A visit to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is a must for any wildlife and nature lover! Located in southwest Oklahoma near the town of Lawton, this refuge spans over 59,000 acres and is home to a variety of protected unique wildlife! It is the managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and there is no admission charge. It is home to bison, longhorn cattle, prairie dogs, elk, and deer. Plus, the scenery is stunning! The Wichita Mountains are around 500 million years old and the landscape has been shaped by the forces of nature over time. The refuge offers views of vast open prairie, clear lakes, and rocky mountains. Find out everything you need to know in this complete guide to visiting the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Getting Here

As mentioned earlier, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is located in southwest Oklahoma. For out-of-state visitors, I recommend flying into Oklahoma City or Dallas and then renting a car to get to the refuge. It is about a 1.5 hour drive from Oklahoma City, and a 3.5 hour drive from Dallas. I stayed in Lawton during my visit, and it was a 30 minute drive from the town to the entrance of the refuge.

Directions: From I-44 take Highway 49 (exit 45). Go west 7 miles to the gate or 14 miles to the Refuge Visitor Center. If you’re coming from Highway 62, take Highway 115 north to the gate. You will find leaflet dispensers with maps and information inside each of the gates. Contact the Refuge Visitor Center for more information. The coordinates for the Refuge Visitor Center is 34.710644 and -98.623426.

Preparing for Your Visit

You need to prepare in advance to enjoy all that the wildlife refuge has to offer. Heatstroke and hypothermia happen often to unprepared hikers.

Hours:

Main highways through the refuge are open 24 hours. The Mt. Scott Scenic Drive, side-roads, pull-outs, picnic areas, and hiking trails close at sunset.

Items to bring include:

• Plenty of water (especially if you’re visiting in the summer)
• Sunscreen (the sun is very strong)
• Sturdy footwear (terrain is very tough)
• Healthy food and snacks (fuel for your body)

Additionally, cell coverage is spotty throughout the refuge. I highly recommend having a plan before you visit. Research the trails you want to take and download an offline map to navigate throughout the refuge.

Places of Interest

Although it is a wildlife refuge, there are more than just plain! Check out these interesting places within the refuge. Remember to save these places to your offline map.

Refuge Visitor Center

Stop by the refuge visitor center for helpful information, including maps, brochures and checklists. There are also a number of exhibits to enjoy and a short film to view. The visitor center is open daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years) from 9 AM to 5 PM CST.

Quanah Parker Nature and Visitor Center

This center features exhibits on wildlife and habitats of the Wichita Mountains, as well as interactive and changing displays, artwork, videos, films and a gift shop.

Mount Scott

Drive to the top of Mount Scott for a panoramic view of the refuge! Although you could also hike to the top, I recommend driving as the “hike” is on a paved road and do the other more exciting hikes in the reserve. The Mount Scott Roadway is shared between hikers and motor vehicles. Please note, that cars and bikes have exclusive access to the mountain Friday through Sunday after 12 PM

• Hiking: If you would like to hike Mt. Scott, you are able to do so anytime from sunrise to sunset, Monday through Thursday. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you can hike from sunrise to noon.
• Driving: If you would like to drive or bike Mt. Scott, you are able to do so anytime from sunrise to sunset, Monday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, you can drive/bike from noon to sunset.

Little Baldy

A hike to the top of Little Baldy offers a spectacular view of the surrounding areas. This was my favorite spot in the refuge!

Quanah Parker Lake and Dam

Catch a scenic view here of a vast lake with mountains in the background! Plus, the trailhead for Little Baldy actually starts at Quanah Parker Lake where you’ll cross a dam for the hike.

Holy City of the Wichitas

Find a slice of old Jerusalem in Oklahoma! At first glance, this site appears to be stone ruins of an ancient city, but it was actually constructed in the past 100 years for a Biblical play! The replica holy land includes locations like Pilate’s judgment hall, Herod’s Court, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord’s Supper building, and a number of towers and walls. The Holy City is open Monday to Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Parallel Forest

This is another unique and somewhat eerie place within the refuge. More than 20,000 red cedars were planted 6 feet apart in every direction as part of a government experiment. They were planted to grow straight up and not outward, hence the forest’s name. Once you enter the forest, no matter which direction you look, you’ll see a tree exactly 6 feet from the next.

Forty-Foot Hole

Not only does the refuge have plains, lakes, mountains, ancient ruins, forests, but also waterfalls! The Forty-Foot Hole is a part of an area known as “the Narrows” and accessible from 1.5 mile loop trail in the refuge.

Charons Garden Wilderness Area

Get lost in this wilderness area with over two miles of rocky and rugged landscape! There are plenty of trails in this area and opportunities for bouldering.

Things to Do

There are plenty of options for recreational activities in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge!

• Fishing/Boating: Fishing and boating are permitted in accordance with state and federal regulations in all of the refuge lakes and streams in the public use area.

• Biking: Enjoy biking on the major roads throughout the reserve! It seems to be a popular location for bikers as I saw several groups during my visit.

• Camping: Overnight camping within the refuge is available year round at the Doris Campground, which offers 47 tent sites, 23 RV sites with electric hookups, and 20 sites located a short walking distance away along a trail. Backcountry camping is also available within the Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area.

• Wildlife Watching: Be on the lookout for wildlife such as bison, longhorns, deer, and prairie dogs! I spotted plenty of longhorns, and a handful of bison scattered throughout the reserve. There are also marked locations for prairie dog colonies on the main road (Hwy 49) and near the Holy City of the Wichitas.

• Hiking/Bouldering: The refuge has over 15 miles of hiking trails for beginners to avid hikes! There are opportunities for bouldering in certain parts. See the next section for some recommended trails.

Recommended Trails

Hiking is one of the most popular activities to do in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge! You’ll find yourself transported from southwest Oklahoma with the vast variety of landscape these trails run through. Here are some recommended trails!

• Little Baldy Trail (0.8 mile out and back; moderate): As mentioned previously, this trail was my favorite trail in the refuge! A short and moderate hike will take you to the top of Little Baldy with spectacular views of the surrounding areas.
• Jed Johnson Tower Trail (1.25 mile out and back; easy): A short and easy hike that leads to a tower overlooking a lake.
• Bison Trail (6.1 mile loop; moderate): This is a great trail to see a variety of different terrains. Although this is a longer trail, it is a relatively easy walk with no significant elevation gain.
• Narrows Trail (2.7 mile out and back; moderate): A moderate trail along the river with beautiful views! Be prepared for rock hopping and scrambling over boulders.

Please note that hiking limited to daylight hours. Group size is also limited to 15 people or less in Charon’s Garden Wildness Area to protect the wilderness.

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