The Sooner State
Oklahoma
The Ouachitas' western edge, cypress-lined rivers, and dramatic canyon country in the state most people overlook.
Oklahoma at a Glance
Ouachita Mountains
The Ouachita Mountains extend into eastern Oklahoma from Arkansas, with the Ouachita National Forest's Oklahoma sections offering rugged ridge hiking
Cross Timbers
The Cross Timbers forest, a belt of scrubby oaks running north-south through central Oklahoma, once served as a natural barrier to westward expansion
Gloss Mountains
The Gloss Mountains State Park in northwest Oklahoma features gypsum-capped mesas that glitter in the sunlight
Black Mesa
Black Mesa in the Oklahoma panhandle sits at the state's highest point where three states meet, with unique high-desert wildlife including roadrunners and pronghorn
Ouachita Trail
The Ouachita National Recreation Trail enters Oklahoma at the Arkansas border and continues through the Kiamichi Mountains
Wichita Mountains
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton is one of the oldest federal wildlife refuges in the US, with one of the last free-roaming bison herds in the southern plains
When to Visit
March through May and October through November. Summer is hot, occasionally reaching 110 degrees in the plains. The Ouachita Mountains are cooler and receive more rainfall than the western part of the state.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Talihina
Small eastern Oklahoma town at the western end of the Talimena Scenic Drive, serving as gateway to Ouachita National Forest's Oklahoma sections.
Lawton
Southwest Oklahoma city adjacent to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and the Comanche lands, with access to bison viewing and rock climbing at Elk Mountain.
Did You Know?
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge maintains a herd of over 650 bison, descendants of animals brought from Bronx Zoo in 1907 to save the species.
Oklahoma's Talimena Scenic Drive is a 54-mile ridge drive through the Ouachita National Forest with panoramic views from 2,600 ft.
The Natural Falls State Park waterfall in eastern Oklahoma drops 77 feet and was featured in the Disney movie 'Where the Red Fern Grows.'
Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state, with over 200 reservoirs created throughout the 20th century.
Black Mesa is accessible only via a 4-mile trail across private ranch land, requiring permission from the ranch owner who manages a small fee-camping area at the trailhead.