BLACK MESA STATE PARK CAMPING FREE

My favorite thing to do on trips is keeping moving and see everything. My kids were a lot more excited about this spot near the park where you can be in three states at once! The pit was harder to find but he was excited to find it. My dinosaur loving second oldest loved that and the dinosaur pit! We did find the dinosaur tracks that are right across from the preserve though! I am just not at the point I can hike that far yet. I was sad I could not make it to Oklahoma’s Highest Point. And that the plants will defend themselves… Some of my kids learned the hard way that you need to be gentle with the plants. Oklahoma panhandle vacations are best experienced glamping OK - book today.

I was right, I fell in love the with the open spaces and desert landscape. Go Black Mesa State Park camping Oklahoma panhandle vacations are best experienced glamping OK - book today. Need to make sure you have everything you need though as the nearest town doesnt offer much.

Very clean and quiet campgrounds and ranger station close by. I have found that most places are beautiful at sunset and sunrise and thought this park might shine the brightest at those times. Black Mesa is a perfect place to watch meteor showers Lots of hiking trails. I went during the middle of the day the last time and had a hard time seeing the beauty of the place so I wanted to spend a couple of nights there this time.

BLACK MESA STATE PARK CAMPING FREE

Go to and click where it says “Request Free Brochures.”ĭino Lalli is producer, co-host and one of the reporters for the travel program 'Discover Oklahoma.This is my second time visiting the Black Mesa State Park. Picnic tables and grills can be found through the park.įor a listing of all the state parks, order the free 2015 Oklahoma State Parks & Outdoor Recreation Guide. Natural Falls State Park will give you an opportunity to observe a variety of plant and animal life. Hikers can follow a trail along the creek, where the murmur of the water leads along a less-traveled path. Natural Falls has been enchanting visitors for almost a century, when it was known as Dripping Springs, making it one of Oklahoma’s oldest tourist attractions.Ĭampers find it a peaceful, quiet refuge in the forest. One of the state’s highest waterfalls tumbles 77 feet into a hidden valley, where moss clings impossibly to rock walls under a sheet of water, and the valley floor is a carpet of rare ferns and flowers. Meanwhile, on the eastern side of the state, Natural Falls State Park offers a far different experience. Somehow, colors are brighter, the wind is brisker, and camping this far from anywhere seems a lot more fun. It’s possible that ancestors of the dinosaurs are still here: Black Mesa State Park is a sanctuary for an amazing number and variety of birds. Their girth is a reminder of a time when trees were bigger here and dinosaurs walked through them. A hiking trail takes you past logs more than a million years old. On the other side of the lake, you can explore the ruins of an old camp - really a recess in the cliff, walled in against the wind by pioneers unknown.Įven older are the logs in the petrified forest. Once common across the state, they now are confined to small, scattered colonies. The terrain around Black Mesa may seem desolate when you first drive through it, but you will discover that this land holds pockets of incredible beauty.įarther up the park road, the prairie dogs will let you watch all day. There are two others that can go on the list, and I want to give you a bit more information on them. There are numerous parks around Oklahoma where those goals and more can be achieved.Īre you looking for a challenging nature adventure? These state parks will fill the bill: Boiling Springs State Park, Alabaster Caverns State Park, Little Sahara State Park, Great Salt Plains State Park, Roman Nose State Park, Foss State Park, Red Rock Canyon State Park, Fort Cobb State Park, Great Plains State Park and Gloss Mountain State Park. Maybe you’re looking for a scenic vista to take your breath away or to try your hand at taking the kind of photograph you can hang in your home or office. Are you looking for a different kind of vacation spot? Perhaps you’re looking for a destination for a lazy weekend on the lake.

Black mesa state park camping