The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (WMWR) is one of more than 500 National Wildlife Refuges managed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the purposes of preserving native American wildlife. Originally set aside in 1901 as the Wichita Forest Reserve by President William McKinley, the WMWR was renamed in 1905 by Theodore Roosevelt as the Wichita Game Preserve. On June 4, 1936, Congress officially designated this unique area the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

The WMWR is located in southwest Oklahoma and covers an area of more than 59,000 acres. The remarkable landscape is dominated by rugged granite mountains, oak forests, and mixed grass prairies. These unspoiled lands provide excellent habitat and protection for herds of bison and elk, and for numerous other native and migratory species. The preservation of this valuable system of grasslands and prairie herds is the purpose of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

As one of only a few granite climbing areas in this part of the country, the WMWR has an established climbing history dating back more than 50 years. One of the earliest known technical ascents at the WMWR took place in the 1940's with the first ascent of the route Great Expectations on Elk Slab in the Charons Garden Wilderness Area. Today, hundreds of quality routes in the 5.6 to 5.13 difficulty range have been established at the WMWR. A majority of these were done in traditional, ground-up style. And, while there have been a few "sport" type routes developed at several areas over the last fifteen years, the WMWR remains predominantly a traditional climbing area.

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (WMWR) is one of the finest rock climbing areas in the southwest. The WMWR's high-quality granite and wilderness setting provide outstanding opportunities for vertical adventures. Thousands of climbing enthusiasts visit the WMWR each year to experience the exceptional climbing found at Mt. Scott, the Narrows, Elk Mountain, Crab Eyes, Lost Dome and other classic sites.

Please respect this area, and the wildlife in it. Pack out any trash you see, whether or not you put it there.

Camping(with showers and bathrooms) is available in the Doris Campground, located approximately 1 mile west of the Visitor's Center. Camping is about $6 a night. Doris gate closes at 10pm during the summer, and 8pm during the winter.

More Camping is availabe at the City of Lawton campground located on the east shoreline of Lake Lawtonka. It is usually a dollar less than whatever doris is charging, and allows beers, firewood chopping, and gun toting. It also has water, bathrooms, and showers. From the intersection of Highway 49 and 58, just east of Medicine Park, take Highway 58 about three miles north to the campground.

For a good meal, take Hwy. 115 north to the town of Meers, Oklahoma. Meers is basically just a restaurant that serves the WORLD FAMOUS "Meersburger," a 7 inch diameter hunk of longhorn beef that comes on its own plate, divided into fourths.

For a better meal, swing a right at meers, and head down till the road ends, on the otherside of the highway will be Ann's Country Kitchen. For about 4$ you can get a cinammon roll the size of your head. Dinner specials are of good quality and large portions, and run about 7$ after tip/tax/drink.

Also try the Riverside Cafe in Medicine Park (just south of the swimming hole). Its good food and Frisbie and Wilson have been playing there live every Saturday night outside on the patio

For swimming after a hot day in the granite wilderness, try the public swimming area in Medicine Park or Lake Lawtonka.

Refuge map