hiking in NE Oklahoma???? (Tahlequah, Thomas: work, house, land)

[Thomas Gastner]

Help! I need to hike!! I'm in Northeastern Oklahoma, not far from Talequah and can find no place to hike. I'm from Maine and feel like a fish out of water. I'd like to find a place where my family and friends and I can hike at least 5 miles. I'm used to the Appalachian Trail. Nothing like that here that anyone knows of??? Please help.

[Nameless]

Don't know any details. But you should have no trouble finding a place to hike by Tahlequah.

[jessaka]

hi, well, after living near the Appalachian trail nothing can compare. i used to want to hike it. I am thinking that there has to be hiking trails along all of those rivers that ne oklahoma has.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trails/ok/trails.php

check out this link. If it doesn’t work, go to thebackpacker.com

[theburn86]

NE Oklahoma is a great area. If you're in Tahlequah you're much closer to hiking and outdoor activities then you think.

Take 82 South to the Illinois River. Either before or after the bridge there is a side road with a sign pointing to Sparrow Hawk Mountain. You go along the base of some cliffs and then turn left and go up the hill. There is a parking lot after a couple miles I think and you have an uphill hike up to a plateau for about a half mile. Continue on the trail along the plateau for about a half mile and you come to a killer view of the river and surrounding land from a few hundred feet up. Just like the Applachian Trail. There are all sorts of things there at Tenkiller Lake-- Burnt Ridge Cabin State Park is another thought to check out. For real hiking though you'd have to go into the Ozarks in Arkansas which I've never been to.

While you're there check out the Cookson Smokehouse-- great barbecue and fish in a woodsy, big cabin setting on the lake. More details on their site:

http://www.tenkiller.net/smokehouse/home.htm

Hope this helps. Have fun and appreciate your new scenery. It may not be as dramatic or spectacular as the Adirondacks but it has its own charms.

[Terry_H]

The sparrowhawk mountain trail is northeast of Tahlequah on senic highway 10.

[WVU]

TheBurn86's directions to Sparrow Hawk are absolutely bogus. Too bad we followed them rather than read the follow up post. It would be nice if someone could delete that entry. You are looking at about a 35 minute drive in the opposite direction if you follow it.

Head NORTH on 10 from Tahlequah, not far from town, you will see a large water slide park on the left where 10 continues north. Turn left to stay on 10. If you drive over the Illinois River, you have gone to far east and will just need to turn back and swing north on 10.

As you head north on 10, you will pass a sign on the right for Sparrow Hawk campground, but keep going another mile or so to the top of the hill. Also, there is a ranger station on the left as you approach the hill, so if you have any doubts, stop and check with the ranger. He's a nice guy.

The first RIGHT at the hill summit, a paved road, will take you slightly down the hill and to Sparrow Hawk Wilderness area parking on the left. Can't miss it. Take the trail that is farthest to the left. You will be at the overlook in less than 20 minutes. Nice hike. We plan to pick up litter on the next trip.

[Schousse]

Originally Posted by Thomas Gastner

Help! I need to hike!! I'm in Northeastern Oklahoma, not far from Talequah and can find no place to hike. I'm from Maine and feel like a fish out of water. I'd like to find a place where my family and friends and I can hike at least 5 miles. I'm used to the Appalachian Trail. Nothing like that here that anyone knows of??? Please help.

Where in Maine are your from? I just sold my land in Oquossoc.

Sorry .... am allergic to most physical activities so I can't help you there

[Synopsis]

Well if you're up for a little bit of a drive you can go South into the Ouachita Mountains. Lots of hiking there, and the link to backpaker.com should help as well.