Turkey Mountain attracts a wide variety of people – hikers, runners, cyclists and more. As folks come out, they get to learn the “rules of the trail” so everyone can enjoy themselves and be safe.
But there is another group of trail users out there, and they also have a few needs of their own. And those would be the equestrians, folks who ride their horses at Turkey Mountain.
We reached out to a member of that community, Betsy Barnes, and she gave us this excellent list of things to think about when you encounter someone on horseback at Turkey Mountain. Here’s what she said:
Let horse riders know you are behind them. Horses spook and kick. They have shoes on. Metal shoes. Trust me when I say a kick from a horse leave an impression you will never forget. One day when riding, I looked down at my horse’s side and saw a bike tire. Thankfully my horse is used to some of this. Not a word from the biker or a sound on that day. That could have ended so badly for all involved were my horse not calm. Thankfully, nothing happened.
Also let riders know if you are walking, running or riding toward them. We need a chance to move. Rapid movement coming toward a horse can be scary to it. This can cause the horse to spook and injure rider, horse, and anyone near by.
Horses have the right-of-way. I can’t speak for others, but we always try to move if there is a place for us to move. Sometimes on the single track trails we don’t have this luxury. Please allow us to pass rather than risk our horses footing. We will move quickly and offer a very grateful thank you!
Sometimes we surprise each other around a blind curve. Pay more attention around those spots. Two of the favorite trails are Pink and Yellow. Both have some very blind areas. Please approach these with caution.
Horses are big and can hurt both the rider and those on the ground. If you see a rider having a problem with a horse, stop and let the rider gain control of the horse. Please don’t approach – this can actually complicate things and risk everyones safety. I know my horse. My horse knows me. There is a level of trust there that is just hard to explain. My horse does not have these feelings of trust with new people any more than a child does.
Also, in the parking lot. We know the lots are beyond full to capacity. We try to use the trails at less traveled times but sometimes Turkey Mountain calls to us on those same beautiful days it calls to everyone else! Trailers need more space than a car to exit the parking lots. Don’t park so close that we can’t exit the parking lot.
One more thing: dogs. Dogs running up behind a horse can be kicked. Some dogs try to herd or bite at horses. Please, please control your dog. Your dog should never approach a horse or other dog on the trail without permission from the owner. This can put everyone at risk. Accidents are often preventable with just a little planning.
So there you go. Solid advice from a longtime rider who shares the trails with you. Read and heed, and have fun out there!
First off, Welcome! Turkey Mountain is one of our biggest treasures in Tulsa and the very best example of what Tulsa was like before people were here. This year we have seen a significant upswing in visitors to our beloved Urban Wilderness Treasure! We wanted to provide you with some tips to help make your visit the best possible!
Clean Out the Car. Full parking lots with owners in the woods, this sounds like paradise to a thief! Leave nothing inside your car. This will prevent potential break ins and hopefully encourage the ne’er-do-well’s to find another parking lot to prey on.
Hydrate. When planning a visit to Turkey Mountain the first thing you need to think about is hydration. There is one water fountain at Turkey Mountain and it is in the lower parking lot. Yes, there are streams and ponds on Turkey Mountain, but trust me when I say you do not want to drink from them. Bring a hand-held water bottle or hydration pack.
Plan. It is a good idea to let someone know where you are going, what trail you plan to take and when you will be back. Even if it is a quick post on Facebook or a note on a white board at home. Turkey Mountain is a wilderness with technical trails (Technical means rocks and roots that can trip you up). Also just like any outdoor exercise the risk of being bothered is real. We are all aware of the incidents on the Katy Trail and at LaFortune in recent years. Also, should you injure yourself while on the trails it helps to let people know where to look first. I know it is a scary thought, but it’s been said that planning is the best prevention. It is always a good idea to have pepper spray or bear spray on hand when venturing outdoors for any activity, the same is true on trails. Pepper spray and bear spray will act as a deterrent on most any mammal you feel threatened by (note, this will not work on birds or reptiles, don’t try it).
Have a map. We recommend the Avenza pdf Maps app available for iPhone, Droid and Windows smartphones. We like that it saves paper, has a blue ‘you are here’ dot that follows you around, and is free. Just make sure you have your location services turned ON or the dot will not show up. Note: once you have this app installed you will need to search within the app for the “Turkey Mountain” map and install it.
Be safe. It’s not called “WILDerness” for nothing. Turkey Mountain is known to have rocky and technical terrain. In fact some lovingly refer to it as a “skull cracker”. That does not mean do not take up mountain biking. But you need to wear the proper safety gear at all times. At the top of this list is a bike helmet. Visit any of Tulsa’s local bike shops and they will be happy to help you select the perfect helmet for you.
Look before you step. In Oklahoma, reptiles (lizards and snakes) emerge from hibernation in late March. Turkey Mountain is not a sterile wilderness. Turkey Mountain is an Urban Wilderness home to hundreds of species. These include snakes, both venomous and nonvenomous varieties. The best way to say this to tell people “all sticks are snakes until proven otherwise”. Should you encounter a snake the best thing to do is to give it plenty of space. Take time to familiarize yourself with the snakes of Oklahoma. We will likely be sharing Turkey Mountain with these guys until the high temperature drops below 50ºF for several days.
Wear Bug Spray. We all know that mosquitoes and ticks are a nuisance. But tick bites can be deadly or forever life-altering. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease and now Alpha Gal are all spread by ticks. These can lead to organ failure, chronic pain or even cause anaphylactic reactions to all mammal based products.
Don’t tune out. We know these days everyone has headphones and some of us even live in them. This isn’t wise on trails. Many of the trails on Turkey Mountain are single-track trails. Single-track means they are not wide enough for two people to stay side by side. This often means that people need to pass you. To let you know they are approaching you the common thing to do is shout “On Your Left”. When you hear those words the thing to do is hug the right side of the trail or if it is safe to do so step off the trail and allow them to pass. Just like on a highway the slower person always is to move to the furthest right position. While we are on the roadway comparison when on trails the flow of traffic follows the same norms as a city street. You should always stay to the right when approaching someone. If you’re on a narrow section of trail going up or down a hill and meet someone, give the person going downhill the right-of-way. They have gravity drawing them down and have less control than when going uphill. Another phase you may hear is Bike Back. This tells you that there is a bike behind you. If the cyclist is kind they may even tell you something like Three More. That indicates that there are three bikes following them so just hang out till we all pass. Another benefit to not tuning out, you may hear a woodpecker, a blue jay or another bird adding to nature’s soundtrack.
Fido is welcome. Turkey Mountain is a dog friendly park. This is not to be confused as a dog park.While on River Parks / City of Tulsa property leash laws are enforced. Tickets are issued. There is a dog watering station attached to the water fountain in the lower lot. You are encouraged to carry enough water for yourself and Fido, or ask Fido to carry it in a doggy backpack.
Leave no trace. Those three words mean a lot. Leave only footprints (or tire tracks!), take only pictures. This is a wild place, and long after you’ve gone home for the day, animals that live there have to make do with how we treat it. So pack out everything you pack in. Any wrappers, cups or trash of any kinds needs to be carried out with you. There are bags at the trailhead for any droppings your dog might leave behind. Use those, and pack them out, as well. Leave the area as natural looking as you found it — no graffiti, even if it’s in chalk. And if you see any litter, pack it out with you. Try to leave Turkey Mountain better than when you found it.
We aren’t telling you any of this to scare you off, only to help you be better informed when visiting Turkey Mountain! So, lace up those shoes and we will see you on the trail!
