Known for the darkest nighttime skies in Oklahoma, Black Mesa State Park is the best place to gaze at stars in the Sooner State.This remote area in the Oklahoma Panhandle is ideal for astronomy enthusiasts or anyone who just wants to see a beautiful night sky. You can see the town of Kenton in the valley below. This Enchanting Star Park Will Let You Experience Oklahoma Like Never Before. There is also a great view off the south side of the mesa if you walk over to the edge of the mesa from the monument. The mesa was named for the layer of black lava rock that coats it. The park is located about 15 miles (24 km) away from its namesake, Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma (4,973 feet (1,516 m) above sea level). Once you get to the high point monument there is interesting information on it in all directions. Black Mesa State Park is an Oklahoma state park in Cimarron County, near the western border of the Oklahoma panhandle and New Mexico. As an interesting side note, the trail head is only a few miles to the south of the CO/NM/OK corner- which you can drive to. The monument sits right along the OK/NM state line. Arriving in the desert at the foot of Black Mesa, two men - one hiding from a shady past and the other running from a haunting memory - start a cattle ranch, but a ruthless trader and wild women could ruin their prospects.
On top of the mesa there are views of the surrounding area and fewer trees. The trail up the valley floor winds through juniper and cactus grasslands. The trail follows a valley along the north side of Black Mesa for about 2 miles then turns and goes up the side of the mesa and across the top for about ¾ mile to the monument. Time to Nearest Town: 40 minutes to Boise City, OK.Ĭondition of Approach Roads: Highway 325 is paved and the road that you turn north on is also paved, although not as smooth. The parking lot and Nature Preserve will be on the left about several miles up this road on the north side of the mesa. Right across the highway from Camp Billie Jo.
It is fairly obvious and a blacktop road. I would recommend earlier in the spring, late fall (late Oct-November) or a great winter day hike.įrom Kenton, OK, go east on Highway 325 for half a mile, then turn left (north) on a county road for 5 miles. I would recommend earlier, but lots of people hiking this day. From a pit near here, archeologists have extracted more than 18 tons of fossil dinosaur bones. Dinosaur fossil marker - about 7 miles east of Kenton on SH 325.
Tri-state marker - about 3.5 miles north and 1.5 miles west of the eastern end of Black Mesa, in a pasture. Time of Year I Hiked the Trail: I hiked this trail May 29 from 8am-12pm. Fossil dinosaur tracks - near North Carrizo Creek at east end of Black Mesa. This Trail is Good for: Hiking, bird watching, wildlife (occasionally big horn sheep in the area)ĭispersed Camping Nearby: No, Camp at Black Mesa State Park east of Kenton, OK and west of Boise City, OK. Location: North of Kenton, OK in the very western part of the Oklahoma panhandle. And about 560 feet elevation gain going up the mesa from the valley floor. Total Mileage: 8.5 miles roundtrip according to Runkeeper App.
0 kommentar(er)
