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Broken Bow Lake Boat and Jet Ski Rentals
Broken Bow Lake is the clear-water, pine-forest getaway of the region, tucked into the foothills of southeastern Oklahoma about three and a half hours from Dallas. Its 14,000 acres wind for more than 20 miles between wooded ridges, and with the cabins of Hochatown and Beavers Bend State Park right next door, it is a favorite long-weekend trip for DFW families and groups. Broken Bow Lake boat rentals and jet ski rentals turn that cabin trip into a full lake weekend, with your MasterCraft surf boat or Sea-Doos ready at the lake when you arrive.
Reserve Your Broken Bow Lake Day
MasterCraft surf boats for 12 to 18 people, three-seat Sea-Doos, a Kawasaki stand-up jet ski and a full rack of water toys, all ready at the lake when you arrive. Book online in a few minutes, or call or text 888-205-7119 any day from 7am to 10pm.
Broken Bow Lake Quick Facts
| Where | McCurtain County, Oklahoma, north of the town of Broken Bow along U.S. Highway 259 |
| Nearby areas | Hochatown, Broken Bow and Idabel |
| Size | About 14,000 surface acres with around 180 miles of shoreline |
| Length | Roughly 22 miles from the dam to the upper end |
| Built | The Corps of Engineers dammed the Mountain Fork River to form the lake in the late 1960s |
| Water | Deep and unusually clear for this part of the country |
| Best for | Long weekends, cabin trips, cove hopping and scenic cruising |
Where to Launch and Meet Up
Most of the shoreline sits inside public land, so the main access points are clustered along Highway 259 on the west side of the lake.
- Stevens Gap Area (Beavers Bend State Park): home to Beavers Bend Marina, the only marina on the lake, plus boat ramps, Lakeview Lodge and a swim beach.
- Beavers Bend Marina: a multi-lane ramp, fuel dock and store; the marina and ramp areas are no-wake.
- Carson Creek Area: a quieter spot just north of Stevens Gap with concrete ramps, campsites and a fish-cleaning station.
- Coyote Drive and smaller ramps: extra launch points that help on busy holiday weekends.
Where to Ride, Surf and Tube
The lower lake. The wide water near the dam and Stevens Gap is the easiest place to settle in for surf sets, skiing and tubing.
The coves. Dozens of wooded coves along both shores are made for anchoring, swimming off the swim platform and finding a quiet spot.
The upper lake. Heading north, the lake narrows between steep ridges and the scenery gets even better; a jet ski is a great way to cover the distance.
Below the dam. The Lower Mountain Fork River below the dam is known for trout fishing and paddling, a nice change of pace for a second day.
Rentals That Fit Broken Bow Lake
- MasterCraft surf and wake boats – a MasterCraft for 12 to 18 people turns a cabin weekend into a full lake day.
- Jet ski and waverunner rentals – three-seat Sea-Doos and our Kawasaki stand-up are the best way to explore the upper lake and its coves.
- Water toys – tubes and towables, wakeboards, wakesurf boards, water skis, paddleboards (SUP), floating lily pads and the 12-foot water trampoline.
- Flyboard lessons and tours – add a flyboard lesson with one of our instructors.
- Captained boat charters – add a captain so the whole group can relax.
Broken Bow Lake Jet Ski Rentals
Broken Bow runs for more than 20 miles, and much of its best scenery is in the narrow upper lake, where pine-covered ridges drop straight into the water. A jet ski is the easiest way to see it. Start from the lower lake near Stevens Gap, cruise north past the wooded coves, and turn around with plenty of daylight left, since Oklahoma allows personal watercraft only between sunrise and sunset. Our three-seat Sea-Doos carry two or three riders and pull a tube in the calm coves. See the whole fleet on our Dallas jet ski rentals page.
Making the Most of a Broken Bow Weekend
Most DFW groups give Broken Bow two or three nights. A simple plan works well: drive up and settle into the cabin on day one, spend day two on the lake with a MasterCraft surf boat rental that seats 12 to 18, and use the last morning for a jet ski ride through the upper lake or a slower paddle on the Lower Mountain Fork below the dam. Big cabin groups fit on a single boat, which keeps everyone together and makes it easy to anchor in a cove for lunch. Groups that want more time on the water can add a second lake day.
Tips for a Smoother Lake Day
- Book cabin and boat together. Holiday and summer weekends fill up early around Hochatown.
- Plan for the drive. It is about three and a half hours from Dallas, so start early on day one.
- Expect spotty cell service. Download maps and share your meeting spot before you lose signal in the hills.
- Bring water shoes. Much of the shoreline is rocky.
Rules on the Water
- Oklahoma boating laws apply here. Jet skis and other personal watercraft (PWC) may only run between sunrise and sunset, and everyone riding wears a life jacket with the safety lanyard clipped to the driver.
- Children under 13 must wear a life jacket whenever the boat is moving.
- Slow to idle near ramps, the marina, swim beaches and other boats; the marina and ramp areas are no-wake zones.
- When towing a rider, keep an observer on board watching them, and finish towing before dark.
Pair It With Another Lake
Closer to home, Lake Bob Sandlin and Jim Chapman Lake are both easy day trips in Northeast Texas, and Lake Texoma sits on the Red River north of Dallas. See every lake we serve on our destinations page.