FYI: Might be a bit verbose and more a review for the 15 mile point to point hiking trail…read more I knew what I was up against, and went anyway. Read on a trails app that it was technical--yes, yes it was. And also read a review in that same app left on Oct 12 ish, that water might be scarce due to drought--that said, my friend and I left a water stash at a gravel road drive, off the trail about 3 miles from the east trailhead. My Subaru and I were NOT ready for the roughness of the terrain--first time "Off road." Got in and out unscathed! Yay! We started the trek later than we thought we would--which is fine, because the scenery was great! Such a beautiful area! Worth the 2-hour ish drive. Made it through the "Squeeze" downhill. Packed in about 1.25 before we decided to pitch our tents. Had dinner on one of the scenic bluffs during sunset and as you can imagine, a wee bit chilly but a stunning view, so it was worth it! Next day, had breakfast on the bluff during sunrise--what a treat! Then headed out to our water stash. We decided we were achy enough to not go back the way we came. Went to our water stash and refueled. Used that (Subaru terrain) rocky road to go back to the main road and follow it back to the car park. *What I learned: as a newbie backpacker it was challenging, but probably would be even if I wasn't? I carried about a 30 pound backpack--probably packed some fears in there--but now I know. Would I go again and do things differently?? Heck yes!!

Great hiking trail. The whole things is like 15 miles so pack in water with a bladder or something…read moreand don't attempt when 107. Ask me how I know, lol. Great views, but watch for spider webs, poison ivy, and check afterwards for ticks in the summer.

This is a cute little local park, out-of-the-way but with a significant number of facilities for…read morefolks with kids or dogs. There's an off leash dog area that should help get your friend a good run in before you take them for a leash walk in the adjacent Thurston Hills hiking area. Decent size parking lot, Basketball court Play area But no water and no real restroom. The Porta John is still pretty new though as this park seems to be recent. If you're not local this is probably not worth a side trip but it is a nice place to park your kids or your dog if they need something besides a hike.

Enjoyed a quick stop at this state park near Bartlesville and on the way to Pawhuska. A short…read moreunpaved trail leads you to a great waterfall area. You can walk from rock to rock out to some picturesque areas around the water. The trail is pretty easy to navigate except for a few slick rocks here and there. There is an overlook we drove up to but it was just an okay view due to some tall trees blocking much of the view. Camping areas look well kept and the ranger we spoke with was very nice and helpful. I would definitely recommend this to out of town visitors like myself to get out and enjoy nature and the beautiful landscape of NE Oklahoma.

At first, Osage Hills State Park doesn't seem like something too special, but if you begin hiking…read morethe trails, you'll find some real gems. First, there are some rocky canyon-type cliffs the hand Sand Creek winding through them. It's really pretty and there are some waterfalls and big rocks to wade onto in the middle of a creek that gets really wide in some parts. Seconds, there is sand all around (hence the name Sand Creek), enough in some spots to feel like you're sand bathing at a beach... no joke! Wish I snapped better pictures of the sandy parts. It was a fun experience!

What a neat place! It really is in the middle of nowhere. It is nearly all gravel roads for miles…read more Max speed probably around 35mph. But it's so neat to just drive around. It's also very quiet, except for the wind. I didn't pass many other cars at all. It probably took me about 2 hours to drive through (including my stop at the visitor center). I stopped for about 30-45 mins to talk with the volunteers there and sign the guest book. They were so friendly! Both ladies were so passionate about the preserve and knew so much about its history. And also about the wildlife and plants on the prairie. They were also telling me about the controlled burn that they were doing at the time of my visit. I learned about how the burns help keep the prairie healthy. So neat! Cell reception is spotty. I have an iPhone and downloaded an offline map while still in Tulsa before my journey up there so I was worry free. Worked out perfect! Also check the website i'm close to the day of your visit to ensure of volunteer will be staffed that day. As the visitor center is run by volunteers... There might not always be someone there every day. PS... don't expect to touch a bison. There are signs warning you to stay away as they can be dangerous/aggressive. For the most part, you are supposed to stay on the gravel road.

We love driving out to the tallgrass Prairie, however, note it is all gravel road…read more When we arrived the end of October, they were in round up so we were not able to see the bison, but they scenery was beautiful