Author Topic: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Gallery (Read 3899 times) Tweet Share

wrogers · « **on:** April 17, 2009, 01:00:01 PM »

I started hiking because of this forum and my wanting to go to GUMO, Being in north Texas, I thought I would practice at Wichita Mountains in OK. I discovered how great this place is and I try to go two to three times a month. Here are some of my pic, hope everyone enjoys them. Still going to make it out to Guadalupe one day
http://wrogers.zenfolio.com/

bdann · « **Reply #1 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:45:32 PM »

Nice set of photos! I've been wanting to get up there for a long time now, you've given me even more reason. Looks like a beautiful place.

mule ears · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2009, 02:18:54 PM »

Wow! Great photos, I never knew about that place when I lived in that part of the world, thanks.

benthegrate · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2009, 04:08:48 PM »

The Wichita Mountains are really bizarre. They stick up in the middle of flat, flat Oklahoma. There's a funky little hamlet at the entrance called Medicine Park on a rocky, clear stream. Great restaurant there overlooking the stream.

The refuge sits in the middle of a bombing range, and in the middle of the refuge sits Holy City, a "replica" of the holy land made by a local visionary. Last time I was there, I walked into a giant diorama of the history of the Old Testament...out of a tinny speaker was a deep voice reading scripture from the Old Testament...and in the distance, bombs were going off on the testing range. VERY surreal.

The refuge hides all sorts of cool secrets. It's an outcrop of pink granite boulders, and for those of you who've been to Joshua Tree or to the Guadalupe Canyon area of northern Baja, it's very similar. There are many talus caves on Elk Mountain, some of which contain underground streams. There are a couple of waterfalls, and a slot canyon. Oh, and stellar climbing, too...about as close to the DFW metroplex as you can find such climbing. Here are some pics:

jssmith57 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2009, 04:42:49 PM »

Do they allow backpacking and primitive camping here?

dkerr24 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2009, 04:50:13 PM »

Quote from: jssmith57 on April 17, 2009, 04:42:49 PM

Do they allow backpacking and primitive camping here?

Yep, you can primitive camp in the Charons Garden Wilderness area of the park. They only allow (I think) 10 permits for any night, so during spring break or late fall it could be hard to get a permit. Any other time of the year you shouldn't have any problem getting a permit at the ranger's station. I've never spent the night there, as it is only about a 90 min drive for me.

A great place to get a great burger can be found in Meers. It's just outside the north entrance to the park. Longhorn beef burgers from their own herd.

The terrain is very similar to parts of BIBE, although usually a bit greener than BIBE. It's a great place to hike and sight see, as it is an open range park and you can come around a bend and run smack into a buffalo or elk.

Guess Ben has never been to SE Okla - some very hilly country in the Kiamichi area.

jssmith57 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2009, 04:57:43 PM »

Dkerr24, Thanks for the info. I have never heard of this area before. It's always great to find new places to go that are "relatively" close. I'll have to add it to my list.

wrogers · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2009, 06:06:14 PM »

Here is a shot of the Meers Burger.  Also get the homemade ice cream and peach cobbler.  One word of warning:  they do not take credit cards....bring cash.  The place in Medicine Park is called the Riverside Cafe.

Ray52 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2009, 06:52:27 PM »

Thanks for sharing these. You've got some really nice shots and captions Bill. This was a favorite quick get away for me years ago when I lived in Denton. It was also where, while in a rock climbing class, I discovered just how powerful gravity can be

. Also worthy of note is that Geronimo and several of his companions are buried nearby at Fort Sill.

wrogers · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2009, 07:07:13 PM »

Quote from: Ray52 on April 17, 2009, 06:52:27 PM

Also worthy of note is that Geronimo and several of his companions are buried nearby at Fort Sill.

Also, Quanah Parker and his mother, Cynthia Ann (who was recaptured thirty mile from where I leave on the Pease River by Sul Ross and Charles Goodnight) are buried at Chiefs Knoll in Ft. Sill.

Casa Grande · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2009, 07:32:12 PM »

wow! That's a new destination in my book for my family! Nice photos, thanks for sharing...can't wait for that unbelievable looking burger and my favorite dessert!

trtlrock · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2009, 08:15:58 PM »

That is very cool terrain. Great pics too!

dkerr24 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2009, 09:38:00 PM »

If there is anything negative about the Wichita Mountains, it would be the fact that over 1/2 of the park is inaccessible to the public. The entire northern half of the park is fenced off to keep anyone from disturbing the wildlife. The south border of the park is shared with Ft Sill which is also fenced off from the public. For good reason as there are unexploded 155mm shells all over the area in the artillery range.

That being said, it's still pretty easy to hike on some of the trails in the Wichitas and not meet anyone. The uniquely rocky terrain of the area spared it from the farmers' plow. The land there gives one an idea of what the Great Plains must have looked like before it was settled.

There is also a paved road that you can drive to the top of Mt Scott. On a clear day, you can see a good 50-60 miles.

brave6 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2009, 11:51:51 PM »

I used to go by the Wichitas often on the way to visit my grandparents in Elk City. But my dad wasn't the 'stop n' gander' type.

Great photos...

bbbrain · « **Reply #14 on:** April 18, 2009, 01:38:54 AM »

don't forget to go to turner falls while you're in the area . .www.turnerfallspark.com/

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