Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 32 Refuge Headquarters Indiahoma, Oklahoma 73552 580/429-3222 Wichita 580/429-9323 Fax www.fws.gov/refuge/Wichita_Mountains/ Mountains U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service www.fws.gov Wildlife Refuge Visit us on our social media websites U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Region www.fws.gov/southwest For information on the National Wildlife Refuge System 1 800/344- WILD Oklahoma State Relay System 1 800/722-0353 American Bison. Ryan Hagerty / USFWS August 2013 Mount Scott. Elise Smith/USFWS Refuge Visitor Center. Welcome The Wichita Mountains Wildlife USFWS to the Wichitas Refuge – wild, rugged, and Visitor Center The Refuge Visitor Center is located at weathered – is a symbol of the old the junction of State Highways 115 and west standing at the threshold of C 49. Dioramas and hands-on exhibits modern times. For centuries, this complement fine art, sculptures, and remarkable land was the province exquisite taxidermy. The four major of a few nomadic hunters and food habitat types, rocklands, aquatic, gatherers. Today the refuge serves mixed-grass prairie, and cross timbers, everyone by conserving part of are highlighted. A night exhibit reveals America’s national wildlife heritage. the sounds after dark, while a history rail overlooks mountain scenery from The natural attractions of the refuge picture windows. The auditorium are many and varied. In addition to presents programs throughout the day. viewing and photographing wildlife in There is no fee for visiting the center. their natural setting, visitors find the Maps, books, pamphlets, and other lakes, streams, canyons, mountains, information on wildlife and wildlands and grasslands ideal for hiking, are available in the center’s bookstore/ fishing, and other outdoor activities. gift shop. Refuge Headquarters are located 25 miles The America the Beautiful Pass can Headquarters northwest of Lawton, Oklahoma, and be obtained from the Visitor Center. serve as administrative offices on weekdays. Hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 Visitor Center Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. pm, Monday through Friday. Hours Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. A 24–hour emergency telephone is located at the rear of the refuge Picnicking Boulder, Lost Lake, Sunset, and Mt. headquarters office along with an Scott provide visitors with a variety of accessible entrance. Q settings for picnicking. Picnic hours are posted at area entrances. Help keep the refuge beautiful by putting all trash in convenient dumpsters located at each area. For group picnics (20 to 60 people), the Boulder Cabin area may be reserved by contacting the Visitor Center. Accessible sites and restrooms are available at Boulder and Sunset picnic areas. Joys of hiking. © George Bishop Trails and Hiking The refuge has 15 miles of designated hiking trails that offer the novice E and the seasoned hiker a rewarding Doris Campground. experience. The trails wind through USFWS scrub oak forest, across rocky mountains, and over grassy prairie. General Camping Doris Campground, west of the Wildlife abounds along these trails. Visitor Center, is fully developed with k water, fire grills, fire grates, picnic The Dog Run Hollow Trail System, a tables, sanitary dump station, shower/ part of the National Recreation Trail restroom facility, tent sites, limited System, has trailheads at French electrical hookups, and trailer spaces. Lake, Boulder, Lost Lake, and the Three group camp sites are available Dog Run Hollow parking areas. Using by reservation through the Visitor the French Lake trailhead, visitors Center. Sites are first come – first may choose among a 1-, 2-, or 4-hour served. This is a fee area. The hike through some of the more unique America the Beautiful Senior Pass areas of the refuge. (62+) and Access Pass (disabled) are honored for a 50% camping discount. The Congressionally designated Charons Garden Wilderness Area The Fawn Creek Youth Campground offers hikers an opportunity to test offers 4 group camp sites for their skills in challenging terrain. organized youth groups including In keeping with the wilderness universities. The primitive camp sites designation, the trails are primitive can accommodate up to 30 people and are frequently confused with game each, and can be reserved through the trails. Be prepared before entering Visitor Center. the Wilderness Area. Carry adequate water, wear sturdy shoes, allow Backcountry Backcountry camping in the Charons extra time for the rugged and often Camping Garden Wilderness Area is by confusing conditions. Trails lead to reservation/permit only. To protect the summit of Elk Mountain, connect the area, it is necessary to limit the Post Oak Lake and Sunset Lake, and number of permits at one time to 10. lead into the backcountry camping and Length of stay is two nights/three Twin Rocks/Crab Eyes area. Consult days. Reservations can be made a trail map or discuss plans with a through the Visitor