10 Stunning Mountains In Oklahoma
Oklahoma has some of the prettiest hiking in the country because of the wide range of geographical locations in the state. And Oklahoma hiking is a real treat for people who love wildlife. The mountain hikes in Oklahoma give hikers the chance to see rare birds, hawks, bears and other wildlife. You may even see some wild horses when you’re hiking which is always something special to see. Whether you live in Oklahoma and just want to get to know your state better or you are coming to Oklahoma to visit you will love hiking and camping on these stunning mountains in Oklahoma.
Kiamichi Mountains
Located in: Ouachita National Forest Height: 2,500 feet Nearby City: Albion Known For: The Kiamichi Mountains are really more a series of large hills, which only some of them reaching over 1,000 feet in elevation. The highest ones reach an elevation of 2,500 feet. They’re a subrange of the Ouachita Mountains. The Ouachita National Forest is protected land that includes several rivers, lakes, and forests as well as the mountains. There is some fantastic hiking and camping in this area. Because the mountains are not that high in elevation they are perfect for families that want to camp and go on some fun family hikes. The area is also home to the Upper Kiamichi River Wilderness National Wildlife Refuge. So when you’re camping and hiking you may see any number of wild animals like black bears, coyotes, and cougars. There are also wild horses in this preserve and birds of prey like bald eagles and owls. You may even see some road runners! The Pashubbe Trail that leads to the Kiamichi Mountains is a particularly good trail for families because it’s a very easy hike.
Robbers Roost Peak
Located in: Fallas Mesa Height: 4,570 feet Nearby City: Kenton Known For: Robbers Roost Peak is one of the most interesting mountains in Oklahoma. It’s tallest peak in the state and it has a pretty amazing history. In order to understand the history it’s important to note that this peak is almost all rock and the face is very sheer. But on the mountain is a large cave. That cave became a hideout for many criminals over the years because it was almost impossible to reach thanks to the sheer mountain face. However, it also had two different ways to escape from the back of the cave. That made it the ideal hideout for criminals who needed a way to get out fast if the police or bounty hunters managed to climb up the face to get at them. Robbers Roost Peak is a pretty remote area so there’s not a lot of cities or towns nearby. But the camping is excellent and there is some interesting hiking on the Mesa where the mountain sits. Beginner rock climbers can have a lot of fun practicing their skills on Robbers Roost Peak.
Baldy Point
Located in: Quartz Mountain Nature Park Height: 1,870 feet Nearby City: Granite Known For: Baldy Point is also often called Quartz Mountain. That’s because the face is a sheer sheet of quartz rock. It’s a challenging climb to the top but a fantastic way for mountain climbers and rock climbers to practice mountaineering and rock scrambling skills. This is a very popular hike for that reason so there’s almost always people around on the trails. For those hikers who don’t want to climb 180 feet up on a wall of granite there are other trails to enjoy. There are more than 80 hiking trails in the area that are suitable for hikers with a range of experience. But if you’re looking for an easy day hike try the Baldy Point Loop. There’s a bit of an incline on this 3 mile loop trail but it’s not that bad. If you start at the trailhead and go clockwise you can get the climbing done first while you’re still fresh instead of facing it at the end when you’re tired.
Mount Scott
Located in: Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Height: 2,464 feet Nearby City: Lawton Known For: Mount Scott is known for having some spectacular views of the wildlife preserve that surrounds it. It’s one of the most popular hiking destinations in Oklahoma so it can get crowded at times. One of the unique things about Mount Scott is that hikers can only be on the trails daily after noon. On most weekdays hikers have to be off the trails by noon. From Friday afternoon until Sunday only cars and bikers can be on the mountain in the afternoon and hikers only have access to the mountain in the mornings. Mount Scott is very accessible by car. There is a smooth paved road that winds about three miles up the mountain. From the large parking lot the summit is not a long or strenuous walk so the summit is pretty accessible for everyone. When hikers are on the trail the Mount Scott Overlook Trail is a popular hike. It’s about six miles long so hikers can generally finish it in a day before they are required to get off the mountain.
King Mountain
Located in: Quartz Mountain State Park Height: 2,411 feet Nearby City: Altus Known For: King Mountain isn’t really an isolated mountain but it’s not one that hikers really flock to. From the summit hikers can get beautiful views of the Lake Altus-Lugert below. The trails are not that difficult. And it’s easy to access the mountain. Highway 44 crosses directly in front of the base of the mountain. There’s even a radio signal tower on the summit. There is plenty of backcountry and RV camping in the state park nearby. But if you’re going to hike King Mountain in the summer beware of the heat and humidity. Many hikers don’t realize how much the heat and humidity can affect them when they’re hiking, especially on a mountain like King Mountain. There is not a lot of good water available on the mountain so make sure that you bring your own water and snacks for the hike.
