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Since Snoopy came into our lives, there are things that needed adjustment. For instance, we like camping and hiking, and we wanted to take him with us whenever possible. Last Thanksgiving Break, he went camping and did a bit hiking with us in Texas Hill Country. He did well for a 6-month-old pup at the time.

Then came spring this year, we talked about going to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma during Easter weekend. After we found out it’s a dog-friendly park, we started planning. My husband bought him a back pack, so he could carry his own stuff, like treats, water, and baggies. We took him walking around the neighborhood for 2 weeks prior to our departure to make him used to it. At first, he didn’t feel comfortable, tried to reach or wiggle it from his back. But he enjoys walking so it didn’t bother him the next day. He also quickly learned that when my husband took his back pack out from the closet, it meant he’s going for a walk around the neighborhood.

So, we’re good to go, though we had no idea how he would do the hiking because it’s going to be an intense one. Or, how he would reacted when he sees wild animals like bison, prairie dogs, Longhorns, or turkey along the trail. Is he going to chase them? Bark at them? Or just don’t care?

Well, keep reading to find out about our hiking with a dog at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma; with our  one and only Snoopy.

 

Hiking with a dog at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

After we set up the tent and Snoopy’s crate on Doris campground, we headed to the Visitors Center to grab the trail’s map and asked the ranger for hiking trails that suits a dog like Snoopy. Snoopy is a 10-month-old Great Dane mix puppy. Our son thinks he’s mixed with a beagle because he’s not big like a pure breed Great Dane.

On the way to the Visitors Center, we saw a herd of bison grazing on grass by Quannah Parker Lake. We turned to watch them closer, but Snoopy didn’t really understand when we opened the window for him to see the bison.

When we made a U-turn at the end of the road, we saw a couple coming back from a trail with their medium size dog. Hmm… Would it be Snoopy’s first? We parked the car and checked the trail map by the parking and decided to do the hike there.

 

Hike #1: Little Baldy Trail

Distance: 0.8 miles one-way

Difficulty: Moderate

From the parking we could see the Little Baldy Trail. It looked easy, but Snoopy met his first obstacle right away. We had to go down the stairs and crossed the dam. He didn’t look comfortable with it and refused to take the stairs. Fortunately, his backpack has a handle on the top, so my husband just carried him down the stairs. Once at the bottom, he didn’t have problem crossing the dam all the way to the end where he had to take the stairs. Probably because he couldn’t see the water, too.

From there the trail was dirt, rocky, and go up a bit. Snoopy didn’t have problem at all. We met a father and a daughter duo coming from the top of Little Baldy who informed us there’s a longhorn ahead. They suggested us to take Snoopy from the other side, so he didn’t have to meet the longhorn. After Snoopy got a pat on the head and a praised how cute he was, we parted and continued with the hike.

The longhorn turned his head toward us when he sensed a commotion, but Snoopy didn’t care at all. He just wanted to keep going. Great!

At the end of trail, we had to climb to the top of Little Baldy. Unfortunately, Snoopy couldn’t make it, so he waited at the bottom with my husband. I followed my son whose already at the top and we had fun exploring at the top. The view was amazing, and the weather was nice. It’s a perfect time to be outside.

 

Going back to the car was easy. Snoopy didn’t even bother the stairs. I think all the nature stairs along the trail helped him build his confident.

After a pit-stop at the Visitors Center and got the trail map, we continued with rock hopping at Mt. Scott. Snoopy didn’t feel comfortable at all. He didn’t want to go down to the rocks area. Maybe because too many people there? It left me and my son hopping around while my husband took him back to the car.

From Mt. Scott we continued with our next hiking for the day. This time we brought along his food because it would be around his supper time by the time we reached the end of trail.

 

Hike #2: Jed Johnson Tower

Distance: 0.5 miles one-way

Difficulty: Easy

As mentioned in the trail map, the hike to the tower was easy. Even with nature stairs here and there, Snoopy didn’t have problem at all. He moved smoothly, and my husband had to remind him to slow down. Just like our son when he was much younger.

Arrived at the tower, he had his supper and we took a break for a while.

Going back, we took a slightly different path from the top. The path was longer and wider until it merged with the path we came from, almost half-way to the starting point.

