With the weather warming up but social distancing still at the forefront of everyone’s mind, we’ve found it very helpful to work through a list of some of OKC’s trails and nature centers. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite places – let us know if you have any favorites we should add to the list!
Photo of Beaver’s Bend State Park in Broken Bow, OK by Zach Smith
Martin Nature Center is a wonderful place to explore, tucked away just off of Memorial Road. Expect to see lots of turtles and fish as you cross over the center’s many bridges!
Will Rogers Gardens is teeming with bright flowering landscapes, making it a welcome destination for both birds and butterflies. Stepping into these gardens is like instantly entering a peaceful oasis!
Lake Hefner has over 10 miles of trail to walk, run or bike, all next to a beautiful body of water! This is a great place to bring a furry friend, a kite, or a picnic lunch!
Scissortail Park, downtown’s newest addition, is a beautiful place to explore. Although their children’s area and dog park are currently closed, there are still plenty of lovely sights to see and explore.
Myriad Gardens is just a quick walk away from Scissortail Park, and is equally as wonderful! You’re sure to see a few ducks and bunnies hiding near the water or in their blooming beds.
Oklahoma River Trails is a great place to head to if you’re looking for a longer walk or ride - this looped trail is 13.4 miles long, featuring a lovely view of the Oklahoma River!
If you have the margin for a day trip, consider loading up some snacks and heading to a state park or a wildlife refuge for the day! Here are just a couple of our favorites!
The Wichita Mountains are a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. They have multiple walking trails, areas for a picnic lunch, and even a pull-off spot to say hello to the local prairie dogs! You can expect to see plenty of bison as well.
Roman Nose State Park is just a quick drive away and is one of Oklahoma’s prettiest destinations. You will not run out of trails to explore and new views to discover!
Note: We recommend checking the park’s website to ensure the trails you plan to walk are still open. Although some parts of the parks are closed temporarily, most walking trails remain open to the public.