Elk Mountain
Located in: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Height: 2,270 feet Nearby City: Indiahoma Known For: Elk Mountain is one of the rare mountains in Oklahoma where getting to the summit isn’t as fun as climbing the other parts of the mountain. It’s a granite dome mountain like several other mountains in Oklahoma so it’s got some very unique rock formations all over the mountain which are very fun to climb. The primary climbing areas on Elk Mountain are Elk Slabs, The Treasure Cove, Pear and Apple, and Secret Agent Dome. More people spend their time playing on the rock ledges and formations in this area rather than trying to get to the summit. Even though Elk Mountain is a fantastic place to practice tough climbing skills like rock scrambling, there are also trails that wind around the mountain that are just as much fun. They’re also less hazardous and more family friendly. The trailhead for the Elk Mountain Trail is easily accessible at the parking area. It’s a quick one and a half mile trail that is appropriate for hikers of all ages and abilities.
Black Mesa
Located in: Black Mesa Nature Preserve Height: 4,975 feet Nearby City: Boise City Known For: Black Mesa is more of an elevated plateau instead of a traditional mountain, but that just means the summit is an open flat area instead of a rocky point. It’s fully contained within the Black Mesa Nature Preserve. Black Mesa is a very popular camping and hiking destination because the hiking trails are generally pretty easy for almost all hikers. The trail to the summit takes about four hours. But, you should know that Black Mesa is one of the hottest and driest parts of Oklahoma and the conditions can be desert like. If you’re going to hike there you need to bring lots of water with you and dress appropriate for the weather. As you’re hiking you may see some of the many animals that live in the wildlife preserve. There are many different kinds of birds that live there including golden eagles, scaled quail, black-billed magpies, and pinyon jays. And you can also see animals like antelopes, elks, bison, black bears, mule deer, and cougars.
Wichita Mountains
Located in: Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge Height: 2,464 Nearby City: Lawton Known For: The Wichita Mountains are a series of peaks that sit within the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. The mountains soar above 60,000 acres of prairies, lakes and streams. Visitors can access the mountains through the refuge and spend the day hiking, trail running, biking, and riding horses on easy trails that wind around the mountains or skirt the grasslands. From the summit of these mountains in Oklahoma hikers will be impressed by the herds of bison longhorn cattle, and elk that roam the grasslands. Hikers also may see black bears, mule deer, road runners, cougars, and many other animals that live in the preserve. There are also herds of wild horses on the plains. For the best chance at seeing the large wildlife that are spread across the preserve take the Bison Trail. It’s a rugged trail but easy enough for new hikers. It winds around the mountain with no real elevation gain but it does take you past several lakes and over several rivers where you can spot some wildlife.
Lookout Mountain
Located in: Lookout Mountain Park Height: 932 feet Nearby City: Broken Bow Known For: Lookout Mountain is really more of a large hill. Anything with an elevation of less than 1000 feet isn’t technically a mountain. But Lookout Mountain is pretty close to 1,000 feet in elevation so most people consider it a mountain. Whether you want to call it a mountain or a hill it’s a fantastic spot for hiking. Most of the trails will lead you up through beautiful forests where you may spot birds and other animals. It’s a very easy hike since the elevation isn’t that high. That makes it perfect for a family hiking afternoon. Some of the popular trails for Lookout Mountain are the Lookout Mountain Loop, the Friends Trail Loop, and Cedar Bluff Nature Trail.
Charon’s Gardens Wilderness
Located in: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Height: varies Nearby City: Indiahoma Known For: The Charon’s Gardens Wilderness area is home to a collection of granite peaks including Elk Mountain, Mount Lincoln, Granite Mountain, Twin Rocks Mountain, Crab Eyes and Sunset Peak. There is only limited back country camping allowed in this area of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge so most hikers only come to this area for day hikes. The granite mountains in this area not that high and they are relatively easy to climb. That makes them the perfect location for hikers who are learning rock climbing and rock scrambling. The primary trail through this area is the Charon’s Garden trail which is about five miles out and back through the granite peaks.
10 Tallest Mountains In Oklahoma
Robbers Roost PeakCastle Rock PillarWinchester MesaWolf MountainRazor Blade MesaAntelope HillsTwin HillsSugar Loaf MountainWilton MountainLynn Mountain
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There are four mountain ranges that run within Oklahoma’s borders. The Arbuckle Mountains, the Wichita Mountains, the Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains are all great destinations for hiking and camping. What is Robbers Roost Peak? Robbers Roost Peak is one of the most interesting mountains in Oklahoma. It’s tallest peak in the state and it has a pretty amazing history. In order to understand the history it’s important to note that this peak is almost all rock and the face is very sheer. But on the mountain is a large cave. That cave became a hideout for many criminals over the years because it was almost impossible to reach thanks to the sheer mountain face. However, it also had two different ways to escape from the back of the cave. That made it the ideal hideout for criminals who needed a way to get out fast if the police or bounty hunters managed to climb up the face to get at them.
