I am looking for some nice trail to take my family on. I seen a couple but have not been sure about the safety of them.

Martin Park Nature Center

I'll 2nd Martin Park.

Arcadia Lake in Edmond has a nice trail that is quite safe. The only downside is that you might have to pay a fee to use it.

But if I were you, I would take them to the Wichita Mountains near Lawton. It's only and 1 1/2 hour drive from OKC and well worth it.

http://photos.igougo.com/images/p74218-Wichita_Mountains_OK-The_Narrows.jpg

I'll 2nd Martin Park.

Arcadia Lake in Edmond has a nice trail that is quite safe. The only downside is that you might have to pay a fee to use it.

But if I were you, I would take them to the Wichita Mountains near Lawton. It's only and 1 1/2 hour drive from OKC and well worth it.

Totally agree! Arcadia and Martin Nature Center are the best and safest in the OKC area, but if you want to see some great country, visit the Wichita Mountains. That's probably the best day-hiking country in the state.

Yes, Martin Nature Park is the best hiking in the metro area. I grew up going there and loved it as a kid.

And if you want to venture a bit out of the metro, take them to the Wichita Mountains (I recommend the hike to Boulder Valley) or to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, which is filled with natural springs. There's also Red Rock Canyon in Hinton.

Wichita Mountains are great....Down off the South Canadian River around Purcell and Lexington offers a lot of wildlife and scenery. There are lot of Ranches in that with a courtesy ask you can see quite a bit other than rock. Clayton, Oklahoma also offers a lot in southeastern Oklahoma. Quite a few acres and very inexpensive. However, let someon know you are going in the area and get yourself a topical map.....

I think you mean topographical.

I think you mean topographical.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep, you are right.....misspelled

Depending on how fast you drive, it's actually less than an hour and a half to the Wichitas. HE Bailey Turnpike has 75 mph limit.

For a longer trek, the Ouachita Trail in the Ouachita National Forest in Southeastern Oklahoma is the best trail in the state. It's like the Appalachian Trail and is for serious hikers and backpackers.

Word is there's a book coming out on trails in Oklahoma. When I have more info on it I'll bring it to this thread.

As a kid growing up in Lawton, "the mountains," as we called it, was/were my stomping ground. Great times. Much more information (and topographical maps) are in this blog post: Doug Dawgz Blog: The Wichitas (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2007/12/wichitas.html) ... I need to get back for a visit ... it's been much too long without a famous and sumptuously huge Meers Burger!

Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/wichitamountains/meers_gregburns.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/wichitamountains/meers_gregburnss.jpg

I agree with jbrown ... Boulder Camp is a good place to go for the start of a hike ... ordinarily, you can't drive all the way there but have to park your car at a point and then walk south to Boulder Camp. From there, follow the creek northwesterly into what becomes a canyon which leads to the 40-foot hole and then walk overland northeasterly to the dam which crosses Lost Lake at its southwest end. From there, you can walk back to your car. A great, and not too difficult, hike.

Larger view: http://www.dougloudenback.com/maps/wichitas/wichitas15.jpg

http://www.dougloudenback.com/maps/wichitas/wichitas15m.jpg

This is making me so homesick. I took my dad for an afternoon down to get a Meers burger and hike at the Wichitas - such a nice memory. He couldn't hike far but he enjoyed the scenery and watching me scramble around. I can't wait to get back.

Where do you live now, East Coast Okie?

I agree with jbrown and Doug. Can't go wrong with a good day or camping trip to the Wichitas. Great hiking. Valley of the Boulders is a good one, you can also hike or climb Mt. Scott. You can hike to the Apple or the Pear, I believe there is also an "elk trail" or something similarly named. There are also tons of great places to go rappelling. I too need to get down to Meers soon.

That is a good hike Doug my family has done that one for years. But is you are more adventurous you can hike south and east from Boulder Camp ( now called Boulder picnic area, FYI) and enter what is called the Narrows. The Narrows makes the 40 foot hole look like a ditch and is a favorite with rock climbers.

