Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will temporarily close the Mount Scott Roadway to vehicle traffic to repair damaged guardrails from 7:00 am to 11:00 am Monday through Thursday beginning September 12, 2023. This project is expected to be completed by October 12, 2023. After 11:00am on scheduled workdays, vehicle traffic will be allowed to resume.
The Mount Scott Roadway will remain open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Pedestrian and cyclist should use caution on Mt. Scott Roadway when maintenance crews are present. Refuge staff and volunteers are available at the Visitor Center located near the intersection of Highway 49 and Highway 115 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and can provide maps and information on other points of interest on the refuge.
In order to accommodate regular visitors and groups in the Visitor Center, the Refuge has a new reservation tool. See our Environmental Education page for more details.
Visit Us
An enchanting landscape awaits you in southwestern Oklahoma at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Worn by time and nature, the Wichita Mountains loom large above the prairie —a lasting refuge for wildlife. Best known for its roaming herds of bison, longhorn, and Rocky Mountain elk, Wichita Mountains also offers quality opportunities for wildlife dependent recreation.
Location and Contact Information
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About Us
Worn by time and nature, the Wichita Mountains loom large above the prairie in southwest Oklahoma—a lasting refuge for wildlife. Situated just outside the Lawton/Ft. Sill area, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge preserves approximately 60,000 acres of mixed grass prairie, ancient granite mountains, and fresh water lakes and streams for the benefit of wildlife and the American people. Best known for its roaming herds of bison, longhorn, and Rocky Mountain elk, Wichita Mountains also offers quality opportunities for wildlife dependent recreation including fishing, bird watching, wildlife photography, hiking, camping, and kayaking.
What We Do
The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system. It drives everything we do from the purpose a refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purpose of the refuge. The wildlife and habitats of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge are managed using prescribed fire, grazing management, invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species control, reservoir management, fish stocking, public use management, Wilderness management, and controlled hunts to manage wildlife populations.
Our Species
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is home to a whole host of animals—from large animals like the American bison to tiny prairie dogs and colorful “Mountain Boomer” lizards. The Refuge is also a great place for over 275 species birds to nest, feed, or rest during migration.