Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, located in southwestern Oklahoma in Comanche County, is a captivating natural sanctuary teeming with diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. Spanning over 59,000 acres, this Wildlife Refuge offers a unique blend of rugged granite peaks, rolling grasslands, and pristine lakes, providing an ideal habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species. Visitors to the refuge can marvel at the sight of majestic American bison, graceful elk, elusive white-tailed deer, and agile wild turkeys as they roam freely across the refuge's open plains and rocky hillsides. Bird enthusiasts will be delighted by the refuge's abundant avian population, including bald eagles, golden eagles, and numerous species of migratory birds. With its rich biodiversity and captivating natural beauty, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is a true haven for nature lovers and a testament to the importance of preserving our natural heritage.

Contact Information:

32 Refuge Headquarters

Indiahoma, Oklahoma 73552

Phone: (580) 429-3222

Map:

Trails:

Charon's Garden Trail:

Charon's Garden Trail leads from Treasure Lake to Sunset Trailhead, traversing through Charon's Garden Wilderness.

Kite Trail:

Kite Trail starts at Lost Lake and follows West Cache Creek downstream past a beautiful canyon.

Little Baldy Trail:

Little Baldy Trail starts at Quanah Parker Dam and leads to the summit of Little Baldy Mountain.

The Narrows Trail:

The Narrows Trail starts at Boulder Cabin and leads to the Narrows on West Cache Creek.

Points of Interest:

Forty Foot Hole:

Forty Foot Hole is a waterfall through a narrow gorge on West Cache Creek.  It can be viewed from Kite Trail.

Little Baldy:

Little Baldy is a mountain at 1,670 feet that is accessed from Little Baldy Trail.

Mount Scott:

Mount Scott is at the eastern end of the refuge and can be accessed by driving to the top.

Post Oak Falls:

Post Oak Falls is a seasonal waterfall on a tributary of Post Oak Creek in Charon's Garden Wilderness.

Wildlife:

Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides)

Field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense)

Yellow stonecrop (Sedum nuttallianum)

Texas Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa)

Western wallflower (Erysimum capitatum)

Green milkweed (Asclepias viridis)

Eastern bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana)

Prairie spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis)

Dakota mock vervain (Glandularia bipinnatifida)

Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Common collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris)

Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) eating a lizard

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

American bison (Bison bison)

Texas longhorn

Blog Entries:

20-Apr-2023: Wichita Mountains

19-Apr-2023: Turner Falls

External Links:

US Fish and Wildife Service website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita-mountains