Off-Road Trails Around Oklahoma City, OK

As the weather gets warmer, people are looking to get out of town and have some exciting outdoor adventures. Have you been itching to take your four-wheel drive out of the garage and into the wild around Oklahoma City, but you’re not sure where to start? We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite off-road trails around the Oklahoma City area (some further than others) to help you decide where you want to go this weekend.

White Water ORV Park

Approximately 103 miles, or a one-and-a-half-hour drive northeast of Oklahoma City, you’ll find White Water ORV Park, a state favorite for off-roaders. Grab your friends or meet up with some other four-wheel-drive enthusiasts — you’ll find quite a few in the park — and explore the over 80 acres of open land and 10 miles of trails here in your Jeep.

The terrain here is mostly sand, as the area is bordered by the Arkansas River and the Keystone Dam, giving you some impressive sights to look at while driving around and testing your vehicle’s mettle. Should you choose to challenge yourself and your car just a little, the park has a small section near the back with a few steep hill climbs. The best thing about White Water ORV Park is that it’s great for beginners, and there’s no maximum car width limit.

Keep in mind that that spark arrestors are required for all vehicles, and the park is open for day use only between March and November.

Camp Gruber ORV Area

If you’re willing to venture out slightly further and enjoy a much bigger park, you can drive 154 miles east of Oklahoma City (approximately two hours and 20 minutes on the road) to explore the Camp Gruber ORV Area. Over the miles and miles of trails in these 450 acres of land, you’ll encounter a variety of challenging terrains, such as creek crossings and steep hill climbs.

Keep in mind that trailblazing isn’t allowed here, and all off-road vehicles must stick to the established trails. The park is open year-round, and spark arrestors are recommended but not required. If you’re worried about exploring the length and breadth of this park on a day trip, you’ll be happy to learn that camping is allowed on the grounds here.

Most off-roaders love coming here for the famous Camp Gruber staircase, a challenging, bumpy slope. So, get your four-wheel drive, drive around, and stick to the land north of the creek to avoid the public hunting grounds and private property to the south.

Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees OHV Trail

Make your off-road adventure a weekend trip by heading to Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees OHV Trail. If you don’t mind the 187-mile journey toward the state’s northeast corner, which takes just under three hours by car, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful day of off-roading and fishing.

Located near Disney, this trail is just 2.9 miles out and back, but many off-roaders love to combine it with stops at popular fishing spots near the route. It’s recommended to visit this trail from March through October. Though plenty of locals and even Oklahomans from further away come to enjoy the wilderness here, you can still find peace and quiet for a good part of the trail.

Poteau in the Kiamichi Mountains

This is definitely another weekend trip, or perhaps a long weekend trip, but more than worth it for those who want to drive off-road on some of the best trails in Oklahoma. Head out to Poteau, 192 miles east of Oklahoma City (just under three hours by car), and explore the beauty of the Kiamichi Mountains with your four-wheel drive.

Even the most adrenaline-seeking off-roader will be satisfied with the endless variety of trails present in the park and the steep elevation changes thanks to the hilly, mountainous landscape around Poteau. The trails here are definitely not for the faint of heart, especially on Poteau Mountain.

You can start with some of the shorter mountain trails, such as the short but steep Snowball Trail on clay terrain or Roller Cam, named because of the high rpm it requires to ascend. Then, if you’re feeling up to it, take your chances on the steep Waterfall Trail, which is full of jagged outcroppings and loose rocks, all on an incline that will challenge both your tires and your stamina.

Be advised that the only way to get out of the Waterfall Trail after reaching the end of the descent is to climb back up. Most visitors to the park finish off this trail adventure with a swift ride down the 8 Seconds trail, which will take you out of the forest and back onto paved roads — simply hold on tight and enjoy the super-fast thrill ride down to the bottom.

Little Sahara OHV Trail

For a long, challenging, yet fun route in a unique landscape, head to Little Sahara OHV Trail  near Waynoka, a two-hour-and- 10-minute drive (134 miles) northwest of Oklahoma City. The trail is 13.9 miles out and back and features an elevation gain of over 530 feet.

Traverse over the sand dunes in this year-round park and enjoy some night riding, as long as you have tail and headlights. This trail requires whip flags, and you’ll also probably encounter a lot of ATVs in the area.

Before heading off for your fun day trip or weekend off-road adventure, swing by our service center to check your four-wheel drive and ensure it’s ready for all kinds of terrain. If you know of an off-road trail near Oklahoma City that we missed, contact us at Eskridge Chevrolet and let us know.

 

Off Road 254  by Robert Bejil  is licensed with CC BY 2.0

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