Most people visit Robbers Cave for its namesake sandstone caverns. But spelunking is just one attraction, and you can avoid the crowds by hitting the trails that wind through canyons and gorges created eons ago by Fourche Maline Creek. You'll get quite a workout as the trails take you up, down, then up again. Fortunately, the area's temperate climate makes anytime the right time for backpackers. Even in the heat of an Oklahoma summer, you'll often travel under a shady canopy of hickory, sycamore, and oak trees.
Wildlife includes white-tailed deer and wild turkeys.
Bird lovers can look and listen for more than 54 species that inhabit the area. I have often found myself hiking to the rhythmic tapping of a woodpecker on the hardwood trees, or stopping to listen to the hissing of a barn owl at dusk. The colorful history of Robbers Cave attracts visitors interested in history and hoping to discover a little treasure. But get away from the crowds that flock to the caves, and you'll find that natural beauty is the real reward here. From Oklahoma City, take US 40 east for 87 miles, then go south on Indian Nation Turnpike for 35 miles.