What JBrown was talking about is the hike to Boulder Valley, a different area of the park near Elk Mountain. You can get to it either by hiking west from the Sunset Picnic area north of the mountain or hiking north from the Post Oak & Treasure Lakes parking area. One of our family favorites is the trail from Sunset to the summit of Elk Mountain. It takes about an hour and the kids can really "climb a mountain" bottom to top.

Yeah the Narrows is the one I couldn't think of, little Baldy is a good starter place too.

Here's the thread discussing WWR.
http://www.okctalk.com/lawton/8629-wichita-mountains.html

And the Boulder Field to the west of Elk Mountain at Charon's Gardens is truly awesome!

Trail #8 will get you to the Boulder Field
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/oklahoma/wichitamountains/pdf_files/trailmap.pdf

Not to scare you off, but a friend and I took trail 8, but then went around the southside of Elk and over the saddle between Elk and Lincoln, to get back to the highway and eventually back to the north side and the parking lot. Took us about 7 hours. A hike to the Boulder field and back is a good 2 hours.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/2331122693_1ce81e082f_o.jpg

I just went down to the Wichitas last weekend....Meers Burger and all!!!! Even stopped at a winery on the way back out for a little red.

Of course, you could do an urban hike through downtown and out to the capitol complex if you want to treck that much distance. There are lots of interesting spots downtown and several good pieces of architecture. The old downtown Post Office building that now houses the Bankruptcy Court had the interior carefully restored a few years back and contains some wonderful painted ceilings. Of course, our State Capitol building has lots to look at inside and you can take the stairs for additional exercise. You can pick up a guide at the tourist info office in the First National Center. Tulsa has several wonderful buildings in its dowontown area and a decent walking trail along the river. This is the link to a book published by the AIA that can be picked up at Full Circle with a good overview of Central Oklahoma architecture.

AIA Central Oklahoma (http://www.aiacoc.org/celebrate100.htm)

Michael Smith

Pray For World Peace . . . pass it on

I just went down to the Wichitas last weekend....Meers Burger and all!!!! Even stopped at a winery on the way back out for a little red.

Did you stop at the Winery of the Wichitas? Did you sit out on their back patio? Even in the summer, that place gets a decent breeze. Go here and click on "deck view" at the top of the page to check out their 360 degree view from the patio. Winery of the Wichitas (http://www.wineryofthewichitas.com/mainpage.htm)

What JBrown was talking about is the hike to Boulder Valley, a different area of the park near Elk Mountain. You can get to it either by hiking west from the Sunset Picnic area north of the mountain or hiking north from the Post Oak & Treasure Lakes parking area. One of our family favorites is the trail from Sunset to the summit of Elk Mountain. It takes about an hour and the kids can really "climb a mountain" bottom to top.

The Elk Mountain hike is probably the easiest to find and navigate for those new to the Wichitas. You just go to the Sunset picnic area (clearly labeled on park maps) and cross over a footbridge over the creek and the trail takes you to the top of the mountain. Great trail.

The hike to Boulder Valley (where you'll find the Apple and Pear), like Cuatro said, is from this same picnic area and branches off in a different direction. You take the Charon's Garden Wilderness trail and it will follow the creek for a half mile or so, then you will come to a place where you can cross the creek bed or make a left. At this point, go left and it will take you up over a pass into Boulder Valley.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2074333926_6c2277ab1c_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2368/2073541795_308fd0329c_o.jpg

Where do you live now, East Coast Okie?

Northern Virginia. But we have a place in OKC and will be back as soon as my husband can either get them to transfer him, switch to a different (local) federal agency or retire. He is also an Oklahoma boy. We've been back east about ten years and weren't kids when we left.

