Mount Scott (Oklahoma)

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For other uses, see Mount Scott.

Coordinates: 34°44′41″N 98°31′55″W / 34.744587, -98.531925

Mount Scott
Mount Scott as seen from the east entrance to the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge.
Mount Scott Mount Scott's location in Oklahoma.
Elevation	2,464 feet (751 m)^[1]
Location	Comanche County, Oklahoma, USA
Range	Wichita Mountains
Prominence	824 feet (251 m)^[1]
Coordinates	34°45′40.51″N 98°32′54.93″W / 34.7612528, -98.5485917
Type	Igneous^[2]
Age of rock	Cambrian Period^[2]
Easiest route	Drive

Mount Scott is the third highest peak in Oklahoma at 2,464 feet (751 m) above sea level.^[3] It is located in the Wichita Mountains near Fort Sill Military Reservation and lies in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for the maintenance of the area. Visitors can reach the summit by car or bicycle via a three-mile paved road. Hiking is allowed, although there are no formal trails and the paved road is closed to pedestrians. Mount Scott is also popular for its numerous rock climbing areas.

1 Geography
2 Routes
3 References

[edit] Geography

The Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is located in southwestern Oklahoma, just North of the city of Lawton and Fort Sill. The area is located near I-44, and is about 90 miles (145 km) from Oklahoma City. The Wildlife Refuge's proximity to Fort Sill means that the sound of artillery fire can often be heard by visitors and is sometimes mistaken for thunder.

Mount Scott is the second-largest mountain in the Wildlife Refuge, but it remains the most well-known and regularly visited. While nearby Mount Pinchot is 12 feet (3.7 m) taller, it is located within the Wildlife Refuge's Special Use Area and is closed to the public.^[3]

[edit] Routes

[edit] Drive

The easiest way to reach the summit is by car. A three-mile paved road is open during the day, and visitors can stop at any of several scenic pullouts located along the road. Parking is available at the top of the mountain.

[edit] Bicycle

Bicycles are allowed on the paved road leading to the summit of Mount Scott but not in other parts of the Wildlife Refuge. Although the distance is fairly short, the ride is not recommended for beginners. The steep grades involved, heavy crosswinds, sharp turns, and automobile traffic could make the ride dangerous.

[edit] Hike

There are no hiking trails to the summit and pedestrians are prohibited on the paved road. However, visitors are allowed to park at the base of the mountain and hike to a number of the rock climbing areas available on the mountain.