Jamie Fleck - Hiking Oklahoma: A Guide to the States Greatest Hiking Adventures

The words thank you do not seem adequate to express my appreciation for everyone who helped make this book possible. I hope for all those who helped me that including you as a part of these acknowledgments will add a little more emphasis on how truly grateful I am.

First of all, to the people at Globe Pequot. Katie ODellthank you for going through all the hoops with me on this and believing in me. I am honored that you and Globe Pequot entrusted me with such a special project for a state that has been wanting something like this for a long time. Meredith Dias and Paulette BakerI am grateful to you both for your invaluable time, effort, and expertise to make this book even better than it could be. I thank all of you for helping this book come to life.

A huge thank you to the following park managers, rangers, biologists, naturalists, and administrators: Curt Allen, JaNae Barnard, Sandie Blay, Jim Bonnarens, Brandon Boydstun, Brandon Bundy, Julie Cameron, Rick Cantu, Cathi Carr, Nick Conner, Scott Copelin, Tom Creider, Craig Dishman, Jeff Edwards, Chad Everett, Scott Fraley, Katie Hawk, Glen Hensley, Sue Hokanson, Brenda Holt, Ryan Howell, Bill Jackson, Shane Kasson, Richard Keithley, Polly Kiker, Aron Maib, Loran Mayes, Adam Miller, Kevin Mohr, Rocky Murdaugh, Roberta Pailes, Ron Parker, Terence Peck, Stacey Reese, Jonathan Rich, Pete Singleton, Quinton Smith, Angelina Stancampiano, Wade Thompson, Jeremy Tubbs, Jill Vanegmond, Jeff Walker, Bob Webster, Chasidy Wilmot, and Larry Wolcott. For those I got to meet personally, I will cherish those times and hope we can meet again. For those I never got to meet but had the privilege of conversing with you by e-mail or phone, thank you for spending the time to help someone you never met.

Last, but most important, so much gratitude for my husband, Koby. This book project has been a wild ride. We have probably never seen so much of Oklahoma as we have from doing this book. We put so many miles on the car and a lot of wear and tear on our hiking boots. Much laughter was had, and our tent has seen all kinds of weather. You and I have hiked hundreds of miles together, making sure we got the information right for my readers. We have so many stories to share after all our adventures on the trails, on ones we had already hiked and ones that were new. Thank you for being my steadfast partner, not only on the trails and on the road but also in life.

Hiking Oklahoma focuses on some of the most scenic day-hike trails in Oklahoma. While not all the scenic trails in Oklahoma were able to make it in this book, you will gain first-hand knowledge of both popular and less-known trails that offer a rewarding view and display the states natural beauty. The sixty hikes covered in this book vary in difficulty to engage novice as well as experienced hikers. This book is organized by the states six regions and will guide you through the trails that await you as you explore Oklahoma with a new perspective. Use the Overview Map to locate the hikes nearest you. Detailed information is provided for each of the trails, with chapter sections explained below.

This indicates the starting location for the hike.

Elevation is generally the most important factor in determining a hikes difficulty. The numbers listed indicate the total amount of elevation gained during the course of the hike. Most often, but not always, the trailhead lies at the low point and the end lies at the highest point. Some of the hikes have several ups and downs along the way, requiring more elevation gain and effort than others. Hikes in urban areas of Oklahoma generally have very minimal elevation changes.

Elevation also affects difficulty. At higher elevations, lower atmospheric pressure creates thin air that requires higher breathing rates and more effort to pull enough oxygen into the lungs. Since most of Oklahoma lies at lower elevations, hikers will encounter thinner air on only a few of the hikes in this guide. The moderately higher elevations encountered on hikes in western Oklahoma (Black Mesa, Quartz Mountain area, the Wichita Mountains) and in southeast Oklahoma (Ouachita National Forest area and Beavers Bend State Park) will require only a little additional effort.

The distance specified in each description is listed as a round-trip distance from the trailhead to the end of the route and back. Hike lengths have been estimated as closely as possible using GPS units. The final figure is the authors best estimate.

Assessing the difficulty of a hike is very subjective. The elevation, elevation change, length, trail condition, weather, and physical condition of a hiker all play a role. However, even subjective ratings will give some idea of difficulty. For this guide, elevation gain and variation in path levels were the most significant variables in establishing levels of difficulty. Most of the hikes, except in western Oklahoma and southeast Oklahoma, have only small elevation gains and are rated easy or moderate. Most of the difficult hikes are located in western Oklahoma and southeast Oklahoma. Within each category there are many degrees of difficulty. Poor trails, excessive heat with no shade, paths that involve rock scrambling, and other factors may result in a more difficult designation than would otherwise seem to be the case from simply the elevation change and trail length. Carrying a heavy backpack can make even an easy day hike more strenuous.

Autumn in all its glory at the Lower Mountain Fork River (Hike 47)

The hiking time is a rough estimate of the time within which the average hiker will be able to complete the hike. Very fit, fast-moving hikers will be able to complete it in less time. Slower-moving hikers or those preoccupied with activities such as photography may take longer. To come up with this information, an estimation was made that most people hike at 2 to 3 miles per hour. For longer hikes with more elevation changes, estimates are closer to 2 miles per hour. For short, flat hikes, 3 miles per hour can be easily attained. Other factors such as a rough trail or particularly big elevation changes were also taken into account.

This section specifies designated hours and days of the year that a park or trail area is open. Generally, most areas are open for day use, or sunrise to sunset. Some, such as private and national lands, are closed on holidays.

Most trails in Oklahoma have something to offer year-round, and the scenery is beautiful no matter what the season. Hikes that have more-specific seasonal experiences, such as wildlife arrivals, foliage, or blooming fauna, are noted with the ideal season to visit. Summers are humid in Oklahoma, so with the heat index, trails with little to no shade should be traveled with caution. Generally, the hottest times of the year in Oklahoma are July through September. Winters are generally mild in November and December, but may get icy January through March. Occasional light snow does not linger for more than a couple of days on the ground, so snow-packed trails are not usually a concern. Springtime is rainy, and tornado season spans April and May. However, the wildflower viewing is spectacular in spring when the weather is decent. Autumn is the optimal season, particularly in areas such as eastern Oklahoma and the Talimena Scenic Byway, where the fall foliage is on full display. Be prepared, and always check the weather forecast.

At time of publication, twenty-four of the Oklahoma state parks require a parking pass for day-use visitors. This number is subject to change. State parks included in this guide that require this fee will have Parking pass for day-use visitors noted in this section. Visitors who have paid for camping sites, select concession areas (identified and approved by state park management), or golf course usage are generally exempt from having to pay for the parking pass. Parking pass discounts are available for State of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Tribe license plate owners, honorably discharged veterans who are Oklahoma residents, certified disabled persons under state/federal law and their spouses, and persons 62+ years of age along with their spouses. Parking passes (daily, three-day, weekly, and annual) are available via the Premium Parking mobile app, online at www.travelok.com, and via parking pay machines at applicable state parks.