Wichita's are nice.... but Quartz Mountains north of Altus are very scenic with the lake... I'm from Altus so i'm partial of course. Quartz also has one of the best rock climbing faces in the country (Baldy) it's known as the "Tuolumne of the Midwest" (still hate when people call OK the Midwest) and a fantastic lodge.

For a longer trek, the Ouachita Trail in the Ouachita National Forest in Southeastern Oklahoma is the best trail in the state. It's like the Appalachian Trail and is for serious hikers and backpackers.

Word is there's a book coming out on trails in Oklahoma. When I have more info on it I'll bring it to this thread.

Same general part of the state and not really a family outing area is the Beech Creek Area. That and a few more trails listed and mapped here: Beech Creek Trail Maps, Ouachita Mts, Oklahoma (http://www.ouachitamaps.com/Beech%20Creek.html)

The Narrows at WMWR is a favorite spot of mine too.

Those boulders are amazing. Do you have to be realy carefull of snakes out there?

You know...I'm there are snakes out there, but I have never seen any. Unless you get under the boulders and stick your hand in a dark hold, I imaging you'll have nothing to worry about.

I've seen a couple of rattlers over a lot of day hikes and several backpack trips at the Wichitas, but no snakes directly on a footpath. Snakes are there, along with all the other critters but the trails especially and the refuge in general gets a lot of use.

That is a good hike Doug my family has done that one for years. But is you are more adventurous you can hike south and east from Boulder Camp ( now called Boulder picnic area, FYI) and enter what is called the Narrows. The Narrows makes the 40 foot hole look like a ditch and is a favorite with rock climbers.

What JBrown was talking about is the hike to Boulder Valley, a different area of the park near Elk Mountain. You can get to it either by hiking west from the Sunset Picnic area north of the mountain or hiking north from the Post Oak & Treasure Lakes parking area. One of our family favorites is the trail from Sunset to the summit of Elk Mountain. It takes about an hour and the kids can really "climb a mountain" bottom to top.
Thanks, Quatro,

Is "Bolder Valley" the same item shown in the map below as "Boulder Field?"

Larger: http://www.dougloudenback.com/maps/wichitas/wichitas11.jpg

http://www.dougloudenback.com/maps/wichitas/wichitas11m.jpg

Other than driving and walking around Treasure & Post Oak & French Lakes, I never really spent much time in the far west part of the refuge.

Yes, hiking to the Narrows does have a great payoff with the beautiful pool at the end, but it is not an easy hike, as I recall, and I don't think that I'd call it "safe" ... in the shape I'm in, I wouldn't try it today. Transversing Eagle Mountain to get there (at least, that's how I used to do it) was difficult for me when I was a kid.

That's it. The trail on the east side of what's marked "Boulder Field" has the most big ones I believe.

The Narrows trail was rebuilt about 8 years ago, an Access Fund project, and the main part is not too bad. Once you are over a couple of hills and a stream in it gets tougher, walking down to and through a stream bed and on rougher side trails, unless you turn around and go back. I would not say that is an easy hike only because if you spend much time in there you will be on rough terrain. (I injured myself there in October hiking up to the peak.)

This was somewhere coming or going near the spiral fish ladder on Dog Run Hollow around 2002.
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/2342/wmwrsnakewt9.jpg

The first one is at the stream crossing on the way in before heading up and over into the Narrows. And the second shot is after that from the saddle after the climb up the hill. This year.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2952958006_1b905ac9cb.jpg


http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/4996/narrowswebjt1.jpg

The Narrows trail was rebuilt about 8 years ago, an Access Fund project, and the main part is not too bad. Once you are over a couple of hills and a stream in it gets tougher, walking down to and through a stream bed and on rougher side trails, unless you turn around and go back. I would not say that is an easy hike only because if you spend much time in there you will be on rough terrain. (I injured myself there in October hiking up to the peak.)

Other than lots of rocks to stumble over, it is not that bad a trail. I did the eagle mountain way too and it was quite challenging.

