Wichita Mountains

I was stationed at Fort Sill when I was in the army, so I got to know this area pretty well. Otherwise, I’d probably assume, like most other people, that there’s nothing to see in Oklahoma. Anyway, there is plenty to see, you just need to know where to look and this is just one of those little hidden gems.

The Wichita Mountains rise above the tallgrass prairie that extends into Fort Sill to the south and into the North Mountain Wilderness Area and Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge to the north and west. They are largely treeless slopes with outcroppings of granite boulders. Mount Scott, at just under 2500 feet, is the tallest of the mountains and it is possible to drive to the summit. From the top you will be able to orient yourself to the grassland and mountains spread out below.

Wildlife includes buffalo, prairie dogs, Texas longhorns and Rocky Mountain Elk, which were introduced to replace the Merriam's elk that once roamed this part of the prairie. River otter and burrowing owls have also been reintroduced. Forests in the refuge are largely scrub oak. The one primary exception is the Parallel Forest, made up of rows of cedar, that were planted in the early 1900s.

Things to do in the area include rock scrambles through Charon’s Garden, drive to the top of Mount Scott, check out the stone Jed Johnson fire tower, visit the Museum of the Great Plains in Lawton and explore the wildlife refuge. You should also stop by the Meers Restaurant and Store in the crossroads of Meers. It’s a local institution famous for its oversized burgers and other crowd-pleasing fair.

The mountains are easily accessed from Interstate 44. There is enough to see and do to fill at least a week, but even a short stop will be worth your time.