We’ve been blessed with a fairly mild winter, and if you go to Turkey Mountain on any given day – and especially on weekends – people have taken advantage of it. You see a lot of cyclists, runners, hikers, and even folks on horseback. Social media is peppered with folks from the Tulsa area chronicling their adventures at Turkey Mountain.

But more recently, a video surfaced showing something else. It showed someone on a motorcycle getting ready to take off down the Powerline Trail.

https://www.facebook.com/TonyRussellNewsOn6/videos/879914672123595/

Special thanks to our friend Tony Russell at KOTV News on 6 for alerting us!

We can see why people might be tempted to bring off-road motorcycles or ATVs to Turkey Mountain. But before you do, there are things you should know.

First, as an entity of the River Parks system, motorized vehicles of any kind are prohibited from use at Turkey Mountain. That includes any sort of ATVs.

But second, you should understand why this is the case.

If you’re on your motorcycle or ATV, there is a strong chance you will be moving much faster than other users, even those on off-road bicycles. The likelihood of your ATV running up to other users is very high.

With most of the trails in heavily wooded areas, it is unlikely you would see someone in front of you or crossing your path until they were a few feet from you. And given the noise that comes with ATV use, you certainly won’t hear others.

The trails are almost all singletrack, meaning that they are wide enough for passage of a single runner, cyclist or rider on horseback. These tight confines make it difficult to maneuver on highly trafficked trails, raising the risk of collisions greatly. No one wants to see an accident between an ATV and a runner, cyclist, or a horse.

And finally, there is the issue of wear and tear on the trails. All user traffic has some impact on trails, but motorized vehicles tend to have the greatest impact and chew up the pathways the most. The trails at Turkey Mountain were not designed to withstand the punishment of motorized vehicles of any kind.

So what should you do?

In short, find places that are better suited for ATV use, meaning areas that are more wide-open and where the risk of running into other users is lessened.

Some ideas:

Family and friends who own larger pieces of property can give you better options, and without the risk of potentially injurious incidents with other people. You can tear it up in complete freedom, with just you and your friends.

A number of state parks have facilities built with ATV usage in mind. Lake Murray State Park, Little Sahara State Park, Talimena State Park and Robbers Cave State Park all include areas designated for ATV use. Dozens of other sites throughout Oklahoma also offer places for motorcycle and ATV off-road recreation. So if you don’t mind a little time on the road, you can make quite a weekend of it in places that cater to you.

• A very comprehensive listing of ATV trails is available on the RiderPlanet USA website.
• TravelOK

There are also places you can go in the Ouachita National Forest in McCurtain County. Check out the regulations for that, but be secure in knowing there are some great places to ride in some of the most beautiful countryside in all of Oklahoma.

One of the things the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition stands for is people enjoying the outdoors, and we encourage you to do so responsibly. We certainly extend this to our friends who enjoy themselves on their ATVs. But in the case of Turkey Mountain, we’d ask that people find a place better suited for the higher speeds that motorized fun can bring, and to help keep Turkey Mountain wild.

It’s no secret that it has been extraordinarily wet in northeastern Oklahoma over the past several weeks, particularly since Christmas weekend. Given the lower temperatures, a lower sun, dormant foliage and the added rain and snow this weekend, the ground here is saturated.

This has created some concern about the condition of the trails at Turkey Mountain. All accounts from visitors there indicate that while there are some dry areas, most of the trails are muddy, slippery or covered with standing water.

This has become a bigger issue, partly because of the success the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition has had in promoting the value of Turkey Mountain. People are visiting Turkey Mountain in record numbers, and many current users only recently started going there. Those higher numbers also mean more wear on the trails, something that is magnified when they are inundated by recent rains.

Another unfortunate fact to consider: The trails themselves were not all planned. Some grew organically, without much thought into how heavier traffic and natural erosion would affect them later. These sections are particularly susceptible to erosion. This wasn’t a big problem in the past, when there were fewer people, but is a larger concern now.

The TUWC has worked with the River Parks Authority to shore up some sections of the trails, but there is still work to be done. We will continue to do so in the future.

In the meantime, there are some things we, as users, can do to help, given the current conditions. Primarily, this is a good time to let the trails “rest” and absorb the recent moisture. Check out some of the River Parks paved trails on your next walk, run or ride. The temporary reprieve will help mitigate the problems of developing ruts that often come with heavy usage on soggy trails.