Did you stop at the Winery of the Wichitas? Did you sit out on their back patio? Even in the summer, that place gets a decent breeze. Go here and click on "deck view" at the top of the page to check out their 360 degree view from the patio. Winery of the Wichitas (http://www.wineryofthewichitas.com/mainpage.htm)

Yes, we did stop at the WOW. It was at night so we didn't really get to see anything though. The bearded guy was just about to play a set as we were leaving. We wanted to pick up some white wine they make, but they were out so we had to settle for a red. Not a big red fan myself, but whatever.

Thanks, Quatro,

Is "Bolder Valley" the same item shown in the map below as "Boulder Field?"



Definitely! Easy hike to get to, but maybe not so much to navigate through if you are physically challenged. I hadn't hiked it since high school, so I really had to take my time getting through it. Some spots require you to leap from one boulder to another, so balance is key.

Man, I wish the weather was better this weekend..... maybe Sunday.

Thanks, Quatro,

Is "Bolder Valley" the same item shown in the map below as "Boulder Field?"



That's it.

When I was a kid, there wasn't a trail through the narrows ... had to go to the pretty pool via Eagle Mountain.

As you probably know, some of the original trails, like the one up Elk Mountain, were built by the WPA. The shortest trail to the Narrows before 2002 was like a lot of the trails in the refuge I believe, just a path beaten from use. In the case or the Narrows, that went mostly along the creek and then straight up over the hill and back down. The area being increasingly popular added to the erosion of both the riparian area along the creek and from washouts on the vertical climb up over mostly dirt, which resulted in a large crater near the saddle and a toppled tree or two. Those were some of the issues that led to the trail being built like it is now and also some restoration work being done at the same time. That was by a partnership between the government, the Access Fund, the Wichita Mountain Climbers Coalition and other volunteers.

WMCC web site has some photos of building that trail on their site here:
Wichita Mountains Climbers Coalition (http://www.wichitamountains.org/)

I recently uploaded some photo's to Flickr of trip I took to the Wichita Mountains.
Wichita Mountains - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/guybowen/sets/72157611807177869/)

In the OKC metro, I'd like to sugest Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge, there aren't organized trails, yet, but getting around on foot there can be done. If you're gonna bushwack, do it in winter. OKC Kayak also has paddling tours of the area.

The Wichita Mountains are nice, and I would recomend them to anybody. But I'd like to suggest Roman Nose State Park, in NW Oklahoma. Spend a morning hiking the trail system there, and then you can spend the afternoon fishing for trout in Lake Watonga. Make it home in time for dinner, and then call it a great day. It's about an hour and a half drive NW of Oklahoma City.

The Spring of Everlasting Waters at Roman Nose is AMAZING. I have never seen such a huge natural spring.




When I was a kid, there wasn't a trail through the narrows ... had to go to the pretty pool via Eagle Mountain.

Tell me more about this older, alternate route. I wasn't aware of it.

I did it last time I was there...pretty much just got up and over Eagle Mountain...there was a few faint trails in the area but nothing to bank on. We just pointed to a rock formation, climbed to it, then pointed to the canyon and descended to it.

re: Snakes. When I was a teenager, we saw a small sidewinder rattlesnake when we were hiking on the trail above the Narrows. One of my buddies thought it would be cool to take home to Norman. Yeah, I know, dumb idea. So we captured it and put it in a Mason jar for the ride home...until his mom figured it out.

We let it go before leaving the refuge, saving perhaps a federal crime. It was cool, though, watching it slither off and make the "j" in the dirt.

Tell me more about this older, alternate route. I wasn't aware of it.
Keeping in mind that I'm 65 and would have been a teenager when I took the Eagle Mountain route, all I actually recall is ...

(1) Walking along the creek southeasterly from Camp Boulder became (it seemed) impossible ... pathways along either side of the creek did not exist and (though I don't recall the detail) walking within the creek was apparently not an option for reasons that I don't recall.

