Wichita Mountains Byway
Places to Visit
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Located on the edge of the Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area, Elk Mountain dominates the landscape. The mountain has a hiking trail accessible by the roadway for travelers to get a bird’s eye view of the southwestern stretch of mountains and canyons. Travelers to the Elk Mountain area in the morning and evenings have a good chance to see elk grazing the slopes. The mountain is also a great representation of the boulder/granite makeup of the Wichita Mountains.
Location: Garden Wilderness Area
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Forty Foot Hole is a natural depression located at the northwest end of the Narrows Canyon. This site, as its name implies, looks like a deep hole in the surrounding canyon. Many waterfalls are created as Cache Creek flows over the Permian-era formation, making the site a prime destination for hikers during the summer months, when they visit to bask in the cool air and the natural ambiance created by the sounds of the waterfall along the rim of the canyon.
Distance from byway: 1.9 mi / 3.1 km Directions: Head northwest on OK-49 toward Lost Lake. Turn Left at Lost Lake turnout and head southeast to Lost Lake.
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Lake Lawtonka is the primary lake of the region and rests at the base of the iconic Mount Scott on the outskirts of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The lake is a favorite stop for residents and travelers who are seeking a relaxing day trip. Various activities can be enjoyed and visitors are greeted with beautiful views of Wichita Mountains and landscape features year round. During the winter months bald eagles, osprey and great numbers of waterfowl over winter here.
Location: Along the roadway next to State Highway 58.
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Best known for its reddish granite boulders and signs of ancient volcanic activity, Mount Scott is one of the most popular features of the Wichita Mountains. The mountain rises above nearby Lake Lawtonka and is situated within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge boundaries. Travel the winding two-lane road to the top of the mountain to get a memorable view (50 miles) of the surrounding area’s natural and scenic beauty.
Location: Near Lake Lawtonka.
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Mount Zodletone and Microbial Observatory (OK)
This unique mountain is home to a unique microbial observatory. The site’s spring produces a lot of sulfides and methane which in turn creates an environment much like the earth appeared over 2 billion years ago. The spring flows into Stinking Creek which gets its name from the sulphur smell of its water. This makes the springs and its mountain a rich living laboratory for scientist and other researchers. Visitors to can see this unique natural wonder along the byway route.
Location: About a mile from the Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport.
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The Narrows is a natural canyon that is dissected by Cache Creek. Visitors during the hours of dawn and dusk have a chance to see river otters and other wildlife carrying out their daily activities along the creek bed. The Narrows is a favorite site of birdwatchers and wildlife observers due to the abundance of fauna. Visitors to the Narrows in the spring will be welcomed by thousands of Indian-blankets and other wildflowers blooming along the canyon ridges and walls.
Distance from byway: 1.8 mi / 2.9 km Directions: From OK-49 turn left to Lost Lake.
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This natural landmark rises along the northern half of the Wichita Mountains Byway a few miles south of the community of Mountain View. Rainy Mountain has long been a sacred part of the Kiowa Tribal culture. Prearranged tours allow visitors to view one of the most historical Native American Cemeteries in the United States at the base of the mountain. Travelers can experience the site's natural qualities that made it a sacred cultural and historical place.
Location: A few miles south of Mountain View.
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Saddle Mountain, named by explorers for the shape formed by the curve between two peaks in the Wichita Mountains, is a good place to relax in this unchanged natural landscape. Visitors can watch in the autumn as deer graze the mixed-grass prairie around the base of the mountain and cross-timber forest along its flanks dazzle with color.
Location: Wichita Mountains
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This geological feature is the remnant of the ancient seaway that crossed through the region during the Mesozoic Period. The limestone is covered on top by lush prairie grasses, meanwhile the flanks feature exposed limestone. Nowadays, visitors can see these limestone foothills of the Wichita Mountains across the northern part of the Wichita Mountains Byway on State Highway 115. The intricate formations were formed by the bodies of ancient sea life of corals and plankton.
Location: Along Scenic State Highway 115 and State Highway 58.
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The Wichita Mountains Byway and State Highway 115 travels northward through Stumbling Bear Pass. This trail was first established thousands of years ago by animals, primarily bison. Later, it was used by Native American tribes indigenous to the area and settlers to cross through the Wichita Mountains. The route covers spectacular views of nearby mountain peaks. The cross-timber forests around this pass give travelers the sensation of passing through a natural corridor.
Location: East of Geronimo.
