The Most Overlooked Landscape in Oklahoma

There’s a pocket of Southwest Oklahoma that doesn’t look anything like Oklahoma. Well, not the rolling wheat field version. It's not red dirt pastures either. It's a little area that feels more like New Mexico, and it's open to anyone who wants to experience it.

The area is known as the Red Gypsum Hills.

Once you're off the highway, it's all dirt roads and trails for miles and miles. And while the journey may begin flat like most of Oklahoma, the bluffs and plateaus start rising and all of a sudden, you're surrounded by tiny mesquites and cedars, and grassy prairie as far as you can see.

It's a strange place to find in Oklahoma.

It's home to the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area. Very rugged terrain. It’s not polished. Not made for tourism. There’s no welcome center or gift shops. It's as wild as it has always been, and that's the point.

White-tailed deer are easy to spot. You can hear the bobwhite quail if you're quiet enough. You may even be lucky enough to run across a horny toad. It's especially pretty this time of year, when everything is still dormant and you get this odd juxtaposed view of tan earth tones next to off-green cedars and the red gypsum hills.

The jewel at the center is Doc Hollis Lake.

If you didn’t know it was there, you’d never guess. It sits out in the middle of that amazing landscape. It's highly likely that it's the only pristine lake left in Oklahoma. Clear water, no boats of any kind allowed. You can fish, you just can't bring in alcohol either. Aside from a dock and a well-worn trail around the banks, it's largely untouched and a really quiet place to take in the peace.

If you get the urge to go see something naturally spectacular, you'll need a few things. A capable vehicle is always a good idea. I'm not talking about hardcore 4x4s, your all-wheel-drive Subaru, or literally any pickup or SUV will do fine. That's not to say cars can't get in there, but since it is spring and weather is expected, the slightest bit of rain can make the drive a little harrowing.

You'll also need a pass to visit legally. As a "Wildlife Management Area" first, a current Oklahoma hunting or fishing license is a must. If you don't hunt or fish, you can always grab an Oklahoma Conservation Passport. That money goes straight back into providing us all places like this, so don't grumble about the cost.

Southwest Oklahoma doesn’t always get credit for beauty beyond the Wichita Mountains, but I'll tell you this, the more willing you are to get lost, the prettier it gets.