Editor's note: This story is featured in OU Daily's Best of Oklahoma guide, which is available around campus in March-April. Check out other featured stories at the bottom of this article.
Nestled in the southwestern corner of Oklahoma, the diverse landscape and wildlife of Quartz Mountain State Park is a highlight for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The park covers 4,540 acres of Southwest Oklahoma and more than 6,000 surface acres of water. The area was once part of the ancestral lands of Indigenous tribes, including the Kiowa, Osage, Quapaw, Wichita, Comanche, Caddo and Kickapoo nations.
The park is home to diverse wildlife and features Lake Altus-Lugert and the north fork of the Red River. With its flora and fauna, unique topography and rich history, the park is an ideal destination for fishing, hiking, rock climbing and picnicking.
Quartz Mountain State Park was established as one of seven original Oklahoma state parks in 1935 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiative. A mid-century lodge and golf course were built in the 1950s, attracting a new wave of visitors.
In the 1970s, the Oklahoma Arts Institute became a partner of the park. The development of an outdoor amphitheater, performance hall and various art studios allowed the institute to host visual and performing arts programs geared toward high school students pursuing disciplines from classical ballet to creative writing.
The park has tent campsites, RV hookups and cabins available for overnight stays. The Quartz Mountain State Park Lodge is nestled between the mountains and the waterfront.
“I think it’s really cool how the lodge sits down in the mountains,” Oklahoma State Parks Director Sterling Zearley said. “It doesn’t look like any other place in Oklahoma.”
An especially noteworthy feature for climbers, the Baldy Point micro-range stands 300 feet above the prairie. Suitable for rock climbers and rappellers, the area also features a 2 mile in-and-out trail that wraps around the base and leads to the peak.
“There's about 8 miles of hiking trails at the park, and the park is right where the prairie and mountain landscape meet,” said Zearley, “There's the swim beach, (all-terrain vehicle) riding on the north shore, fishing docks, rock climbing, an 18-hole disc golf course and so much more for guests to enjoy.”
The park offers a seasonal ATV riding area in the north shore region from April to October. Visitors can ride across approximately 400 acres of land and 2 miles of trails.
The range of wildlife at Quartz Mountain State Park includes deer, coyotes, beavers, prairie falcons and mountain lions, among others.
“In the winter, there are bald eagles and bobcats and different wildlife throughout the year,” Zearley said. “The last time I was there, there were porcupines all around the lodge, which isn’t something you see every day.”
With its breathtaking scenery and a variety of outdoor activities, Quartz Mountain is a unique escape into the natural beauty of Oklahoma.
“The terrain and wildlife is different than anywhere else in Oklahoma,” said Zearley, “It’s amazing how much the terrain changes just two and a half hours away from Oklahoma City.”
This story was edited by Shelby Emery and Emma Blakley. Sophie Hemker, Grace Rhodes and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
