The connection between time spent in nature and emotional and physical wellbeing has been studied for decades. The best part? You don’t have to travel far, far away to experience nature’s therapeutic benefits.
At the convergence of the Great Plains and Cross Timbers, Tulsa is home to dozens of nature trails. Whether you’re looking to unplug for the weekend or take a brisk walk during your lunch break, there’s a nearby trail that’s sure to do the trick.
Turkey Mountain
In the 1970s, a group of outdoor enthusiasts and mountain bikers started clearing trails for what would eventually become the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area. Encompassing 500 acres of thick woods and large boulders, the area has become a top destination for mountain biking. Last year, Turkey Mountain opened The Sanctuary, a 90-acre stretch that includes an additional six miles of trails and a treehouse hub.
Park curfew is between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day. Check trail conditions here before you head out — some portions can be closed to cyclists or hikers after rain.
Keystone Ancient Forest
A remnant of the Cross Timbers ecosystem, Keystone Ancient Forest is a 1,200-acre preserve that contains 500-year-old Post Oak and Red Cedar trees. The preserve is a haven for wildlife and features six unique trail systems at varying levels of difficulty. Earlier this year, the preserve unveiled a track chair program, enabling people with limited mobility to explore the trails with ease.
The forest is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Oxley Nature Center
Nestled in the green, rolling acres of Mohawk Park, Oxley Nature Center is Tulsa’s first and only nature preserve and wildlife refuge. Spanning 800 acres, Oxley has nine miles of flat-surface walking trails that wind through a diversity of ecosystems, including a marsh, tallgrass prairie and floodplain forest. Conceptualized by the Tulsa Audubon Society in 1972, the preserve serves as habitat for over 200 bird species. Oxley also launched a track chair program last year to improve trail accessibility.
Oxley’s interpretative center is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. Sundays. Visitors can also access the trails on foot during regular Mohawk Park hours.
River Parks Trails
Running along the eastern and western banks of the Arkansas, River Park Trails is an expansive 26-mile trail system that extends through Jenks, Sand Springs and downtown Tulsa. Ideal for cyclists, the majority of trails are paved and flat-surfaced, which include designated lanes for bikers and pedestrians. The trails route through several city parks and attractions, including The Gathering Place and Dream Keepers Park.
The trails’ curfew hours run from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day.
Osage Forest of Peace
Originally a Benedictine monastery, the Osage Forest of Peace offers a sacred refuge for quiet contemplation and rest. The grounds feature a three-mile walking trail that loops through 45 acres of wooded bluffs, meadows and a redbud grove. Designed for personal retreats, the forest features a zen garden, labyrinth and an interfaith chapel for all to enjoy.
All are welcome to visit during daylight hours seven days a week. Office hours run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Ray Harral Nature Park & Center
Believed to have curative properties, the cool, refreshing waters from a spring running through Ray Harral Nature Park was once the water supply for all of Broken Arrow. Traces of this natural spring system can still be found in the 40-acre park, which contains pollinator gardens, an outdoor classroom and three miles of paved walking trails, where leashed pets and bicyclists are welcome.
Park hours run from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
Cross Timbers Nature Trail
Tucked behind the lush floral terraces in the Tulsa Botanic Garden, the Cross Timbers Nature Trail offers a 0.8-mile loop through the Osage foothills. The tucked-away trail requires sturdy walking shoes, as it cuts through several rugged ecosystems — a native prairie, deciduous forests and a dense persimmon grove that was populated from a single female persimmon tree.
The trails are accessible during the garden’s hours of operation, which run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Chandler Park
Chandler Park, located in west Tulsa near Sand Springs, features some of the best views of Tulsa’s skyline. Spanning 192 acres, the park offers three miles of walking trails, including a widened ADA-compliant, paved pathway that opened this spring. One of the park’s most popular trails, the Lost City Trails, winds through unique limestone formations that served as a backdrop in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
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