Bison Trail - Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
The Texoma region is known for being flat and boring. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is an exception. The refuge is filled with eye catching views at every turn. While mountains are the dominant feature of the refuge, rocky and rugged landscapes, canyons, prairie, lakes, and even forest can be found on the refuge. Amongst this beauty is the Bison Trail. The trail is part of the Dog Run Hollow Trail System which consists of a handful of interconnected trails. The Bison Trail is a loop trail approximately six miles in length. It is the longest trail on the refuge.
The Bison Trail can be accessed from a couple of trailheads near the Fawn Creek Campground. The trail can also be accessed via the Kite Trail by crossing the dam of Lost Lake. This crossing is not recommended during high water as water flows over the dam. A section of the Bison Trail runs parallel to the Kite Trail and offers views of the canyon dubbed Forty Foot Hole.
Much of the trail is open prairie. Overall, there is little shade on the trail. On the Fall day I hiked this trail, temperatures never got out of the 60s. I can imagine that the heat combined with a lack of shade contribute to brutal hiking conditions during the warmer months of the year. Be sure to pack plenty of water!
This is not an overly challenging trail to traverse, but much of the terrain is rocky and rugged. A well defined trail made it easy to follow. However, there are few actual trail markers. To be on the safe side, it may be useful to use a GPS or mapping application on your smart phone. Be advised that cellular service is limited, so downloading maps in advance is recommended.
The terrain of the Bison Trail changes regularly. Rocky and rugged landscapes, canyons, prairie, lakes, and forest can be found along it. Along with the mountain views, you will not become bored on this hike.
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