Oklahoma Trail Log
List of trails I have ridden. Non exhaustive list of trails in the area.
Favorite Scale: *Good | **Great | ***Fantastic
Click on Underlined area for Trailforks link!
Medicine Park
Lawtonka Trails:
When you think of Oklahoma, you definitely don’t think about its mountain biking! Now truthfully, its definitely no big mountain ride or anything like that. I also am not sure I would drive hours out of the way to go mountain bike here. HOWEVER, this is actually a pretty great place to ride your bike! If riding from the downhill trails, you can ride the road to the top or get a buddy and self shuttle the trails. There really is no “Beginner” trail here. Trying to teach someone to ride here and expect to hook them with it probably isn’t going to happen. All the trails are littered with big loose rocks that will throw you off your line pretty easily. Definitely more XC style trails overall. The trails are fairly well maintained with the exception of the high heat months during the summer. Spectacular views from every trail. DO BE VERY CAUTIOUS OF SNAKES. There are an insane amount of Rattlesnakes in the area so just be aware. There are also quite a few Tarantula Hawks out flying in the evenings and they seem to fly around chest level. Not trying to scare anyone, just want everyone to be aware of some of the more dangerous critters in the area so everyone can stay safe. The trail system sits at Medicine Park which is a fun little weekend mountain town. Some good restaurants and ice cream. Unfortunately, the hours here are silly and the taco shack and some other places close at 6pm even on weekends. The town seems to have a lot of potential to cater to mountain bikers and rock climbers with the Wichita Mountain Range there, but for time being, is a small weekend town. They do put on a mountain bike festival in April where they run a shuttle up to the downhill trails and also a separate Enduro race on the downhill trails and Black trail.
This was my favorite trail in the area. The initial climb is pretty short and not too steep with a few short punchy technical spots that will challenge you and make for a fun climb. When you get to the top you’ll see some Himalayan prayer flags. Take a short break to soak in the views. The initial descent is chunky and loose and some fun little drops. From this point forward the trail is fairly flat but still has enough up and down over rock slabs and rock chunk that keeps it interesting. You’ll circle back to the first hill you climbed and from the the top is a very fun fast techy descent back to the parking lot. There is a turn from the initial descent you can make onto the descent back to the road that makes for the best/ longest downhill run in the area in my opinion.
This trail was okay. A longer climb to the top that isn’t too bad. A couple techy bits here and there. From the top, the descent really doesn’t seem to flow super well and a little difficult to maintain your speed. Perhaps could be better if just make it an out and back and descend the same way you climbed.
A XC trail going around the mountain. Lots of loose big rocks. Initial bit from the Lawtonka Dam parking lot is a bit steep and brutal but after this really isn’t bad. The chunk and loose rock make this trail harder to ride than the slope really. There are a few steep rocky chutes that are fun. Can use this trail to connect to the top of the Downhill trails from either parking lot.
An alternative route to the top if you don’t want to ride Orange trail all the way to the top. Can also use this to session Kye Kanyon and Daisy Way if you don’t want to ride all the way to the bottom. Definitely a shorter pedal that isn’t chunky, but much steeper than climbing orange trail.
One of the 4 downhill trails from the top. Daisy way is perhaps the easiest option to the bottom. There is a chunky and rocky rock roll at the start, but its not too difficult. A few berms and fast sections and a couple spots you can pop as a jump. Lots of loose big rocks that will throw your front tire.
Similar to Daisy Way. Lots of loose big rocks. Middle section has a short pedal but nothing difficult. Fast sections with some berms. Ends with a wooden bridge ride that you can send as a drop if you want.
Carrie Nation and Speak Easy: (Double Black)
This trail has a bit of exposure but nothing scary. A couple steep “whooptiedoos” near the start. A few drops along the way but nothing super big. Again, very loose big rocks. Hard to maintain speed on this trail and just feels a bit cramped without much flow to it.
This is probably my second favorite trail here. probably really more of a Black. The downhill can be fast and fun. a few drops along the way and a few spots to pop off of for a little extra pizaz. Ends on the shuttle road so it is the shortest and easiest climb back to the top. Probably the best downhill ride from the 4 downhill trails as it has the most features on it to make it fun and an easy climb that make it fun to do a few laps. The rest of the downhill trails take you all the way down and require to climb everything again. A 2 mile climb for a quarter mile descent is meh. This trail gives you a good climb to descent ratio, keeping it fun!
This is definitely the easiest trail that I have ridden here. It has a fair amount of trail that is fairly smooth, a big wooden bridge over a marshy area, and some fun little berms. Can get some decent pedal speed here. This entire area across the dam has quite a bit of trail up and down it that isn’t marked on Trailforks. A couple fun rock chutes coming from the top back towards the dam and one good rock garden. Probably your best bet for a newer rider or if looking for something a little less frustrating than pedaling uphill on loose large rocks.
Not really a mountain bike ride. But is a fun scenic ride that goes around Mount Scott (largest mountain in the area). Would be very fun on a gravel bike.