USFWS · Oklahoma

Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge

Originally known as the Oklahoma Bat Caves National Wildlife Refuge, Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge was established for the protection of endangered bats and their habitat. The refuge is made up of several parcels of land located in northeastern Oklahoma. These parcels contain numerous caves considered crucial for the bats' survival.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

National Wildlife Refuge5,006 acresUSFWSOK4 campgrounds within 10 mi
Official page at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Facts

Where each comes from ↓
DesignationNational Wildlife Refuge
Managed byU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
StateOklahoma
Size5,006 acres
FWS regionRegion 2
Center point35.74° N, 94.53° W
Night skyAbout as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 16)

Boundary map

15 outlines

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 37.7°F averageFebruary: 42.9°F averageMarch: 50.1°F averageApril: 59.1°F averageMay: 66.3°F averageJune: 74.4°F averageJuly: 78.9°F averageAugust: 78.1°F averageSeptember: 70.8°F averageOctober: 60.6°F averageNovember: 50.0°F averageDecember: 40.0°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Stilwell 5 NNW, 12 miles from the center point at 1,000 feet, station USC00348506 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

None of the 4 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

USACE · 8.5 mi
Chicken Creek
Reservable103 sites
USACE · 8.6 mi
Snake Creek
Reservable112 sites
USACE · 8.7 mi
Elk Creek Landing
Reservable43 sites
USACE · 9 mi
Cookson Bend
Reservable134 sites

Most refuges do not allow overnight camping. The campgrounds listed are outside the refuge.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Park System units within 30 miles · Park Atlas
National Historic Site · 20 mi
Fort Smith National Historic Site
National Monument · 21 mi
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Register listings within 15 miles · 121 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Guidebooks for Oklahoma

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge?

5,006 acres.

Source: How acreage is computed

Who manages Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

What state is Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge in?

Oklahoma.

Source: How states are assigned

Can I camp at Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge?

The refuge page says whether camping is allowed here. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.

Source: Where to camp

How do I get to Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge?

A point inside the boundary is at 35.745° N, 94.531° W. Fort Smith National Historic Site is 20 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Which national parks are near Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge?

Fort Smith National Historic Site (20 mi) and George Washington Carver National Monument (21 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge?

The National Register has 121 listings within 15 miles, including Murrell Home and Baxter Springs High School.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundary layer.
  • States and territories: computed by intersecting the boundary with Census state polygons and coarse outlines of the territories and outlying islands. A place is listed when it holds at least one percent of the area. A boundary that touches no outline is listed under the nearest one.
  • Acreage: geodesic area of the published polygon. The agency’s official acreage can differ where the boundary includes water, easements or inholdings.
  • Description: Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. The article was accepted because its title contains this unit’s name.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.