Payne combines waterside trails, museums with distinct historical themes, and recreational activities in Cushing. Whether your itinerary centers on a shorter loop, a museum visit, or a seasonal offering can be decided based on your specific destinations.
Waterside Trails and Activities
For route planning, Boomer Lake Park and Lake McMurtry offer different trail options: the paved trail at Boomer Lake Park makes a complete loop around the lake in both directions and is 3.2 miles long. The Orange Trail at Lake McMurtry is a 9.1-mile out-and-back route consisting of three loops. Near Stillwater, Lake McMurtry has a total of four hiking and mountain biking trails around the lake. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.
Boomer Lake also offers an 18-basket disc golf course and fishing. You need the required Oklahoma fishing license to fish for bass, crappie, largemouth bass, and catfish; check the current fishing regulations. Visitors can rent paddleboards and kayaks at Lake McMurtry. If you plan this activity, confirm availability before your arrival.
The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University also has paths for a visit on foot: the grounds cover 100 acres and include walking trails and native plants. More than 1,000 species of herbaceous and woody plants grow in the garden. Lake Carl Blackwell covers 3,350 acres, and its recreation area spans 800 acres. These figures give a concrete sense of the size of each location, without implying a particular route or length of stay.
Museums and Regional History
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum focuses on the history of wrestling. Exhibits include sculptures, photographs, banners, plaques, medals, trophies, uniforms, and other memorabilia. Interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks complement the displays. The Oklahoma Museum of Higher Education focuses on a different aspect of history: it is the only museum in the United States dedicated to the history of higher education in a single state.
The Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar tells the story of Stillwater and Payne County from the 1889 Land Run, which opened the Oklahoma Territory to settlement, through the end of the 20th century. Temporary exhibits also change monthly, quarterly, and annually. Visitors interested in contemporary art can find tours and field trip programs at the OSU Museum of Art; admission is free. As visitor arrangements can change, check the latest visitor information before your visit.
The Oklahoma Territorial Plaza in Perkins is a six-acre open-air museum on Main Street. Several restored buildings from the Oklahoma Territory era give your visit a tangible historical context: these include a log cabin built in 1901, a 19th-century one-room schoolhouse, a gas station from the 1950s to 1960s, and the former home of Frank Eaton. Seasonal access may change, so check in advance whether a visit is possible. The area’s economic history also includes a figure tied to a specific year: in 1919, the Cushing-Drumright area accounted for 17 percent of national oil production.
Recreation in Cushing
The Cushing Aquatic Center features two large water slides, two freefall slides, a diving board, and four lap lanes. Seasonal details may change, so check the latest information if the pool is an important part of your plans. The Cushing Main Street Farmers Market is also seasonal. It offers locally grown onions, tomatoes, and radishes; dates and vendors may change.
For skydiving, the Oklahoma Skydiving Center in Cushing offers tandem jumps and Accelerated Freefall courses for beginners. Jumps take place from an altitude of 14,000 or 18,000 feet. The center is located at Cushing Regional Airport, which covers 350 acres. Booking and participation requirements may change, so confirm them in advance.
Plan Your Accommodation Around Your Travel Interests
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Stillwater, Cushing, Tillman County, Washita County, Rogers County, Noble County, Muskogee, Johnston County.
For the main travel overview: Oklahoma.