(2) Hence, the only way to get to the "pool" was to transverse part of the north side of Eagle Mountain. It's been much too long to recall if there was any semblance of a path, but I certainly don't recall any path at all, pretty much like Quatro said. All I recall is following our noses and heading in the right general direction, easterly more or less, but certainly not "straight-line" which was not possible because of the terrain. It was hard hiking, over large and small boulders, finding the next good place "to jump" from one boulder to the next along the route. The payoff was good, though, and thanks to DoubleEdge for those beautiful photos pictures, again duplicated below ...

(1) Footnote to (1), above: The creek "route" showed no way to proceed along it ...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2952958006_1b905ac9cb.jpg

(2) Footnote to (2), above ... the payoff was beautiful (and contained a fine swimming hole) ... DoubleEdge's photo doesn't show the pool all that well but certainly shows the geographic drama and implies the difficulty of getting to that pool shown below at the base of its surroundings ... Eagle Mountain is at the left if I've got my bearings correct ...

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/4996/narrowswebjt1.jpg

The Eagle Mountain "route" was time consuming and difficult and I only did it a few times.

Thanks, DoubleEdge, for those beautiful photos. Do you have a closer-in shot of the pool?

And, GuyB, that's a great photo shoot at Wichita Mountains - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/guybowen/sets/72157611807177869/). I don't recognize this location ...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/3150229113_103647f135.jpg?v=0

Where is it?

The first one is at the stream crossing on the way in before heading up and over into the Narrows. And the second shot is after that from the saddle after the climb up the hill. This year.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2952958006_1b905ac9cb.jpg


http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/4996/narrowswebjt1.jpg

I want to go to the Narrows trail next weekend but I've never been there. How do I know where to start? Will I come across the the stream as well as the canyon on the narrows trail?

Hopefully DoubleEdge or others who have taken the newer (to me) route will comment ... as you may have read above, I wasn't even aware that a "trail" existed!

A topographical map of the area, generally ... start at Camp Boulder (as we called it, Boulder Camp on the map) ...

Larger: http://www.dougloudenback.com/maps/wichitas/wichitas15.jpg

http://www.dougloudenback.com/maps/wichitas/wichitas15m.jpg

To get to your starting point, follow the map below. The access road leading to Boulder doesn't ordinarily allow you to drive all the way to Camp Boulder (it has a metal gate blocking the southbound road most of the time). Drive on the access road as far as you can and then walk the rest of the way along the blocked road to Camp Boulder (not far, probably 2-300 yards, but that's a guess):

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/wichitamountains/wichitas_map_1.jpg

And, GuyB, that's a great photo shoot at Wichita Mountains - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/guybowen/sets/72157611807177869/). I don't recognize this location ...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/3150229113_103647f135.jpg?v=0

Where is it?
This is the River side Cafe in Medicine Park

But I'd like to suggest Roman Nose State Park, in NW Oklahoma. Spend a morning hiking the trail system there, and then you can spend the afternoon fishing for trout in Lake Watonga. Make it home in time for dinner, and then call it a great day. It's about an hour and a half drive NW of Oklahoma City.
jstanthrnme is right about Roman Nose state park they have some great trails there beautiful streams and water falls.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/3169037480_446846167d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/3169036866_1a79ce5214.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3178571546_4bd6572dcb.jpg
Roman Nose State Park - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/guybowen/sets/72157612121261995/)

I want to go to the Narrows trail next weekend but I've never been there. How do I know where to start? Will I come across the the stream as well as the canyon on the narrows trail?

As you drive down to the Boulder Picnic Area (called "Boulder Camp" on dougs topo map), you will notice on your left the "Group Picnic Area" that is roped off from the road. Find a place to park then enter the picnic area. There are multiple grills, picnic tables and a large pavillion. In the far corner of this area is a trail that leads off in a southeast or easterly direction, take that trail. It is fairly well established at this point as is passes though trees and grass (not rocks). There will be a fork in the trail and you will need to take the left one. This trail will lead you along the ridge of a cliff (the stream being on your right) then descends to cross the stream. After the stream, the trail ascends away from the stream (it is on your right now) them descends back to the stream. At this point the trail and stream converge and you are at the beginning of the Narrows.

