The Wichita Mountains is one of those places you almost don’t believe is in Oklahoma.
It’s one of our families favorite Oklahoma destinations for many reasons.
In this article we will share 5 Reasons you must visit the Wichita Mountains and tips for your trip!
5. Beautiful Scenery for family photos.
We have had family photos taken here multiple times.
There are many beautiful backdrops here and it is a popular area for photoshoots.
4. Amazing Wildlife Viewing
The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge has an impressive amount of wild animals active in the area.
We have seen Bison (Buffalo), Elk, Deer, Longhorn Cattle, and Prairie Dogs on our adventures and there has also been more animals reported in the area as well.
3. Outstanding Hiking Trails
There are hiking trails of all difficulties located at the Wichita Mountains. There are options for easy family friendly hikes and a range of medium to difficult hikes as well.
2. There are great places to stay here
You can Tent Camp, RV Camp, stay in a cabin or stay in a nearby airbnb.
You can find more info about the Airbnb we stayed at further down the article.
1. Proximity to OKC or Tulsa areas.
The Wichita Mountains are only a little over 3 hours from Tulsa and only 1.5 hours from Oklahoma City.
It’s an easy drive that is mainly highway. It’s totally worth a day trip or weekend trip.
Bonus. Enjoy the views from the Scenic Drive
Not much for hiking? Enjoy a scenic drive. You can cruise along the Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway see many sights while driving through the park. Some of our best wildlife viewing was from the road.
Check out one of our scenic videos below.
You can even drive up Mt. Scott and see the views without having to hike up it.
Watch one of our Wichita Videos here :
Tips for planning a visit to the Wichita Mountains.
1. Cell Service may be spotty. Have a paper map or an offline map saved.
Some people prefer paper maps but I’m all about digital maps. You can have digital maps even when you have no service if you set up an offline map in advance.
You can save maps offline in Google Maps. Video of how to save offline maps here.
You may also want to save an offline map on AllTrails for your hikes. We love using AllTrails app for our hikes. Follow me on their to keep up with our hikes and reviews of trails.
2. Pack plenty of water and food and snacks.
It can get hot in Oklahoma and you need to always stay hydrated when exploring the outdoors. We like brining a backpack with a water bladder. Find out here in our Amazon list.
3. Bring a first aid kit.
It’s always smart to have a first aid kit. Here are some first aid kits with high reviews on Amazon.
4. Find a great place to stay.
Whether you plan on staying in a tent , a cabin or a house take your time to find a good location.
Here is the Airbnb we stayed at.
