Ski Jump to Tucker Tower Trail - Lake Murray State Park
Rising from the shoreline of Lake Murray is Tucker Tower. The tower was built during the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The building was intended to serve as a retreat for Oklahoma governors. However, it never served that purpose. Today, the building serves as a geological museum and the observation deck offers spectacular views of the lake. Tucker Tower and Lake Murray Nature Center sit along the Ski Jump to Tucker Tower Trail at Lake Murray State Park.
The Ski Jump to Tucker Tower Trail is an out and back trail. It is roughly three miles in length if hiked end to end or six miles roundtrip. It is part of a network of hike and bike trails in Lake Murray State Park. The Ski Jump to Tucker Tower Trail can be accessed at the Ski Jump Campground or at Tucker Tower. I chose to begin my hike at the Ski Jump Campground and make the hike towards Tucker Tower. Regardless of which direction you choose to hike, this will make for a great day on the trail. Before beginning your hike, be sure to pay for your parking. Your parking fee serves as your entrance fee. As of the time of this post (January 2022), parking is $10 per day per vehicle. There are no parking attendants (enforcement officers do patrol the park), so you must pay online. You can purchase parking permits in advance from Premium Parking or scan one of the signs containing a QR code located in the park and use your smart phone to pay.
If you choose to begin your hike at the Ski Jump Campground, look for a yellow post that marks the trailhead. This marker is easy to miss. A gravel road loops around the campground. This marker can be found along the southern portion of the loop. Pit toilets are available at the Ski Jump Camp Ground if you need to do your business before taking off on the trail.
The trail takes you on a walk through the woods as it parallels the shoreline of the lake. The trail is well defined and decently marked. It was evident that maintenance is routinely done on the trail as I saw freshly trimmed cedar branches on the side of the trail.
Overall the Ski Jump to Tucker Tower Trail is not challenging. However, a few features enhance the trail and add an element of difficulty. Changes in elevation, rocks, dry creek crossings, and roots enhance the hike without making it overwhelming.
After traversing along three miles of trail, you arrive at Tucker Tower. Today, the tower serves as a geological museum and provides history of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Works Progress Administration, and other Depression era programs that played a role in building the tower, lake, and park.
If you are not too exhausted from the three mile hike, make your way up the staircases to the top of Tucker Tower and take in the views from the observation deck. The views, even in the dead of winter when foliage is lacking, are phenomenal.
Adjacent to Tucker Tower is the Lake Murray Nature Center. The nature center contains information on the water, plant life, and wildlife surrounding Lake Murray. The tower and nature center are open daily 9:00 AM-4:30 PM March through October. From November through February, the facilities are open 9:00 AM-4:30 PM Wednesday through Sunday. Your parking fees cover admission into the tower and nature center. Restrooms are available in the nature center.
Upon finishing at the tower and nature center, you can make the three mile hike back to the Ski Jump Campground. In the opinion of this hiker, this is one of the best trails in the Texoma region. With the peaceful walk through the forest, the views at Tucker Tower, and the educational opportunities at Lake Murray Nature Center, a wonderful experience is provided by this trail.
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