The northeast section of Chickasaw National Recreation Area, also known as the East Platt District, is the most popular portion of the park. Most Saturdays and Sundays in summer, traffic control goes into place once parking lots fill. The timing varies depending on the visitation on any particular day, but often parking fills in late morning and will stay full until late afternoon. Be sure to follow instructions from staff directing traffic. Affected areas included: Little Niagara Falls, Bear Falls, Panther Falls, Garfield Falls, Cold Springs Campground, Central Campground, the Travertine Nature Center, Travertine Island, and Buffalo and Antelope Springs.
Traffic control is rarely needed on weekdays, unless part of a holiday weekend. Mondays - Thursdays have the lightest amount of use.
If you do come on a summer weekend, have a backup plan of where you will go if traffic control is in place.
For those looking to swim, Veterans Lake and Lake of the Arbuckles are good alternative destinations.
For those looking to hike, trails leaving from the Bromide Area, Pavilion Springs, Hillside Springs, or Lincoln Bridge areas are good alternatives. The Rock Creek Multi-Use Trail, accessible from the north near Veterans Lake, or from the south near Buckhorn, is another good option.
For those looking to picnic, the Bromide Area, Walnut Grove, Veterans Lake, Buckhorn, and The Point are good alternatives.
