Mount Scott is a prominent mountain just to the northwest of

Lawton, Oklahoma Lawton is a city in and the county seat of Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in southwestern Oklahoma, approximately southwest of Oklahoma City, it is the principal city of the Lawton, Oklahoma, metropolitan statistical ...

rising to a height of and is located in the

Wichita Mountains The Wichita Mountains are located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the principal relief system in the Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen, being the result of a failed continental rift. The mountains are a northwest-south ...

near Fort Sill Military Reservation and lies in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge (WMWR). The

US Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

is responsible for the maintenance of the area. Visitors can reach the summit by car or

bicycle A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist. B ...

via a three-mile paved road.

Hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

is allowed, although there are no formal trails and the paved road is open to pedestrians and bicycles from 6am to 9:30 am only. Mount Scott is also popular for its numerous

rock climbing Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically a ...

areas. The peak was named in honor of General

Winfield Scott Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861, taking part in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the early s ...

Geography

The Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is located in southwestern Oklahoma, just north of the city of Lawton and

Fort Sill Fort Sill is a United States Army post north of Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles (136.8 km) southwest of Oklahoma City. It covers almost . The fort was first built during the Indian Wars. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark ...

. The area is located near

Interstate 44 Interstate 44 (I-44) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. Although it is nominally an east–west road as it is even-numbered, it follows a more southwest–northeast alignment. Its western terminus is in Wichita Fal ...

, and is about from

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, and ...

. The Wildlife Refuge's proximity to Fort Sill means that the sound of artillery fire can often be heard by visitors and is sometimes mistaken for thunder. Mount Scott often was used for training artillery geodetic computers and future Army Survey School candidates in the WW II era. Living in true tar paper barracks before being sent overseas or for more training at other bases. View from Mount Scott 2

Mount Scott is the second-highest mountain in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, but it remains the most well-known and regularly visited. The 3+ mile paved road that winds from the base to the top of Mount Scott offers breath-taking views of the surrounding Oklahoma plains. Mount Pinchot lies several miles to the west and is the highest point in the Refuge being 12 feet taller. Mount Pinchot is located within the Wildlife Refuge's Special Use Area which is reserved for wildlife management and closed to the public. From the west side of Mount Scott can be seen several prominent mountains to the west including Elk Mountain, Mount Sheridan, and Haley peak which lies just outside the NW corner of the WMWR. Haley Peak (officially unnamed) is the highest point in the Wichita Mountain range. The

Blue Canyon Wind Farm Blue Canyon Wind Farm is the largest wind farm in Oklahoma, United States. The project, located in the Slick Hills north of Lawton, consists of four phases with a total output of 423.45 MW. , Blue Canyon remains Oklahoma's largest wind far ...

is north of Mount Scott, and the wind turbines are visible from the access road.

Routes

The summit is accessible by a three-mile paved road which winds around the mountain. Several scenic pullouts are located along the road, and parking is available at the top of the mountain. Bicyclists and pedestrians are allowed on the road to the summit from sunrise to sunset. Although the distance is fairly short, the route is not recommended for beginners due to the steep grades, heavy crosswinds, and sharp turns. The peak may also be reached by traditional hiking, though there are no blazed trails to the summit, and large pedestrian groups (of over 8 people) are prohibited on the paved road. However, visitors are allowed to park at the base of the mountain and hike to a number of the rock climbing areas available on the mountain.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Landforms of Comanche County, Oklahoma

Scott Scott may refer to: Places Canada * Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec * Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380 * Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Sask ...

Tourist attractions in Comanche County, Oklahoma