Hackberry Campground

For Oklahomans who truly appreciate a rugged, back-to-nature experience, Hackberry Campground offers an unparalleled opportunity. Located within the vast Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Frederick, Oklahoma, this primitive campground is not your typical amenity-rich RV park. Instead, it’s a haven designed for those who seek immersion in a critical wildlife habitat, particularly for migrating waterfowl. If your idea of camping involves quiet solitude, abundant wildlife, and a focus on outdoor pursuits like hunting, fishing, or birdwatching, Hackberry Campground is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

Reviewers consistently laud Hackberry Campground for its unique appeal. As one devoted camper put it, "This is my favorite primitive campground in Oklahoma. I love it because of the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area which is designed specifically for migrating waterfowl." While the campground itself offers minimal facilities, this is precisely its charm for many – a chance to truly disconnect. The nearby Visitor Center does provide essential amenities, helping bridge the gap for those who appreciate basic comforts in an otherwise wild setting. It's a place where the landscape, designed for conservation, becomes your ultimate amenity, promising serene views and unforgettable encounters with Oklahoma's diverse wildlife.

Hackberry Campground is situated within the expansive Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area in southwestern Tillman County, near Frederick, Oklahoma. The address for the general area is Unnamed Road, Frederick, OK 73542, USA. This location places it within a significant wetland and upland habitat, specifically managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

As a primitive campground, access is generally straightforward but without the paved roads and elaborate signage of more developed parks. Visitors should be prepared for gravel roads within the WMA. One key accessibility feature noted by reviewers is an "area that has a gravel bed for easy of camping in rainy weather," which is a thoughtful addition for primitive campers. The Hackberry Flat WMA covers 7,566 acres, providing ample space for exploration once you arrive. Frederick, a nearby town, offers basic lodging and restaurants for those needing supplies or a more comfortable stay before or after their primitive camping experience. The WMA is open 24 hours, allowing for flexible arrival, though the Visitor Center has specific, often limited, hours of operation.

Hackberry Campground is explicitly a primitive camping area, meaning it offers very few direct amenities at the campsites themselves. The focus is on providing an unspoiled natural experience. However, crucial services are available at the nearby Visitor Center.

• Primitive Campsites: The campground offers designated primitive camping areas. This means sites typically have no utilities (water, electric, sewer hookups), and developments are minimal. It’s designed for self-sufficient campers.
• Gravel Beds for Camping: A specific feature highlighted by a reviewer is an "area that has a gravel bed for easy of camping in rainy weather," which helps prevent campers from getting stuck in mud.
• Flush Toilets with Running Water (at Visitor Center): Although not at the campsites, the nearby William H. "Bill" Crawford Building (Hackberry Flat Center/Visitor Center) provides a "flush toilet with running water," a significant convenience for primitive campers.
• Potable Water Faucet (at Visitor Center): The Visitor Center also features a "covered picnic table with potable water faucet," offering a source for drinking water.
• Conservation Passport/Hunting/Fishing License Requirement: Visitors are "technically required to have a fishing/hunting license to camp here," or a Wildlife Conservation Passport, as the campground is within a Wildlife Management Area. This ensures that users contribute to the conservation efforts of the area.
• Open for Hunter and Angler Camping: The WMA explicitly allows hunter and angler camping in designated areas, reflecting its primary purpose.

The true highlights of Hackberry Campground lie in its natural environment and its role as part of the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area, making it a unique destination for specific types of outdoor enthusiasts.

• Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area: This 7,566-acre area is a "haven for waterfowl" and is specifically managed for migrating birds. It's a restored wetland that mimics natural wet and dry cycles, attracting a diverse range of species.
• Premier Bird Watching: Hackberry Flat is a "premier destination for birders," with over 225 species identified. It's one of the best areas to view shorebirds in the region, especially during spring and early fall migration. Visitors can observe thousands of doves, various wetland birds, and raptors like Peregrine Falcons and Rough-legged Hawks.
• Exceptional Hunting Opportunities: The WMA offers outstanding hunting, particularly for "waterfowl: Ducks are usually present in good numbers but fluctuate throughout the hunting seasons." It's considered "one of the nation's best-kept hunting secrets" for waterfowl. Other game species include dove, quail, sandhill crane, rabbit, and whitetail deer.
• Driving Tour for Wildlife Viewing: A self-guided driving tour and a half-mile walking trail starting at the Visitor Center are available to enhance wildlife viewing opportunities. Informational signs are posted along the walking trail.
• Monarch Butterfly Migration: In the fall, Hackberry Flat is a primary nectar source for southbound Monarch butterflies, offering opportunities for events like the Monarch Watch Tagging Program.
• Tranquil and Secluded Atmosphere: Given its primitive nature and focus on wildlife, the campground is exceptionally "quiet" and offers a sense of seclusion, perfect for those seeking to escape crowds.
• Educational Opportunities: The Hackberry Flat Center (Visitor Center), when open for scheduled events, features a "wetland classroom" and exhibits designed to provide hands-on experiences and teach about wetland plants and animals.
• Conservation Focus: Camping here contributes to and allows direct experience with a significant conservation success story – the restoration of Hackberry Flat's historic wetlands by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

For specific information regarding Hackberry Campground, camping requirements (such as the mandatory license), Visitor Center hours, and current conditions at Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area, it is best to contact the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation or the WMA directly.

Address: Unnamed Road, Frederick, OK 73542, USA (This refers to the general area of the campground within the WMA).

For general inquiries about Hackberry Flat WMA and its facilities, you can often find contact information through the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's official website (wildlifedepartment.com) or TravelOK.com. The Frederick Chamber of Commerce (580-335-2126) may also provide local information. It's crucial to verify the operational hours of the Visitor Center as reviews suggest it's "almost never open" outside of scheduled events.

For Oklahomans, Hackberry Campground offers a truly distinctive and deeply authentic outdoor experience. Its primitive nature means it's not for everyone, but for those who value quiet, unspoiled natural settings and a focus on wildlife, it's an unparalleled destination. The requirement for a fishing/hunting license or a Conservation Passport directly ties your visit to the vital conservation efforts of the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area, allowing locals to directly support and experience the state's natural heritage.

This campground is ideally suited for local hunters and anglers, providing direct access to prime waterfowl and other game species. Birdwatchers will find it a paradise, with a vast array of migratory birds. The basic amenities available at the nearby Visitor Center, such as flush toilets and potable water, offer a touch of convenience without detracting from the rustic feel. It's a place where you can disconnect from modern distractions and reconnect with Oklahoma's wild side, experiencing firsthand the success of wetland restoration. For any Oklahoman seeking a true "primitive camping" adventure centered around hunting, fishing, or simply observing nature in a significant wildlife area, Hackberry Campground is an essential and rewarding destination.