Center. Refuge staff person before traveling. Numerous other trails are available Accessible fishing piers are available including the Little Baldy Trail, which near the Environmental Education leads from the Quanah Parker Lake Center and Lake Elmer Thomas. dam to the summit of Little Baldy Mountain. A side trail from the Doris Hunting Annual controlled hunts for white- Campground joins this trail on the tailed deer and elk are conducted. western edge of the lake. H The application process and random drawings are administrated through the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Applications must be submitted in April. For all regulations, contact the Refuge. Tours and Special Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Programs offers many unique programs and tours, some of which venture into the Special Use Area of the refuge. A current schedule of programs is available at the Visitor Center, on the Refuge website, or by visiting www.friendsofthewichitas.org. Environmental Fishing on Quanah Parker Lake. Education Elise Smith/USFWS Classes covering most natural Boating Hand powered boats are permitted on resource related Jed Johnson, Rush, Quanah Parker, subjects can be DEF and French Lakes. Electric trolling scheduled by motors are permitted on boats 14’ and calling the Visitor less in length on these same lakes. Center. Any size boat or motor and sailboats are permitted on Lake Elmer Enjoy the Refuge Thomas, but there is a no–wake rule Safely across the entire surface of the lake. Wichita Operators of motorized boats must Mountains use designated boat ramps. Wildlife Refuge is a natural and Fishing Fishing, in accordance with state and wild area. Visitors federal regulations, is permitted in all must be prepared L of the refuge lakes in the public use to meet nature area (see map). Largemouth bass, on its terms. Due sunfish, bluegill, crappie, and catfish to open range can be found in refuge lakes. management, motorists must Fish may be taken only with poles drive defensively and lines or rods and reels. Anglers and be alert for may use tube type floaters, life Hollis Canyon. jackets, or buoyant vests. Wading is F. Bryce/USFWS hazards caused by wandering buffalo, permitted when fishing. Taking bait, longhorn, deer, and elk. Reduced frogs, or turtles from refuge waters night speed is enforced because of is prohibited. Fishing tournaments the difficulty of seeing wildlife on the allowed by permit only. roads at night. A Few Simple To protect wildlife, please observe ABC Show you care…Feeding wildlife is Rules posted speed limits. DEF prohibited. C Motorized vehicles are allowed only Bicycles are allowed only on paved on developed roads and parking C roads and on the Mt. Scott Bicycle areas. Driving on roads closed by sign Trail. Bicycles are prohibited on or barrier is prohibited. ATVs and other trails. UTVs are not allowed. Vehicles found parked in closed areas, or in any area The use of skates, skateboards, after the hours of authorized activity, longboards, lugeboards and other will be impounded. similar devices is prohibited. QO Picnicking and cooking fires are Camping is allowed only in designated allowed in designated areas only. areas and all campers must have a Fires must be built in grates and permit. grills and dead fallen timber may be gathered (no saws). Fires must Hiking is limited to daylight hours only. not be left unattended and must Nighttime use on the Refuge is be completely extinguished before restricted to fishing or permitted leaving the area. activities. X Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Persons possessing, transporting, should be a quiet place to enjoy or carrying firearms on National nature. Please leave radios and loud Wildlife Refuges must comply with sound equipment at home. Fireworks all provisions of state and local law. are prohibited. Persons may only use (discharge) Alcoholic beverages, drugs, and firearms in accordance with refuge UV drug paraphernalia prohibited. regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32). Help us protect wildlife MN habitat – swimming, snorkeling, Individuals that participate in hunting and wading are prohibited. and fishing activities or who have a special use permit for collection on Keep wild things wild – collection of the Refuge are subject to inspection PS rocks, animals, minerals, bones, and of all harvested resources, licenses, antlers is prohibited. permits, vehicles, containers, packs, bags etc., that are used in support of e Aircraft landings and take-offs are these permitted activities. prohibited. This includes but is not limited to: sail planes, hang-gliders, Special Use Permits are required hot air balloons, paragliders, and for all special events and commercial parasails. Kites and remote controlled activities. Some of the uses requiring a aircraft are also prohibited. permit include, but are not limited to: commercial photography, scuba diving Use of metal detectors or any instruction, fishing tournaments and activities that involve searching for, rock climbing classes.