March

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refugetional Recreation Trail. Also known as the“Bison” trail, there are metal bison markersindicating the loop. The trail providesmuch variety and passes by French andLost lakes and many drainages in between.One minute you’re hiking throughthe trees, the next you are in the openA view of Treasure Lakedisplays the refuge’s rockylandscape.and then you’re boulder-hopping fromone granite rock to the next.During our hike we nibbled onsnacks; watched people fishing; longhornsgrazing and mating; bison chewingtheir cud; and we listened to turkeys gobbling.We also saw collared lizards loungingin the sun and chasing butterflies, agarter snake swimming, and we almoststepped on a millipede laying in the trail.In addition, turkey vultures soared, wildturkeys rested in the shade, coyoteshowled and we marveled at all that is WichitaMountains Wildlife Refuge.There’s no doubt that hiking is a popularpastime at the refuge. There are 15miles of designated hiking trails windingthrough grassy prairie, scrub oak forest,and across jagged mountains that aremore than 500 million years old. Amazingly,the Wichita Mountains are amongthe oldest ranges on the earth. You canenjoy some of the old rocks by hiking upthe Elk Mountain Trail where there’s awonderful view of the surroundingrefuge. The trail continues for more than amile and goes 590 feet up Elk Mountain.A key to viewing wildlife is to searchearly and late in the day when they arebusy foraging. We highly recommenddriving park roads during the wee hoursof the morning and in the late afternoonprior to sunset.Lance Camper, Circle 109 on Reader Service Card20 March 2012 TRAILER LIFE www.trailerlife.comGo To:.comUser GuideContents