- WESTERN HIGH PLAINS
A visit to Oklahoma's panhandle truly delivers a taste of the
frontier. Panoramic vistas and outdoor activities await those
wanting to experience the wide open spaces. Saddle up for a ride
across the plains, set up camp and drop a line, or grab your backpack
and explore the area's dazzling plateaus. Here in the Sooner State's
western-most counties, you'll find an abundance of wildlife, including
some of the nation's largest prairie dog towns, sites of archeological
and historic significance, and welcoming neighbors in Boise City
and surrounding towns who stand ready to roll out the red carpet.
For an in-depth look at the Western High Plains, click
here.
- SOUTHWESTERN TABLELANDS
A zest for adventure is the key to experiencing Oklahoma's Southwestern
Tablelands. Take a wild dune buggy ride through the sands of Beaver
Dunes State Park, or climb to the Sooner State's highest point,
Black Mesa, where spectacular views and star-gazing at its finest
await. Explore the area's eye-catching rock formations or snap
some photos at the Guymon Game Reserve. Re-live the pioneer experience
by traversing the original Santa Fe Trail, or let your imagination
capture the scene at the Washita Battlefield National Historic
site. From Kenton to Guymon to Cheyenne, experience the great
outdoors and visit historic attractions.
For an in-depth look at the Southwestern Tablelands, click
here.
- CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS
The Central Great Plains, Oklahoma's largest ecoregion, encompasses
the Sooner State from north to south. Whether you're touring the
grandeur of the Marland Mansion in Ponca City, enjoying the ATV
trails at Little Sahara State Park or rock-climbing at the Wichita
Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, you'll revel in the diversity
offered by Oklahoma. America's "Mother Road", Route
66, traverses the Central Great Plains, so stop by the Oklahoma
Route 66 Museum in Clinton or the National Route 66 Museum in
Elk City for an in-depth look at the nation's most acclaimed highway.
From boating to rappelling to golf to water skiing, outdoor enthusiasts
flock to this ecoregion to experience a full array of fun, family
activities.
For an in-depth look at the Central Great Plains, click
here.
- TALLGRASS PRAIRIE
(aka FLINT HILLS)
Originally covering over 142 million acres in 14 states, the Tallgrass
Prairie was one of North America's major ecosystems. Today, the
ecoregion is confined to Oklahoma and Kansas. Sweeping vistas
of the open prairie landscape along with incredible sunrises and
sunsets are just some of the many natural attractions of this
ecoregion. A driving tour through the Nature Conservancy's Tallgrass
Prairie Preserve, near Pawhuska, conveys the same images of namesake
tallgrasses - big bluestem, Indiangrass and switchgrass - and
herds of grazing bison that greeted pioneers as they crossed these
plains in covered wagons over a century ago. For a scenic retreat,
book at cabin at Osage Hills State Park, a densely wooded park
nestled in lush, rolling hills.
For an in-depth look at the Tallgrass Prairie (aka Flint Hills),
click here.
- CROSSTIMBERS
(aka CENTRAL OKLAHOMA/TEXAS PLAINS)
Step into Oklahoma's wide-ranging Crosstimbers ecoregion (aka
Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains), and you'll find an incredible
variety of activities! Bask in the outdoors at numerous lakes
and state parks throughout the region, from the heavily wooded
Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur to Lake Murray,
Lake Texoma, Arcadia Lake and more! Or for a more luxurious getaway,
head to Guthrie, Oklahoma's Bed and Breakfast Capital, where elegant
hospitality and historic attractions abound. Further north, Bartlesville's
Price Tower (Frank Lloyd Wright's only skyscraper) promises upscale
accommodations, while the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve
opens the door to the finer things in life as enjoyed by oilman
Frank Phillips. Historic Fort Reno and Fort Washita tell the tale
of army life in the territorial era.
For an in-depth look at the Crosstimbers (aka Central Oklahoma/Texas
Plains), click here.
- CAVES & PRAIRIES
(aka Central Irregular Plains)
Oklahoma's Caves & Prairies ecoregion dazzles visitors with
its lush landscape, a rich mosaic of grassland and forest. Plan
a rustic getaway at Western Hills Resort Ranch and the adjoining
Sequoyah State Park, where golf, tennis, horseback riding, chuckwagon
cookouts and more await. Oklahoma's rich American Indian heritage
is abundant in the region, with destinations including the Five
Civilized Tribes Museum and Ataloa Lodge in Muskogee. The Fort
Gibson Historic Site captures the territorial spirit with a re-constructed
log stockade, and the Honey Springs Battlefield comes alive every
three years as reenactors recreate the largest Civil War battle
in Indian Territory. Pay homage to Oklahoma's first world-famous
celebrity, Will Rogers, at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in
Claremore.
