility of these areas for visitors.

Recreational activities at the lake

Canton Lake in Oklahoma offers a wide range of recreational activities for visitors and campers. The lake features about 36 sq. miles of land and water, with 12 sq. miles of water available for water-based recreation.

Boating

The lake's vast expanse of open water makes it a popular destination for boating. Visitors can bring their own watercraft or boats and enjoy the freedom of exploring the lake. All boaters must follow the state and federal regulations governing watercraft usage, with safety being a top priority.

Fishing

Canton Lake is a fisherman's paradise, known for its abundant walleye population. The lake serves as the primary source of walleye eggs for incubation and stocking in other state lakes. Other fish species found in the lake include largemouth bass, white bass, white bass hybrids, crappie, and channel catfish.

Swimming

Swimming is permitted in all areas of the lake, except around boat ramps, courtesy docks, or buoyed-off areas. The swimming beach at the north end of the dam, known as Sandy Cove, is one of the largest in all the COE parks in Tulsa. It is recommended for swimmers due to its controlled environment and prohibition of boats, pets, glass containers, and alcohol.

Hiking

Hiking enthusiasts can explore the various trails at Canton Lake, including the 1.6-mile interpretive trail, Frank Raab Nature Trail. This trail consists of three loops with interpretive markers guiding hikers along the way. The trails offer a chance to take in the park's diverse landscapes and natural beauty.

Hunting

The public hunting area managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation offers exciting opportunities for hunting enthusiasts. Game species include waterfowl, deer, squirrel, dove, wild turkey, and bobwhite quail. State and federal laws govern hunting in the park, and licenses are required for all hunters.

Other Activities

Canton Lake also features picnic areas, RV and tent campsites, drinking water, group shelters, restrooms, showers, concession services, and a nature trail. Nearby attractions include Boiling Springs State Park and Roman Nose State Park, providing additional options for exploration and recreation.

Canton Lake's campgrounds

Canton Lake in Oklahoma offers a wide range of recreational opportunities and camping options. The US Army Corps of Engineers manages the park, which features about 36 sq. miles of land and water. The lake is situated in the plains of western Oklahoma, approximately 13 miles southwest of Fairview, and is easily accessible by car via Highway 58.

The park offers a variety of facilities for campers and visitors, including boat ramps, disc golf courses, swimming beaches, hiking trails, and fishing spots. There are several campgrounds located on the shores of Canton Lake, each offering unique features and amenities.

Big Bend Campground is pet-friendly and offers 114 campsites, with a mix of RV hookup sites and primitive sites. The campground has a peak season from April to October and is closed from November to March. Amenities include boat ramps, a disc golf course, and a day-use group picnic shelter.

Canadian Campground is centrally located and also pet-friendly, with 120 campsites available by reservation or on a first-come, first-served basis. This campground is open year-round, with peak season from April to October. All sites have electric hookups, and amenities include toilets, showers, boat ramps, and a playground.

Longdale Campground offers 35 pet-friendly campsites and is open from April to October. This campground does not have electric, water, or sewer hookups, but there are electrical outlets available in the day-use group picnic shelter. Water hydrants are also available throughout the campground. Popular activities include picnicking, fishing, hunting, and boating.

Sandy Cove Campground is located on the northern end of Canton Dam and offers 35 campsites by reservation or on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is open from April to October and closed from November to March. Amenities include electric and water hookups, toilets, showers, potable water, and a large swim beach.

Fairview Campground has a group campsite that can accommodate up to four RVs and several tents. This campground is open for group activities and family reunions from April to September. Pit toilets, potable water, and a large picnic shelter are available on-site.

Overall, Canton Lakes campgrounds offer a range of options for campers, with amenities to suit different needs and preferences. The park provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation, including boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, and swimming.

Hunting opportunities at the lake

Canton Lake in Oklahoma offers a wide range of outdoor recreational activities, including hunting. The lake is surrounded by a 14,862-acre public hunting area managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. This area offers hunting opportunities for a variety of game species.

For those interested in waterfowl hunting, Canton Lake is a great option. Duck hunting is available on the lake itself and in several cutoff oxbow lakes in the surrounding area. The west end of the lake, in particular, has some great spots for waterfowl hunting. Spending time scouting the lake the day before your hunt can help you identify the areas where ducks are frequenting. It is recommended to have a boat for hunting on Canton Lake, as there are only a few places where you can walk in.

In addition to waterfowl, the Canton Lake hunting area offers opportunities to hunt bobwhite quail, deer, squirrel, wild turkey, and dove. White-tailed deer and Rio Grande wild turkeys are present in good numbers but are highly sought after. Cottontail rabbits are also relatively common in this area.

For furbearers, coyote, bobcat, and raccoon are available. Canton Lake is also known for its excellent fishing, with species such as walleye, white bass, hybrid bass, channel catfish, and largemouth bass available.

Canton Lake's fishing spots

Canton Lake in Oklahoma is a fishing hotspot, offering a wide variety of species worth chasing. The lake is located 2 miles north of Canton and 18 miles southwest of Fairview on Highway 58. It has a shoreline length of 37.80 miles and a surface area of 7910 acres. The lake is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who also operate the boat ramps and other recreational facilities in the area.

One of the best features of Canton Lake is its diverse range of fish species. The lake is well-known for its walleye fishing, with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) previously using the lake as their main source of eggs for hatching young walleye. Other species found in the lake include largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, white bass, hybrid striped bass, and bluegill. River carpsuckers are also common in the lake and the North Canadian River, attracting bow-fishers.

When it comes to fishing spots, the north end of the lake is a prime location, although a boat is recommended to access the best fishing areas due to the challenging terrain. Along the rocky rip rap bank of the dam, there are brush piles in the water and good shoreline access, making it an ideal spot for bass fishing. The dam itself also has three finger-shaped fishing jetties that provide easy access to deeper water. Additionally, the Canadian Fishing Area and Big Bend are worth checking out for their submerged cedar trees, which provide excellent habitats for fish.

For those who prefer shore fishing, the spring and early summer are the best times to target crappie from the bank as they spawn during this period. Using small jigs or live minnows in brush piles with sensitive poles and light line can be very effective. Catfishing is also a popular activity at Canton Lake, and anglers can have success from the shore using a strong rod and reel setup with live or fresh-cut bait.

With its variety of fish species and accessible fishing spots, Canton Lake is a prime destination for anglers in Oklahoma. The lake's management by the ODWC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ensures that it remains a superb fishery, offering excellent opportunities for both shore and boat anglers alike.

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