Trailblazer’s Guide
Explore standout trails and scenic routes across the Wichita Mountains region, from quick canyon walks to rugged boulder-filled adventures and summit drives.
The Narrows
1.1 miles. A scenic wander through sheer canyon walls and cool creek beds—an inviting quick escape into the refuge landscape.
Kite Trail
1.2 miles. High-energy views along the canyon rim with elevated looks toward lakes and jagged peaks.
Charon’s Garden
1.2 miles. A boulder-hopping adventure through the Valley of the Boulders. For current refuge trail information, see the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service trail guide.
Trail Information
The printed guide’s trail directory is reproduced below as searchable, machine-readable HTML. Coordinates, mileage, route type, difficulty, pet and kid-friendly indicators, average time and elevation gain are transcribed from the guide.
| Trail Name | Trailhead Coordinates | Miles | Type | Difficulty | Pets | Kid-friendly | Avg Time | Elevation Gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Scott Fire Road | 34.7360800, -98.5226000 | 5.9 | P2Pt | Moderate | Y | Y | 580 | |
| Mount Scott Nature Trail | 34.7357600, -98.5362900 | 2.8 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 53 min | 85 |
| Mount Scott Overlook | 34.7369400, -98.5396600 | 5.6 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | Y | 2 hr 40 min | 1,026 |
| Parallel Forest Loop | 34.7507000, -98.5803400 | 0.8 | Loop | Moderate | Y | Y | 15 min | 26 |
| Jed Johnson Tower Trail | 34.7338500, -98.5960400 | 1.8 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | Y | 482 | |
| South Border via Burma | 34.6821100, -98.6329000 | 5.1 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | Y | 1 hr 56 min | 462 |
| Kite Trail | 34.7001300, -98.6790300 | 2.4 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 53 min | 187 |
| Kite Trail to Bison Trail | 34.7012700, -98.6798300 | 6.9 | Loop | Moderate | Y | N | 2 hr 31 min | 531 |
| Bison Trail | 34.7160400, -98.7057100 | 6.1 | Loop | Moderate | N | 2 hr 10 min | 416 | |
| Narrows Trail | 34.7016800, -98.6762700 | 2.3 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | N | 1 hr 3 min | 187 |
| Bat Cave (Wind Cave) | 34.7061700, -98.7053700 | 0.5 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | Y | 21 min | 203 |
| Eagle Mountain via Narrows Trail | 34.7019000, -98.6767000 | 1.1 | Out & back | Hard | Y | N | n/a | 360 |
| Post Oak Falls Trail | 34.7065700, -98.7332300 | 1.5 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | Y | 36 min | 173 |
| Charon’s Garden Trail | 34.7064800, -98.7331400 | 4.7 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | N | n/a | 492 |
| Bison & Longhorn Trail Loop | 34.7213000, -98.7031400 | 1.5 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 32 min | 104 |
| Spanish Cave and The Eye | 34.7051900, -98.7332300 | 1.5 | Out & back | Moderate | N | N | n/a | 200 |
| Elk Trail | 34.7212600, -98.7032100 | 0.7 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 16 min | 59 |
| Elk Mountain Trail | 34.7318900, -98.7238900 | 2.3 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | N | n/a | 570 |
| 40 Foot Hole Trail | 34.7012200, -98.6796500 | 1.4 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 34 min | 154 |
| Crab Eyes | 34.7315400, -98.7242100 | 3.7 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | n/a | 406 |
| Burford Lake Trail | 34.7236700, -98.6730100 | 0.8 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 14 min | 16 |
| Osage Lake | 34.7164100, -98.6544800 | 1.3 | Out & back | Easy | Y | N | 26 min | 62 |
| Post Oak Lake to Ison’s Dam | 34.7051400, -98.7334000 | 3.6 | Out & back | Moderate | N | N | 1 hr 28 min | 413 |
| Little Baldy Trail | 34.7123200, -98.6409000 | 0.8 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | Y | 24 min | 157 |
| Quanah Parker Trail | 34.7173600, -98.6443900 | 1.6 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 30 min | 42 |