I also recommend Roman Nose but I will say it is much less rugged, remote, and spectacular than the Wichitas.

After the stream, the trail ascends away from the stream (it is on your right now)

Good directions except after you cross the stream and the trail ascends away from it, the stream is on your left.

The stream is West Cache Creek, the main water course that runs across the refuge, is dammed and makes up several of the lakes upstream from the Narrows.

For more interest and a longer more rugged hike, keep hiking though the Narrows along West Cache Creek and about a mile from Boulder Camp is Pennington Mine, a hole in wall on the east side. It's shown on topo maps but is not always easy to find.

The Wichitas are the best in the spring/early summer when everything is really green and the streams are running (if we've had storms in that area). I was out there one weekend after a big storm that dumped several inches of rain there and the streams and waterfalls were amazing. Another area of good hiking no one has mentioned is the Arbuckles an hour south of OKC. They are similar to the Wichitas but less rugged and more forested with lots of little streams and waterfalls. Again better in the spring/early summer.

In the Metro I like the trails around Lake Thunderbird and Lake Draper, if you live on the south side. As for an urban trail, the ones along the Oklahoma River are pretty good. I wish they would extend them further east and west.

I don't understand why the Refuge doesn't put these trails on official maps, and put up some signs. The more trails you have, the more attractive you are to hikers, so I don't understand why The Narrows, Boulder Valley, and other well-beaten trails are ignored on official maps.

Here's some more photos I've taken down there.

The Narrows

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/61/226832587_1f19efde12.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/227963873_4acf7e7fa1.jpg

Lost Lake

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/225741387_7f45d09f60.jpg

Charon's Garden Wilderness

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2073541737_849e822876.jpg

Mt. Scott

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2318/2210770124_e44d77d332.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2217722584_48f6384bd9.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2125/2209977131_965debe66c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/2209976907_00fc9b1551.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2390/2216929143_527c866ef8.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/2216928679_4496dcf060.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2216929513_7829e6451a.jpg

Medicine Park

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/80/225733812_590be9e742.jpg

Boulder Valley (Charon’s Garden Wilderness)

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/n79800335_30205662_9999.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/n79800335_30205670_2455.jpg

Sunset Pool

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/n79800335_30205653_6050.jpg

Elk Mountain Trail

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/n79800335_30205652_5704.jpg

Sunset Picnic Area

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/n79800335_30205651_5388.jpg

Camp Doris

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/n79800335_30205649_4785.jpg

Another Shot of the Narrows

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/n79800335_30081052_6987.jpg

This is a link to the official trail map from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - it details the locations of some of the trails.

http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/oklahoma/wichitamountains/pdf_files/trailmap.pdf

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/n79800335_30081052_6987.jpg

The forty foot hole is right around here. Good place to just get away and enjoy solitude, if one brings the proper equipment: an iPod, a camera, and a good lunch. the Wichita Mountains are great, but I always enjoyed going to Red Rock Canyon because it was just 30 minutes outside the metro.

That is very impressive jbrown.

That is very impressive jbrown.

Thanks.

Good directions except after you cross the stream and the trail ascends away from it, the stream is on your left

LOL...left, not right. That wouldn't make any sense.

Thanks for catching that.

Great set of photo's jbrown!
Try editing some of these unofficial trails on the maps Doug provided for those giving the directions.

Great set of photo's jbrown!
Try editing some of these unofficial trails on the maps Doug provided for those giving the directions.

The Narrows Trail:

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l266/orangepower3000/wichitas15copy.jpg

Excellent, Cuatro! Your editing shows the path very nicely.