North Woods Loop (Oxley Nature Center) Hiking Guide
Most visitors to Oxley Nature Center stay near the interpretive center. The North Woods Unit, reached from a separate gate in the northwest corner of Mohawk Park, is the quiet side: a dike walk past Nelson's Oxbow and Mallard Lake, then a loop through floodplain woods bounded by Flat Rock Creek and Bird Creek. It is flat, short and good for birds.
Permit: Oxley Nature Center itself is free. TravelOK lists a Mohawk Park entry fee of $2 per car ($10 per bus) on weekends and holidays from April 1 through October 31; weekdays and the November-March season are free.
Distance and Route
Oxley says the Oxbow Lake, Sierra Club and North Woods Loop trails together cover about 2 miles. AllTrails lists the North Woods route at 2.1 miles with roughly 26 feet of gain (another listing says 13). Hiking Project maps the pieces: Oxbow Lake Trail 0.6 mile, the North Woods Loop 1.1 miles and the Sierra Club Trail 0.6 mile. Walk Oxbow Lake Trail out, go around the loop, and either return the way you came or take the Sierra Club Trail back along the east side of the oxbow.
Finding the Trailhead
This is not the main Oxley entrance. Drive into Mohawk Park and head for the northwest corner of the golf course, where Mohawk Boulevard bends from eastbound to southbound. The North Woods gate is about 200 feet off the road; Oxley says to park where the boulevard curves, just north of the golf course. There is no formal lot.
On the Trail
The first third of a mile follows the top of a dike and gets muddy after rain. Past a mowed field beside the Lake Yahola levee, steep stairs drop to a narrower, uneven path between Mallard Lake and Nelson's Oxbow. The loop passes a few views of Flat Rock Creek. If you return on the Sierra Club Trail, a flight of steps called the Baby Grand Staircase takes you down from the dike to a boardwalk over the end of the oxbow.
Hours, Fees and Rules
City of Tulsa says Oxley's trails can be walked during Mohawk Park hours, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and are closed during the park's 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew; the park may close early when it floods. Oxley charges no admission. TravelOK lists a $2-per-car Mohawk Park fee on weekends and holidays from April through October. City rules ban pets, bikes, horses and hunting on Oxley trails, so leave the dog at home.
Seasons and Wildlife
Oxley calls itself one of Oklahoma's premier birding destinations, naming summer visitors such as painted and indigo buntings, warblers, tanagers and white pelicans, and year-round residents including barred owls, woodpeckers, deer and bobcats. The center warns that mosquitoes and ticks are active especially in warm months, so bring repellent; a cool fall or winter day avoids most of that.
Hiking tips for North Woods Loop (Oxley Nature Center)
- Use the North Woods gate on Mohawk Boulevard, not the main Oxley entrance.
- Expect a muddy dike for a day or two after rain.
- Bring binoculars; the oxbow and Flat Rock Creek draw waterfowl.
- Wear repellent and check for ticks from spring through fall.
- Be out before Mohawk Park's 9 p.m. curfew.
Nearby trails to explore
- Yellow Trail (Turkey Mountain)
- Bixhoma Lake Trail
- Frank and Wilson Trails (Keystone Ancient Forest)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
The North Woods Loop makes a calm early-morning bird walk for a small group. Post one in TrailMates, agree in the event's group chat on where to pull over along Mohawk Boulevard, and meet at the North Woods gate. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.