| Burford Lake and Panther Creek Trail | 34.7237900, -98.6729900 | 2.3 | Out & back | Easy | Y | 58 min | 288 | |
| Medicine Park Black Trail Loop | 34.7279900, -98.4976200 | 2.5 | Loop | Moderate | Y | Y | 58 min | 246 |
| Medicine Park Orange Trail Loop | 34.7367800, -98.5018600 | 2.5 | Loop | Moderate | Y | Y | 59 min | 255 |
| Medicine Park Black, White, and Orange Trail | 34.7311800, -98.4985600 | 3.9 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 1 hr 38 min | 495 |
| Medicine Park Fish Loop | 34.7311800, -98.4985600 | 1.1 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 27 min | |
| Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA) Trail | 34.73455, -98.51952 | 2.8 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 1 hr | 190 |
| Lake Lawtonka Green Trail | 34.7357200, -98.5161000 | 3.8 | Loop | Moderate | Y | Y | 1 hr 19 min | 226 |
| Fort Sill Extension | 34.6220200, -98.3992200 | 2.6 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 49 min | 72 |
| Martha Songbird Nature Trail | 34.6726200, -98.3978800 | 0.8 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 14 min | 0 |
| Elmer Thomas Connector | 34.6172300, -98.4398100 | 6.7 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 2 hr 5 min | 183 |
| Elmer Thomas Outer Loop | 34.6212500, -98.3992600 | 1.8 | Loop | Easy | N | Y | 31 min | 72 |
| Great Plains State Park Loop | 34.7411700, -98.9664700 | 4 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 1 hr 34 min | 413 |
| Red Flag Trail | 34.7461000, -98.9721100 | 2 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 44 min | 150 |
| Altus Reservoir Loop | 34.6555200, -99.3301400 | 2.1 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 37 min | 29 |
| New Horizon Trail | 34.8918500, -99.3002200 | 0.5 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | n/a | 252 |
| Twin Peaks Trail | 34.9040800, -99.3051500 | 0.9 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 19 min | 55 |
| Baldy Point Summit Trail | 34.8977300, -99.3342000 | 1.9 | Out & back | Hard | Y | Y | n/a | 341 |
| Sunrise Trail | 34.9054500, -99.3058000 | 0.4 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 12 min | 78 |
| Cedar Valley Loop | 34.8980400, -99.3261400 | 0.6 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | 12 min | 46 |
| Baldy Point and Cedar Valley Trail | 34.8977500, -99.3342900 | 1.6 | Loop | Easy | Y | Y | n/a | 72 |
| Quartz Mountain Heart Healthy Trail | 34.8898300, -99.3067300 | 3.4 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 1 hr 3 min | 88 |
| Mountain Pass Trail | 34.9017600, -99.3032800 | 0.4 | Out & back | Moderate | Y | Y | 17 min | 173 |
| Mesquite Forest Trail | 34.8977100, -99.3341900 | 0.4 | Out & back | Easy | Y | Y | 7 min | 6 |
Trail conditions and access can change. For trails inside the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, check current conditions and rules with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service before your visit.
Mount Scott
The guide calls Mount Scott “the best view in Oklahoma, no hiking required.” Drive the winding three-mile road to the 2,464-foot summit for a 360-degree panorama and an expansive view across the Wichita Mountains and Lake Lawtonka. It’s an easy scenic option for a sunset picnic or a high-country view without a summit hike.
Mountains for All Seasons
Experience the refuge’s transformation as spring brings a vibrant “Great Bloom” of wildflowers, followed by summer’s sun-drenched granite vistas and glowing sunsets. Fall arrives with a golden landscape of copper foliage and the haunting sound of bugling elk, offering a warm contrast to the quiet majesty of winter. From snowy red rocks to blooming prairies, the Wichita Mountains never wear the same outfit twice, making every visit a brand-new discovery.
For more seasonal planning, continue to the guide’s Best Time to Visit section.