Oklahoma High Point - Black Mesa (alt. 4,973 Feet)
Our Hike In The Black Mesa Preserve In The Western Oklahoma Panhandle - January 30, 2010
The Oklahoma High Point ... now this is a hike worthy of your time! Don't be
fooled into
thinking Black Mesa is like the Kansas and Nebraska high points,
where its qualities as a plains state
make it a simple visit. Reaching the Oklahoma high point requires effort.
This is 4.2 mile trail (one way) could be harsh on hot summer days,
as there is little shade to provide cover from the sun. The exposure, coupled with the length of the trail,
will likely intensify the elements such as sun, heat, wind, rain or
cold. Be prepared!
How To Get There: From Kenton, Oklahoma, travel a short distance east on Highway 325
and make a left (north) at the sign for the Black Mesa State Preserve.
(If you are coming from the east as we did, travel west on Highway
325 from Boise City, OK. The preserve turnoff will be on your right (north).
If you reach Kenton, you have gone too far.)
Travel five miles and make a left into the trailhead parking lot - a sign on the road also reads Black Mesa Preserve.
Warning: Keep in mind there are two seperate entities,
the Black Mesa State Park and Black Mesa Preserve. If you want to
ascend this high point, you must go to the preserve. The state park is located southeast of Kenton and consists
of a lake on the plains. Of course, examine Google maps if you are unacquainted with the area before your visit.
Thanks for visiting! Enjoy the photos and definitely watch the videos at the bottom. :)
-Steve
Contact:
Twitter: @stevegarufi
Facebook: ColoradoGuy.com Fan Page
Black Mesa - The Oklahoma High Point
In a seemingly random spot on Black Mesa stands this monument marking
the Oklahoma High Point. The sign shows various distances: a mere 1,299 feet to
New Mexico (to the west), 4.7 miles to Colorado, 53 miles to Kansas and 31 miles to
Texas.
Special thanks to Stephen, Kim and Kent Naegele for driving and coming along.
For all of them, this was their first state high point which made it a very special visit!
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The Hike
An artistic gate at the trailhead. |
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This trail travels through high plains lush with pinions, cholla cacti and yuccas.
Majestic mesas dotted the scenery all around, giving it an old western flavor. This felt like
"lonely cowboy country" to me! In fact, we did not encounter another hiker during our visit.
As seen in the adjacent photos, much of the trail was covered in
approximately 3-6 inches of snow.
Ahhhh ... Look at those views!
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For whatever reason, I seemed to be ahead of my group throughout the day.
Hence, all the photos of my buddies on the trail.
In this photo, we had already ascended the butte and were approximately 0.8 miles from the monument. |
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So many beautiful chollas out there! :) |
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There we are! It was a long walk and the snow made
it especially tough, but we were so happy to be there! :)
As for me, this was my 17th U.S. state high point visit. Below are the previous 16 in the order I visited them ... :)
New Jersey High Point
Florida High Point
Colorado High Point
Pennsylvania High Point
Maryland High Point
West Virginia High Point
Delaware High Point
Connecticut High Point
Iowa High Point
Minnesota High Point
Wisconsin High Point
North Dakota High Point
South Dakota High Point
Nebraska High Point
Kansas High Point
Arkansas High Point
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Two views at the high point. The top photo is
facing west toward New Mexico.
Considering how close it was (1,299 feet),
I suppose we could have walked into New Mexico,
but we didn't feel like it. We were tired! :p)
To all my Oklahoma friends, I did it! I confess my only experiences in Oklahoma
have been when I'm driving through to attend an
Arkansas Razorbacks football game.
This page is the very first Oklahoma page on my web site! ;)
I would like to acknowledge my friend Jennifer in Tulsa. This great Oklahoman
helped me during my long 2008 bike journey. I don't think I have
any other Oklahoma friends besides her.
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| On The Way...
The day began with a photo of stubbles from Kim's milo field in her backyard in Johnson City, Kansas.
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| We had some distance to drive to reach the western Oklahoma panhandle.
Beginning in Stanton County, KS,
we drove through Richland KS, Elkhart KS, Keyes OK and Boise City OK.
Adjacent are photos of Kent and Kim (newly married!) in the backseat.
Kent is the friend whom I once stole his wifi from,
but we worked through that little tiff! :p)
BELOW LEFT: 13-year-old Michael was mainly quiet as he watched
movies and played games on his PSP (or whatever that contraption is called).
Michael didn't want to hike with us and so he sat in the
truck at
the trailhead during our adventure.
BELOW RIGHT: 17-year-old Stephen did all of the driving.
Yes ... allowing a teenager to drive us was an experience in itself, but this
kid is very responsible and drives wisely and safely! This is the same kid who drove on
Chaffee County Road 162! ;) |
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| A highway in western Kansas. Not much out there!
My Kansas pages:
Kansas Turnpike
Kanorado, KS
Kansas High Point
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West of Boise City, Oklahoma on Highway 325.
If you like my web site, please become a fan...
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