 Back to the campground, we took him for a walk after we had supper. He seemed to enjoy the area a lot. We saw a turkey, but it didn’t bother him at all. But it was ducks when flying above our campsite and making sounds that seemed to drive him crazy. They were loud!

A more intense hike awaited Snoopy the next morning.   

 

Hike #3: Crab Eyes Trail

Distance: 1.0 miles

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

In the beginning we shared trail with people going to Charons Garden Wilderness Area, where people like to go for mountaineering or rock climbing. We saw a group of ten people with at least 7 dogs ahead of us. The dogs looked mature from Snoopy and seemed to know where they’re going. One of them had a back pack, too.

For the first quarter the trail was flat. We walked between brushes, so you better wear long pants and long sleeve if you plan to go. No problem for a dog though.

After that the ground changed to rocky and go up all the way to a big flat open area. On the way there we met 3 guys who appeared just came back from backpacking. They told us there was a herd of bison grazing grass right on the trail ahead. So, we had to turn right toward the lake and walked along it until we saw the trail again.

Yep! Once we hit the big flat open area, there were the bison. We turned toward the lake but there was one bison by the lake. Then we decided to hike between bison. Fortunately, Snoopy didn’t have problem seeing the bison there. If you go and must take the same path, beware of cacti growth all over the ground.     

Not long after we saw the trail, we could see the Crab Eyes, too. We stopped and took a rest before the trail went down the hill. Snoopy looked tired but happy. He got biscuits for being good on the trail. Then we decided not to go all the way to the end of trail since we’re going to check the Treasure Lake. We saw the sign half-way on our way to Crab Eyes. It sounded mysterious.

On the way back, we noticed the bison were starting to move toward the lake, but a couple of them were still around the trail area. There was a couple coming with their dog. They turned to the left from they came from, and we took their direction, too to avoid the bison. Then we met a couple with their young adult daughter. They patted Snoopy and said how cute he was, and as an exchange we told them about the bison. No, just kidding! Of course, we had to exchange information when there’s something needed extra attention on the trail to fellow hikers.

Before long, we turned to our next hike of the trip.

 

Hike #4: Treasure Lake

Distance: unknown

Difficulty: unknown

I put unknown because there’s no information about the trail to the lake both on the sign and the park’s map. Just a few yards from the starting point, we had to climb the rocks to continue the trail. My husband wasn’t sure Snoopy would make it, but he did. It’s much harder than the ones before. Then the trail went down hill with rocks along the way.

I looked around, and realized we walked into boulders area. I think it was part of Charons Garden. Then we saw four people doing rock climbing. More to rock hopping to the top without any ropes, I would say.

We walked further but no sign of the lake at all. The boulders were getting closer from both sides and the trails started to change to all rocks. My husband decided to turn around because it would be hard on Snoopy’s paws.

Still determined to reach the lake, my son and I continued with the hike, until the trail disappeared. What’s left were rocks and rocks. Basically, we walked on the rocks. Not sure how long would it take us to the lake, we decided to turn around also. Then we met the couple with the young adult daughter. They tried to go to the lake, too, but I told them we had to turn around because the trail disappeared. They kept going and I didn’t know whether they made it or not.

On the way back, we saw a couple coming down from the top of the boulders with their dog. Yes! Their dog! They worked together to help the dog moved from one boulder to the other. What a brave family! Too bad I already changed my camera lens, so I couldn’t record the scene.

Before we turned back to Crab Eyes Trail, we met another group of people with their dogs also. Seems like Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is very popular for outdoor lovers with their dogs.

Then we joined Snoopy and my husband almost near the end of trail. Everyone was tired and slowing down. It was a relieved when we arrived back to the car. Surely cold water tasted good both for us and Snoopy.

Overnight the wind was blowing hard and it was still like that when we woke up on Sunday morning. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to one more trail that we planned to do. Save it for next time.

Arrived home, Snoopy fell asleep,woke up at his supper time, went out a bit, and fell asleep again when he went back inside. He was pooped! But we think he did a good job that weekend and we were proud of him.

Have you been hiking with your dog at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma? Or hiking anywhere with your dog/s? Share your experience by leaving a comment below. Thank you! 

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

32 Refuge Headquarters

Indiahoma, Oklahoma 73552

ph. 580 429 3222

From Ft. Worth, Texas is approximately 3 hours.

Another park that you need to check out in Oklahoma is Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton. You and the children will enjoy rock climbing and hopping at this park.