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Current
Lunar Phase |
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Courtesy
USNO |
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Oklahoma's
Top 10
Destinations
for Hiking, Camping, Kayaking
or just being outdoors
someplace nice !!!! |
 1.
Beech Creek Trail System
Located in the Beech Creek Botanical and Scenic Areas, these
trails cross the headwaters of Beech Creek in SE Oklahoma. The mountain
slopes of the Scenic Area surround the creek bottoms and hollows lined
with large beech trees. The Botanical Area, which runs along the creek,
was designated to protect and interpret the unique plant communities found
here.
Trails - Various loops totaling 32.5 miles |
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2.
The “Peaceful Valley of Rippling Waters”
appropriately describes
Chickasaw
National Recreation Area, as it is
known for its many mineral springs, cool water, flora, fauna, and
wildlife. Here one’s mind may wander back in time to when the early
American Indian came to this area to rest, relax at the water’s edge, and
hunt for their food from the abundant wildlife.
This area has significant geological and hydrological features and lies
in the transitional ecotones of the Eastern deciduous forest and the
Western prairies.
A trail system designed and constructed during this period
still meets
the needs of today’s walker |
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3.
Wichita Mtns National Wildlife Refuge
: 60,000 – plus acres are home to free range buffalo,
Texas longhorn cattle, prairie dog towns, elk, deer, Mount Scott
(see picture to the left) provides a scenic drive to the
highest point in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. |
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The Refuge offers wildlife viewing and photography,
mountain biking, rock climbing, 15 miles of hiking trails, camping,
picnicking, and fishing. |
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Special tours and programs
throughout the year
580-429-3222 |
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 4.
Greenleaf State Park
One of Oklahoma's most scenic and family-oriented parks
offering lots of activities for everyone, including wildlife and holiday
events, fishing, boating, swimming, hiking and camping.
Greenleaf Nature Trail: An 18 mile primitive trail on the banks of Greenleaf
Lake, passes over a swinging bridge, and makes a return loop through the
wildlife-rich Cherokee Game Management Area, beginning and ending in the
park.
The trail is designed for overnight backpacking
and is also enjoyed by day hikers. |
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 5.
American Horse Lake
(AHL) is located in Blaine County 10 miles west of Geary, Oklahoma.
Vegetation around the lake is post-oak-blackjack forest and mixed grass
eroded plains types. American Horse Lake was constructed by the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in 1966
American Horse Lake is very primitive in nature (the
closest electric light is several miles away)
AHL is rated "The BEST" - Bluegill
Lake - in the state, by the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife (so, you might want to bring some fly
fishing or light spinning tackle & don't forget your Oklahoma State
Fishing License)
AHL is only 1 hour west of OKC
and is a wonderful area to
camp, fish, kayak & star gaze !!
Although there is a campground, camping
is primitive in nature
(i.e. no running water or restroom facilities)
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On a Clear
Dark
Night
at
American Horse Lake
you can see |
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The Oklahoma
City
Astronomy Club
uses AHL for monthly star parties |
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Remember to
bring a pair of Binoculars |
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From Jeff T w/ OKC
Astronomy Club
The following quotes are from THIS Link
1. In my first hour at AHL
I was quite successful recording nine Hershel galaxies that I had
not seen before
2.
NGC 3607 & NGC 3608
A nice pair of brighter galaxies that show up together. They are
both round and easy to see
3.
NGC 3640
A fairly bright circular galaxy. The central core brightened and
fell off in magnitude cleanly and sharply. It was nice to see an
elliptical galaxy after all the spirals I had seen in a row
4.
32 Camelopardis
This, my 99th double star turned out to be a very pleasant surprise |
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6.
The
Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge lies north of Lake Overholser and
follows the North Canadian River past Morgan Road in Yukon. It
contains over 1,000 acres that haven’t changed much in the last 150
years. Hundreds of birds, small mammals such as beaver, and deer
make their homes in the refuge.
The primary ways to enjoy the refuge are by foot, mountain bike
and boat. Several trails suitable for hiking run through the refuge
linking four small lakes to the river. Entrances to the trails are
from NW 50th on the east side of the refuge and County Line and
Morgan Roads on the west side.
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What is geocaching ??
Numerous
Geocaches are hidden within the
Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge
All the caches are
off-trail - in areas that can be
muddy and/or have dense vegetation
Late fall, winter or early spring
is the best time
to find the
Geocaches of Stinchcomb
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4 OKC Outdoor Network Geocaches
in & around the
Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge |
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Be
sure you have extra batteries
for your GPS to find your way back
out.
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Mountain bikers can ride the service road and a few trails the
entire length of the
Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge. Less experienced mountain bikers will
find the road and trails less technical than the Bluff Creek trail
system north of Lake Hefner.
 Boating in the refuge is typically by recreational kayak or
canoe. Kayakers can put in on the west side of Yukon and float
9 miles down the North Canadian River to Lake Overholser
(From Yukon - there is a nice launch site north on Garth Brooks Blvd and
another by going north from route 66 on highway 4, also known as
Piedmont Road).
Canoeists and kayakers will frequently put in just south of the
old Route 66 bridge and paddle up the river for several miles before
returning.
The level and flow of the river makes every trip a little
different.
 Along the river and lakes, the signs of wildlife are constant.
Blue herons, owls and ducks can be seen year round. Egrets and
cranes will often visit during the warmer months. The felled trees
from the many wild beaver in the refuge may be seen every few feet.
The hoofed tracks of deer are abundant. At dusk the wildlife comes
out to play. Deer sightings are common. The tail slaps of swimming
beavers as you approach to close are heard. Bats dance in the sky as
they emerge to chase insects above your head. In warmer weather fish
will jump from the water as you paddle by.
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 7.
Robbers Cave State Park is located in the
scenic, hilly woodlands of the San Bois Mountains of southeast Oklahoma. A
favorite of rappelers, cave explorers, equestrians, hikers and outdoor
lovers,
Robbers Cave enjoys notoriety
as a former hideout for outlaws
The
park and adJoining wildlife management area offers acres of discovery and
enjoyment including caves, trout fishing in season, boating, hunting,
trails for hikers and horses, sandstone cliffs for climbing and
rappelling, and fall foliage viewing. RV and tent campsites, and
equestrian campsites are also available. |
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 8.
Black Mesa
Oklahoma's Highest Point
This park is in Oklahoma's panhandle and got its name from
the layer of black lava rock that coated the mesa about 30 million years
ago. The Nature Preserve is located 15 miles from the state park and
features Oklahoma's highest elevation at 4,973 feet above sea level. |
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 9.
Ouachita
National Recreation Trail
This is the longest trail in the Ouachita National Forest spanning 192
miles across its entire length. In the west, the trail begins at Talimena
State Park on U.S. Hwy. 271 near the town of Talihina in SE Oklahoma |
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 10.
Great Salt
Plains State Park
Great Salt Plains Lake is located at the park and covers
8,690 surface acres with 41 miles of shoreline and is a shallow, salty
lake -- about 1/3 to 1/2 as salty as the ocean -- with fishing
opportunities for catfish, saugeye, sand bass and hybrid striper.
The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge sits adjacent to the park and
offers great bird watching and fall foliage viewing opportunities.
The refuge is the only spot in the
world
where crystal enthusiasts can dig for
Hourglass "Selenite" Crystals
a rare and fragile form of selenite, which is a form of gypsum.
Digging times are available from April 1
through October 15
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© Copyright 1999 - 2007
Oklahoma City Outdoor Network, LLC |
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