Black Mesa Preserve in the Oklahoma Panhandle

To continue our journey through the Oklahoma Panhandle we went to Black Mesa Nature Preserve after our visit to “Black Mesa State Park”   This is where you can hike up to the top of Black Mesa which is generally a 4-hour hike round trip.  It was after 3 pm when we got there, but I knew we wouldn’t do the hike before that.  There was no way our toddler could get through it, and I’m not sure the rest of us could either. Our youngest said she needed to use the bathroom even though we had just gone to the bathroom 15 minutes earlier.  They have an outhouse-type potty, but she did not like that.  It was actually pretty clean, but the big hole is pretty scary.

A Little Information About Black Mesa

Black Mesa is located in Oklahoma’s panhandle near the tri-state border with Colorado and New Mexico.  You can also visit the Three Corners where the states meet.  Black Mesa is named for the layer of black lava rock that coated the mesa about 30 million years ago. You can hike to the top of the plateau, Oklahoma’s highest point at 4,973 feet above sea level.  I was surprised by some of the wildlife in the area including black bear, bobcat, mountain lion, bighorn sheep and antelope.  We did not see any of these animals, but I’m sure it was due to the season and time of day.

Our Short Hike

We hiked a bit up the Mesa to see the rocks and plant life.  We found several cool lava rocks and a rock that was shaped like a small chair!  Lots of tall cacti and rocks, so watch your step.   Even just hiking a tiny bit up the mesa, provided fabulous views. My toddler was getting pretty whiny and tired, so we headed back to the car after about 30 minutes.  It is a really neat place, and I would love to come back at night.  It is supposed to have one of the most fantastic views of the stars in the US.  It’s pretty far out and away from everything so I can see why.  I hope we can make it back to Black Mesa int he future and spend some more time exploring and hiking.  Maybe even camp out, so we can see the night sky!

Dinosaur Tracks

If you are in the area, you must visit the Dinosaur Tracks!  The biggest problem, they are not easy to find.  Though I found that a challenge, plus I think it makes it a bit more exciting if you really have to search for that special spot!

My best advice is to search on google maps “dinosaur tracks”.  That’s how we found it.  I also got a few tips from Trip Advisor (you can also find my tips on Trip Advisor).  You have to search a little bit once you get out of your vehicle and walk to the area. You need to walk a bit to the left and they are pretty easy to spot.

There was one other person exploring when we were searching. At first, we walked the wrong way, and apparently, he did too because he said, “Oh, there they are.”

It is kind of an amazing feeling to stand in a spot where there is evidence of dinosaur life millions of years ago!  I can almost picture them roaming the area.

This is such a cool place to take your kids, especially if they love dinosaurs!  We had so much fun exploring this area.  I know we will visit again, and I am hoping to camp overnight next time!