For an in-depth look at Caves & Prairies (aka Central Irregular
Plains, click here.
- OZARK HIGHLANDS
The heavily forested Ozark Highlands ecoregion is one of the Sooner
State's most popular destinations, with the Grand Lake O' The
Cherokees serving as the jumping point for outdoor activities
of all types. You'll find 10 state parks around the lake, promising
ample opportunity for boating, swimming, fishing and more. Or
take a canoe trip down the Illinois River, where gentle rapids
guide you along one of Oklahoma's most scenic water routes. Bird-watchers
cite the region as a favorite, especially when the American White
Pelicans stop by Grand Lake for a couple of months during their
annual migration. Bald eagles, mallards and snow geese also abound.
For an in-depth look at the Ozark Highlands, click
here.
- OZARK FOREST (aka
BOSTON MOUNTAINS)
The Ozark Forest (aka Boston Mountains) features an abundance
of red oak, white oak and hickory trees in its heavily forested
terrain. The region celebrates the Sooner State's American Indian
culture at numerous destinations, including the acclaimed Cherokee
Heritage Center in Tahlequah and Sequoyah's Cabin in nearby Sallisaw.
Trout fisherman head to the Lower Illinois River, Oklahoma's first
year-round trout stream, while other outdoor lovers flock to Lake
Tenkiller State Park and four other state parks in the region.
Camping, fishing, water skiing and sailing are favorite pastimes
of visitors to the Ozark Forest.
For an in-depth look at the Ozark Forest (aka Boston Mountains),
click here.
- HARDWOOD FOREST
(aka ARKANSAS VALLEY)
East central Oklahoma's Hardwood Forest (aka Arkansas Valley)
celebrates the Sooner State's earliest inhabitants at the Spiro
Mounds Archeological Center and at Heavener Runestone State Park.
At Robbers Cave State Park, walk in the footsteps of outlaws as
you explore the hideout used by Belle Starr, Frank and Jesse James
and other notorious notables. The forested valleys and ridges
of the Hardwood Forest provide spectacular scenery and outdoor
adventure. Whether you're looking for a gentle nature trail or
a more rugged rock-climbing experience, you'll find it in the
Hardwood Forest. There's also plenty of water fun at Lake Eufaula
State Park, Robert S. Kerr Lake and other regional favorites.
For an in-depth look at the Hardwood Forest (aka Arkansas Valley),
click here.
- OUACHITA MOUNTAINS
The skies in the Ouachita Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma are
filled with towering pines, making for lush, peaceful surroundings
for nature lovers. The Talimena Scenic Drive, traversing the crest
of the Winding Stair Mountain Range in the Ouachita National Forest,
is one of the Sooner State's premier destinations for fall foliage
- although you can certainly enjoy the view year-round! Beavers
Bend Resort Park, adjacent to Broken Bow Lake, is a favorite spot
for trout and fly fishing, boating, eagle watching, horseback
riding and nature hikes. Other recreation areas in the region
include the Glover River, the Kiamichi River and the Little River,
as well as five other state parks.
For an in-depth look at the Ouachita Mountains, click
here.
- CYPRESS SWAMPS &
FORESTS (aka SOUTH CENTRAL PLAINS)
Encompassing Oklahoma's southeastern border, the Cypress Swamps
& Forests (aka South Central Plains) is replete with outdoor
recreation, American Indian heritage and small-town charm. Water
sports abound at Hugo Lake State Park and Raymond Gary State Park,
while wildlife of all sorts can be found at the Little River Wildlife
Refuge, where mallards, wood ducks and raccoons share the cypress
swamps with alligators and beaver. Immerse yourself in the heart
of the Choctaw Nation with a visit to the historic Wheelock Academy,
a former boarding school for Choctaw females that's being lovingly
restored by the Choctaw people.
For an in-depth look at the Cypress Swamps & Forests (aka
South Central Plains), click here.
- URBAN TURF
Oklahoma's 12th - and only unofficial - ecoregion, Urban Turf,
offers cosmopolitan flair blended with the Wild West lifestyle.
The Sooner State's largest metropolitan areas, Tulsa and Oklahoma
City, provide visitors with a unique mix of cultural experiences,
colorful history, world-class shopping and dining, vibrant nightlife
and more. Western heritage is found at destinations including
the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa and Oklahoma City's National Cowboy
& Western Heritage Museum. Visit two of Oklahoma's newest
attractions, the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks and the Oklahoma City
Museum of Art, or enjoy an amazing array of water sports and other
outdoor activities at Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser and Lake Stanley
Draper in Oklahoma City and along the Arkansas River in Tulsa.
For an in-depth look at Oklahoma's Urban Turf, click
here.
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