Mount Scott Service Road (Wichita Mountains) Hiking Guide
The paved road up Mount Scott is the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge's best-known climb on foot. It curls about 3 miles to a summit Hiking Project calls one of the highest peaks in Oklahoma, with lookouts at the top over the granite peaks and the plains. Cyclists and, at certain times, cars share the road with you.
The Climb
Hiking Project maps the service road at 2.9 miles one way, gaining about 1,021 feet from the bottom to a high point near 2,463 feet, at an average grade of 7 percent. That makes 5.8 miles round trip. Hiking Project's contributor says the incline is fairly steep right from the start, and the road then curls around the mountain to the top. The surface is paved the whole way, so the only real challenge is the steady grade.
Who Uses the Road When
Who can use the road, and when, has changed with each round of repairs. After work in 2018 and 2019 the refuge reopened it with weekend mornings set aside for people on foot, a split schedule Hiking Project still describes, but the refuge's own pages now say only that groups on the roadway are capped at eight people when it is open. Check the signs at the base or call the refuge for the current schedule before you plan around it.
Parking and Facilities
Hiking Project's contributor says you'll find parking along the road near the service road entrance, coming from Medicine Park, plus a pit toilet at the Mount Scott Picnic Area on the unimproved road to the left. Cross the road past the entrance to start. Some sections are narrow, so walk single file when cars are allowed. Parking areas close from sunset to sunrise, and there is no drinking water on the refuge.
Closures and Conditions
The road has shut to cars for repairs more than once. In June 2024 the refuge closed it to vehicles after finding structural damage but kept it open to walkers and cyclists, apart from short full closures during the work. Refuge itineraries now list Mount Scott as a hike-and-bike stop.
Dogs, Wildlife and Season
Leashed dogs are allowed if the leash is shorter than 10 feet. Hiking Project notes you may see buzzards on the way up and bison or longhorn on the prairie below. Summer here can top 100 degrees, and the refuge has limited hiking to early mornings during extreme heat, so spring, fall and winter mornings are the time to go.
Hiking tips for Mount Scott Service Road (Wichita Mountains)
- Confirm the road's current schedule with the refuge before you go.
- Keep your group to eight or fewer on the road.
- Walk single file on narrow bends when cars are allowed.
- Use the pit toilet at the Mount Scott Picnic Area before you start.
- Carry water; the refuge has none, even at the top.
Nearby trails to explore
- Jed Johnson Tower Trail (Wichita Mountains)
- Bison Trail (Dog Run Hollow)
- Elk Mountain Trail (Wichita Mountains)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
A morning walk up the Mount Scott road makes a good group goal; the refuge sits just outside Lawton, so a carpool from there is easy. Set it up in TrailMates, keep the group to eight, agree on the meeting time in the event's group chat, and walk up together. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.