Mount Scott (Comanche: ''Pisaroya'', "Big Mountain") is a prominent mountain just to the northwest of

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

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 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, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered transport, human-powered or motorized bicycle, motor-assisted, bicycle pedal, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, with two bicycle wheel, wheels attached to a ...

via a three-mile paved road.

Hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hi ...

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 climbing sports discipline that involves ascending climbing routes, routes consisting of natural rock in an outdoor environment, or on artificial resin climbing walls in a mostly indoor environment. Routes are documented in c ...

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 Commanding General of the United States Army from 1841 to 1861, and was a veteran of the War of 1812, American Indian Wars, Mexica ...

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 (137 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 a ...

. The area is located near Interstate 44, and is about from

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Oklahoma, most populous city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat ...

. 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. There is some disagreement as to whether Mount Scott is the highest mountain in the WMWR. The Oklahoma Historical Society states flatly that Mount Scott is the tallest at 2,464’ above sea level, followed by Mount Pinchot at 2,461’. However, the website PeakVisor lists Pinchot as the tallest in the Refuge at 2,467’, conceding only that since Pinchot is closed to the public, Scott at 2,464’ is the highest ''accessible'' peak. The website PeakBagger, while listing Scott as 2464.76’, goes so far as to give Pinchot’s height as 2476.48’. So Scott is one of the two tallest mountains in the WMWR, if not the very tallest, and is certainly the tallest ''accessible'' mountain. 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. From the west side of Mount Scott, several prominent mountains can be seen to the west including Elk Mountain, Mount Sheridan, and an officially-unnamed mountain sometimes called Haley Peak which lies just outside the NW corner of the WMWR. Haley Peak is the highest point in the Wichita Mountain range. The Blue Canyon Wind Farm 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 Tourist attractions in Comanche County, Oklahoma