Hi there!

Today we are going to visit the Turkey Mountain Wilderness Area in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This area consists of over 300 acres of undeveloped territory that boasts some excellent hiking trails along the stunning Arkansas River.

The Turkey Mountain Wilderness Area is conveniently located minutes away from downtown Tulsa and offers hiker enthusiasts over 25 miles of unmarked trails.

In this article, I am going to introduce you to some of my favorite hiking trails at Turkey Mountain so that you have a great idea on what to expect.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the article!

 

 

For more information on the Turkey Mountain Wilderness Area, please check the out here.

 

 

A Brief History of the Turkey Mountain Wilderness Area

 

 

 

Let’s rewind and go back in time 44 years ago.

For many years, Tulsa longed for an urban public park. So, in 1978 with approximately 147 acres purchased with funds from Tulsa County, the park began construction.

With a federal grant and a nice contribution from the landowner, J.L. Reynolds, this dream was going to come alive sooner or later.

It was in 1996, that Stephen J. Jatras donated an additional 80 acres of land at the corner of 71st and Elwood. In the following years, additional tracts were acquired with the City of Tulsa 3rd Penny Sales Tax funds.

Those parcels and others owned by the City were leased to the authority and included in the wilderness boundaries.

 

Vision Tulsa

 

The extension of the Vision Tulsa program in 2016 included 7.6 million dollars for Turkey Mountain. This also included an additional 5.6 million for the acquisition for additional land and another 2 million for amenities.

A loan to River Parks Authority from The George Kaiser Foundation and QuikTrip Corporation allowed the Vision Land purchases to begin soon after the vote so that acquisition opportunities would not be lost.

 

How did it get the name?

 

The origin of the name Turkey Mountain remains a mystery today. It is believed that the name stems from the likelihood that the area was once a popular spot for hunting wild turkeys.

The place gets lots of Viking fables which to me are very unlikely. But the land itself was figured into Tulsa’s early history as the site of oil well drilling.

The mountain is traversed by a section of the 1904 Midland Valley Railroad line now owned by the Union Pacific Railroad and is now operated by the Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway which runs twice daily, mornings and evenings.

 

The Trails inside the Park

When I lived in Broken Arrow in 2006 and most of 2007, this was my getaway from the city. With this urban playground being less than a 15-minute drive from where I was living, I found this to be ideal for my outdoor adventures.

There aren’t many places near the city that can offer you a bit of solitude being less than 15 minutes away, and I made sure I capitalized on this opportunity.

Here are the some of the trails worth mentioning. Let’s take a look at them:

 

 

The Yellow Trail

 

 

 

 

Three and a half miles of beauty is what I also call this trail. The Yellow trail is considered a moderately challenging route.

Also, if you’re wanting to bring your dog, this trail is also great!

It takes about an hour and a half to complete and is widely considered a popular trail for birding and horseback riding.

You will run into some steep sections on the ascents, but the stunning beauty is totally worth it.

 

 

The Pink Trail

 

 

 

You will need to take your time on the Pink Trail.

This is why.

It is very steep and from my experiences, the trails were poorly marked. Sometimes, you will see that the trails are marked with pink spray paint, but it isn’t done consistently.

I recommend using the map to stay on the trail as you will see how the trail intersects with others.

They have a nice wide bike path on the route and that is the one I recommend following if you don’t have a map. Just be careful as there are a lot of side trails that are deceiving.

Bring a nice pair of hiking shoes and a good camera for this one.

 

 

The Blue Trail

 

 

 

If you’re looking to visit this place in the summer months, then I recommend the Blue Trail. Lots and lots of shade from the canopy of trees that include Blackjack, Oak, Hickory, and Redbud.

Also, this is a very popular biking trail for the bikers, so you need to have your head on a swivel. If you’re asking me for any advice on improving the park it would be this. They need to keep these trails separated a bit. It is very common to have these bikers race past you on your quiet hiking time.

This is a 4.5-mile trek that is quite challenging due to the terrain and the bikers that come by, but don’t let that discourage you, this is a great trail that give you outstanding glimpses of Oklahoma’s landscape.

 

 

Thoughts & Takeaways

And that wraps things up for today. The Turkey Mountain Wilderness Area is not only ideal for Tulsa residents, but it’s perfect for any hiker enthusiast that wants a break away from the hustle and bustle. There aren’t many opportunities in the Metropolitain areas that will offer you this type of solitude being this conveniently located. I hope you get a chance to take a trip to Tulsa’s urban outdoor nature park in the upcoming months. Please share your experiences that you have had at Turkey Mountain Wilderness Area in the comment section below.

 

 

-CT