Wichita Mountains Wilderness
The American buffalo once roamed in uncountable numbers here among the grasslands that rise to lakes, streams, and stunning canyons. Today, there's a small but growing herd. Something about seeing these near-extinct creatures, grazing in apparent contentment, leads visitors to believe that in the Wichita Mountains life must be close to the way it was in the Old West.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Oklahoma |
| Size | 8,570 acres |
| Designated | 1970, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.72° N, 98.75° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 18) |
Boundary map
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
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
None of the 2 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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireMontgomery
14 mi from the center point · 14 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 0.4 miBuffalo Lodge ↗Cache, OK
- 1.8 miBoulder Cabin ↗Cache, OK
- 5 miMeers Mining Camp ↗Lawton, OK
- 5.3 miArrastra Site ↗Cache, OK
- 5.5 miIngram House ↗Cache, OK
- 5.6 miFirst State Bank of Indiahoma ↗Indiahoma, OK
- 5.7 miFerguson House ↗Cache, OK
- 6.2 miParker, Quanah, Star House ↗Cache, OK
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 Wichita Mountains Wilderness?
8,570 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Wichita Mountains Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Wichita Mountains Wilderness in?
Oklahoma.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Wichita Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1970.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Wichita Mountains Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Wichita Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.724° N, 98.746° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Wichita Mountains Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Montgomery at 14 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Wichita Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 11 listings within 15 miles, including Buffalo Lodge and Boulder Cabin.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- 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.