Bat Cave

The Wichita Mountains rise rather dramatically from the flat plains of Southwest Oklahoma that surround them. In 1901, the roughly 59,000 acres of land were established as a wildlife refuge to preserve endangered species and to reintroduce animals that had once been eliminated from the area. Today, this is a wonderful spot to observe wildlife, hike, and camp. Bison Trail is the longest in the ...

Park at the Post Oak/Treasure lake Trailhead. Follow one of the well-worn trails north. There are a few trails at the start that eventually wind into each other. After 1/2 mile of going due north up and down some hills and crossing a plateau, look for a small unmarked trail heading east off the main trail. It follows a small creek about 50 yards back to Post Oak Falls. There's a small cave/mine...

Starting from the Sunset Trailhead/Parking Lot on far west side of the refuge, hike west out of the parking lot a few hundred feet to the trailhead that heads into a well-developed trail through the trees. This is different than the Elk Mountain trail which heads south from the parking lot. Hike through the trees for a half mile before reaching a creek bed which is almost always dry. Continue w...

The Wichita Mountains is a paradise for those trapped in the flat lands of Oklahoma and Texas! From Oklahoma City it's approx. 2 hours 15 minutes, and from Dallas/Ft Worth (TX) approx. 4 hours.Talk about a place that holds tons of potential and houses some of the best climbs in the state! Over the many years climbing at the Wichita's, it is still a humbling experience. The quality of the climbs...

This hike can be difficult for a dog. There is one area where crossing the boulders can be dangerous. Use caution and turn around if you're not comfortable taking kids or pets over the some of the boulder jumps. They are easy but there is a drop between some of the boulders. Start from the Sunset Parking Lot. Hike west out of the parking lot (I follow the service road) a couple hundred yards to...

Elk Mountain is one of the tallest granite peaks in the beautiful Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Its summit is at 2,270 feet, and the Elk Mountain Trail allows hikers to be able to view the Charon Garden Wilderness and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge from the top. This hike is perfect practice for more difficult hikes in the future, with its continuous gradual climb. The Elk Mountain...