And when you are out there, avoid trying to go around muddy or wet spots on the trail. Go through them. By going around, this creates wide spots and social trails that add to trail degradation and erosion. This may leave you with muddy shoes, but it will help keep the trails intact.

Lastly, we know that increased traffic has also meant more trash filling the trash cans at the trailhead. We appreciate people using the trash bins and not littering, but the bins are overflowing. Please consider taking your trash with you when you leave to avoid overflowing trash blowing around the parking lot and into the woods.

This is a lot to digest, and may put a temporary crimp on your plans. But paying attention to trail conditions now will help us build on a sustainable and successful future for Turkey Mountain and its users.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the TUWC Trail Crew please contact Ryan Howell or Tyler Hanes

As the weather warms up (and hopefully dries out!), thoughts turn to mountain biking on Turkey Mountain. All kinds of people come out to visit the mountain for various reasons, so you need to be aware of what you might encounter on the trails. Here are some things to consider before you roll.

Pedestrians and horses have the right of way. Like it or not, it’s the same on the trails as it is on the road. I have yet to encounter a horse on the trail, but I do know how skittish they can be. Twelve-hundred pounds of spooked horse is not where I want to be in the close quarters of a singletrack. Horses and people move slower over rough terrain than a mountain bike can, therefore it becomes our duty to keep everyone safe. Announce your presence and intent as you slow down to allow them time to adjust their path, but keep in mind this is not always possible. Be prepared to stop. I always appreciate walkers who step off the trail to accommodate me on my bike because they don’t have to. When I’m on foot, I always step out of the way of cyclists as a courtesy.

If you meet another cyclist on the trail, slow down and make enough room for you to pass each other safely. If you’re on a hill, the climber has right of way.

If you happen upon a slower cyclist in front of you, always announce your presence and intent such as “on your left.” Be prepared though, as people will get their lefts and rights somewhat confused under pressure and trail conditions may not be conducive to the cyclist being able to move over.

Don’t ride muddy trails. Mountain bike tires leave deep ruts in puddles and soft spots. Going around said puddles pushes the mud around, making low spots even bigger. Someone has to fix these issues to maintain the trail’s integrity; otherwise a washout becomes a serious concern. It’s better for you and your bike if you stay on the paved trails until the dirt is dry enough.

Wear your helmet! Every time I see a mountain biker without a helmet on Turkey Mountain, I say, “Look ma, no brains!” You never know when you’re going to miss your line and get dumped into the rocks, or when a tree branch is going to reach out to smack you. Even the most seasoned riders have been hurt on the trails they frequent the most. So always, always, always wear your helmet. Gloves are handy (no pun intended) for when you have to steady yourself against a tree or fall over on a rock. Knee pads and elbow pads are optional, but I know people who swear by them. If you take nothing else with you, be sure you have your cell phone in case you get lost, injured, or you find someone who’s hurt.

Watch your dog. I know a lot of walkers and riders who take their dogs to the mountain off leash. It is posted that all dogs must be on a leash, but I have mixed feelings about that. The dogs I know are OK and can be trusted. But there are people who have been bitten in the past. I’m not going to advocate one way or the other, but just let me say this: Any dog can go on the attack under the right circumstances. Make sure your dogs are vaccinated and prepare yourself if you let them off leash. The person they bite is not going to be very happy with you.

Please don’t move the rocks. I know the trails are rough and it’s tempting to move certain rocks out of the way to make them easier. However, our technical trails are what draw people from all over the country to visit our fair mountain and what gets Turkey Mountain listed as the No. 1 trail system to visit in Oklahoma. Rocks help prevent soil erosion as well, so just leave them be. They’re happy right where they are. If you happen to see limbs down or obstacles (not rocks) in the trail, be kind and remove them if you can. If they are too big, please make note of where they are and contact the appropriate entity to take care of them.

Also, whatever you take into the woods, please be sure to take out. Water bottles sometimes bounce out of holders as you bounce over the rocks, but food trash can go right back into your pocket or under the edge of your shorts.

It doesn’t take any extra effort to be considerate of trail users and trail fixers. Following these simple guidelines ensures everyone who comes out to Turkey Mountain has a great experience. Remember, we’re all out here to enjoy the same sunshine, trees, and dirt for all the same reasons.

Keep the rubber side down!

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!