I love nature and take advantage of Oklahoma’s sporadic good weather days to spend plenty of time outdoors. Hiking is a favorite pastime and I usually reserve it for trips to southwestern Colorado. However, I decided that it is time to put an end to that and have been investigating the Tulsa area trails.
So far, this INCOG site provides a decent list and shows the old train rail routes that have been turned into pedestrian trails. I think it’s a great use for land that could have been left with no purpose. Here are some inspiring pics from trails around town. I think the first I’ll check out is the Lost City trail in Chandler Park. That sign just looks too charming.
Image from Carrie Fleharty
The Lost City Trail is also known for it’s draw to local rock climbers and can provide some fun and surprising entertainment for unknowing runners. The KATY trail is about 8 miles long and connects downtown Tulsa to Sand Springs on an easy grade and provides great downtown skyline views, water fountains, benches for resting and trail spurs that connect nearby neighborhoods.
Bench on KATY Trail from INCOG
KATY Trail in River City Park from INCOG
I’m sure there are several running groups and resources in town, so if you know of any great groups, please share with me. A couple of sites I found are the Tulsa Running Club and Tatur TOTs (Tulsa Area Trail Ultra Running – Traning on Trails) Group. Last winter, the TOTs group took a field trip to the Osage Hills State Park west of Bartlesville to explore the trails. There are some great shots from their run and you can see many thing from old bridges and large rock formations to some creek falls and views across the plains.
Sand Creek Falls in the Osage Hills from Trail Zombie (TOT runner)
Sperry Bridge on the Osage Prairie Trail from INCOG
I’m excited to see all the new possibilities for exploring the Tulsa area. I guess I spent so much time running around in the woods behind our house as a kid that I thought I knew everything this part of the country has to offer. That seems not to be the case since I haven’t explored one of these trails. Well, that’s not quite true; I’ve utilized the resources at River Parks, Mohawk Park and Redbud Valley Nature Preserve at Oxley Nature Center.
After a day reconnecting with the world around me, I’m always inspired. How about you? I’m motivated just thinking about all my new adventures and these crafts might be just the thing to keep me busy while I wait for it to cool down just a bit.
Twig Coaster from Martha Stewart
Crocheted Wood Bowl by Vickie Howell from Craftzine
Roxanne D
A self-employed home renovator and interior designer, Roxanne is living in her third 1920s-era home in one of Tulsa’s oldest neighborhoods. A small-town Oklahoma girl at heart, she has also lived in Australia, which helped inspire her love of design. Roxanne loves sewing, knitting, crocheting, repurposing furniture and salvaging architectural pieces. She loves to tackle a do-it-yourself project, no matter how small or large. As our very own “granola girl”, Roxanne dreams about designing everything from dresses to gardens to her day, whatever comes across her path.
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I believe there is a trail that goes all the way from Skiatook to Broken Arrow. Shane’s friend Dave told us about it!