Black Mesa State Park (1-1) – 580.426.2222   blkmesa@ptsi.net

Directions:  Follow Hwy 325 west and north from Boise City toward Kenton for 20 miles.  Turn west at Park sign and follow blacktop for 7 miles to the

   Park.               

Boise City Chamber of Commerce:  580.544.3344, cccc@ptsi.net, www.ccccok.org

What to Expect:  Within the eastern half of this loop the well-mowed lawn look of the shortgrass prairie pervades the landscape from horizon to horizon. Dotted with yucca and extensive prairie dog towns the shortgrass prairie is home to a unique set of wildlife species including burrowing owls, long-billed curlews, swift fox, and ferruginous hawks. As you travel west within the loop, the gently rolling plains suddenly meet flat-topped mesas capped with black, basaltic lava rising 500’ above the surrounding prairie. Systems of deep canyons have been cut by the Cimarron River and its tributaries resulting in numerous ravines and steep slopes which are home to plants and animals closely related to the foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains.  The mesas are topped with short-grass prairie but the more gentle slopes of the mesas are covered in a woodland community composed of junipers and pinyon pine. Birders can expect to see scaled quail, pinyon jay, Chihuahuan raven, curve-billed thrasher, and common bushtit.  Other wildlife include rock squirrel, mule deer, and numerous lizards including the “horny toad” a.k.a., Texas horned lizard.

Special Note:  Be aware that cellular phone signal availability is limited within this Loop.

One-Day Outings:  Be sure to fill up your gas tank in Boise City before driving the Loop.

Black Mesa State Park (1-1): A unique state park situated within a sandstone canyon created by the south fork tributary of Carrizzo Creek. This creek feeds into the beautiful Lake Carl Etling which is known for excellent trout fishing in the winter.  This park is a highly recognized birdwatching site and has many other wildlife viewing opportunities including a hiking trail.  Four distinct plant communities can be visited within the Park:  shortgrass prairie, juniper-pinyon, juniper scrub-oak and riparian along Carrizzo Creek.  Food and drinks are available at the Santa Fe Trail Trading Post located just outside of the Park. See directions above.

Black Mesa Nature Preserve Trail (1-2):  At 4,973 feet, Black Mesa, formed 30 million years ago, is the highest point in Oklahoma and it extends for 45 miles into New Mexico and Colorado. The highest point can only be reached by a fairly challenging, 4.2 mile hiking trail (~ 9 miles round trip) and is marked by a granite monument. The preserve is open dawn to dusk only. Allow at least four hours to walk from the parking area to the top of the mesa and back. No restrooms are located on the preserve and camping is not allowed, but both are available at the nearby Black Mesa State Park. Be sure to bring plenty of water and avoid hiking during the hottest part of the day.  Food and drinks are available at the Kenton Mercantile (~ 5 miles from Mesa) or pack a picnic lunch in Boise City.  Restrooms are available at the Mercantile and at the State park.  Directions from Boise City: Follow Hwy 325 west 35 miles, toward Kenton, to a blacktop road marked "Colorado" and turn north (right). Drive five miles to the preserve parking area on the west side of the road.

Guest Ranches:  Hitching Post Ranch (1-3):  Visitors will experience life on a working ranch, a ranch that has been in the family since 1886. There is plenty of activity: hiking, horseback riding, even stagecoach rides.  The owners offer cookouts, campfire sing-alongs, and cowboy entertainment and more. For the sportsmen, hunting and fishing is offered. The Ranch's quiet lodging includes a trailer home (sleeps 5), a log cabin (sleeps 6) and next to the cabin is a Bed and Breakfast (sleeps 11).  Contact: 580.261.7413; cowboy@ptsi.net; www.blackmesacountry.com. 

Birding Route:  Fill up your gas tank and pack a something to eat the  night before and plan on about a 40-mile drive from Boise City to the first early morning stop:

1. (1-1) the overlook on the south side of the Black Mesa State Park (see directions     

       above)  Restrooms are available.

2. Drive down into the Park and walk along the edges of Carrizzo Creek for riparian

birds

3. Take road through Park to Lake Carl Etling.
4. (1-2)  Drive to the trailhead of Black Mesa Nature Preserve (directions above) You might wish to walk a little way along the Trail.  Restrooms are available in Kenton at the Mercantile (~ 5 miles from Nature Preserve) You can record your bird observations at the Mercantile. (1-4)  Watson’s Crossing.  From Kenton drive 8 miles east on Hwy 325 and turn north (left) onto gravel road.  Travel about a mile until you come to a concrete low-water crossing.  A pull-out is available across the bridge and to the right.
5. (1-5) Felt Picnic Area.  Travel south back to Hwy 325 and turn left.  Travel south for 12 miles where the highway takes a sharp turn to the left.  Take next right and continue south on blacktop road and enjoy the shortgrass prairie views.  At the junction of the road with Hwy 412, turn right on the Hwy to Felt and follow signs to the picnic area. This is part of the Rita Blanca National Grassland.   The trees at this stop attract many birds from the surrounding prairie.  Restrooms are available.  Good place for a picnic lunch.
6. (1-6) Boise City Lagoons.  Take Hwy 412 east back to Boise City.  Once in town go to the northeast corner of the Dairy Queen parking lot to look out over the wastewater lagoons.  Great place for waterfowl and shorebirds year-round.

Off The Beaten Trail:  Both of these scenic routes should only be driven during good weather as wet conditions make these roads very slippery.  A high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended.

(1-7)  Cimarron Scenic Route  traverses 32 miles of pinyon pine and juniper covered mesas and canyons.  Start at Watson’s Crossing (1-4) go north on gravel road winding eastward through pristine prairie. Follow the Trail signs to Hwy 287, turn right and travel south for Boise City.

(1-8)  Black Mesa Draw Scenic Route  traverses 22 ½ miles of outstanding shortgrass prairie within several wide draws occurring between mesas.  Travel north out of Boise City on Hwy 287 for 11 ½ miles and turn east (right) onto gravel road.  Follow Trail signs that will take into the town of Keyes.

Unique Sites - Ancient Wildlife:  In the Black Mesa area you can actually see evidence of wildlife that have become extinct – dinosaurs.  Travel a little over 1/4 miles north beyond the parking lot for the (1-2) Black Mesa Nature Preserve to a small gravel drive on the right.  The short drive ends at a parking area.  Walk down to the dry creek bed to observe the tracks of an Ornithopod, a medium-size plant-eater that was searching for food at the edge of a beach over 150 million years ago.  Travel 8 miles east of Kenton on Hwy 325 and on the north side of the road is Dinosaur Quarry.  Look for the femur bone of a Brontosaurus that has been erected to identify the quarry. More information contact the Mercantile in Kenton:  580.261.7447;  Kenton_merc@hotmail.com; www.geocities.com/kenton_merc.