• The project is being done in two phases, 21st-26th, and 26th-Riverside. Each phase should take around 90 days. Only half of the trail will be blocked off at a time.
• Park of the parking lot at 31st and Riverside is being used as a construction staging area.
• The completion date for the project is slated for September.
• The trail will use the same lighting features as the River Parks trails.

Try a new hobby

River Parks has venues for all sorts of hobbies and athletes. Let’s go down the list: walking, fishing, running, cycling, mountain biking, soccer, trail-running, frisbee-golf, horseback-riding, rollerblading, geocaching,  rugby…that’s just off the top of my head. But there is one sport that seems to have taken off more than any other in the last few months: Longboarding. It’s hard to spend any time on the East trail without getting passed by at least one person riding on what I normally would have called a “skateboard”. Thanks to some education from some friends and a visit to Tulsa’s own Quickie Mart, I’m now being tempted to make a purchase. Start reading about what a longboard is on Wikipedia.

Take the family out for a walk

We love seeing families out together for an afternoon or weekend trip to River Parks. It’s an incredibly constructive way for parents to teach their kids the value and enjoyment in outdoor free entertainment. Make them put their DS’es away for 30 minutes and count fish at the 29th Street Pedestrian Bridge. Hike out to the Vista point on the Yellow Trail at Turkey Mountain and see if they can figure out where their home is. Try out one of the recently remodeled playgrounds along the East trail. There are plenty of opportunities to do things that kids will find exciting.

Spend some money on gear

Look, we know how hard it can be to get motivated to do something remotely athletic. So here’s a tip: Buy some nice gear first. Why? Well, nothing pushes you to go do something faster than knowing that you spend a chunk of change on it. So if you want to become a runner, buy some awesome new super-light shoes. If you like mountain biking, buy a new component or wheelset or fork (or a mountain bike, if you don’t have one). Go get a new backpack. Buy a fishing rod. Don’t forget to shop locally. Of course, there are other ways to motivate yourself, but buying some sweet new gear is a great way to give yourself a big push.

So what will it be? We’re begging you…please don’t squander this beautiful weather. Take advantage of this rare winter opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors at River Parks.

Want more information? Please go to www.riverparks.org/wild-turkey to learn more about Tulsa’s most unique event!

Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area

As a River Parks employee, it has been my observation that few areas of the park system inspire as much hard-core devotion and attachment as Turkey Mountain. Even a slight change in trail layout or park signage is greeted by a chorus of “love it!”, “hate it!”, “keep it!”, and/or “get rid of it!” We’re proud of these loyal (and vocal) park users, because we know that they LOVE Turkey Mountain. Yes, this area of River Parks has a faithful following. What is it that makes Turkey Mountain such a unique place?

Location is part of what park users love about Turkey Mountain. It’s been said that the Mountain is “a thousand miles from nowhere, and six miles from downtown.” Undoubtedly, the first visitors to Turkey Mountain felt similarly. The area was originally prospected for oil in the 1910′s and 1920′s as part of the oil boom surrounding Tulsa. In fact, original equipment and pumpjack stands from these early visitors can still be found in the park. Although the location of Turkey Mountain was incredibly convenient for oil exploration, actual deposits were scarce. By the 1930′s, Turkey Mountain began returning to its original condition of overgrown wilderness. In 1978, River Parks Authority purchased a large percentage of Turkey Mountain and was able to specially zone the land to prevent commercial development. The area was little used until the 1980′s, when a few intrepid adventurers began reconnaissance and trail-building using 2 cycle dirt bikes. Eventually, the use of motorized vehicles was prohibited by statute, which allowed for slower-moving traffic on the newly-invented “mountain bike’ to become popular. For the next 20 years, Turkey Mountain became well-known among offroad cyclists as a hidden place, perfect for fat-tire adventures because of its constantly changing terrain, smooth trails, and rustic scenery. In recent years, trailrunning has became even more popular than mountain-biking at Turkey, mainly because of the new bathroom facilities and parking lot from a Kaiser Foundation grant in 2008.

What can a first-time visitor expect at Turkey Mountain? Entering the trailhead parking lot at 68th and Elwood, guests are immediately greeted by a well-maintained 80-100 car parking lot, along with horse trailer parking. Climbing boulders for children are located to the south, along with bathrooms and trail maps to the north. The trailhead is bisected by the River Parks west bank paved trail system, which continues across the river to 96th Street to the south and downtown Tulsa to the north. However, the offroad trails are what bring most people to Turkey Mountain, and no more less than 3 of the main trails start at this trailhead. A majority of park users take the Yellow Trail, which follows midway up the side of the 804 foot “mountain” for 1.5 miles, then looping back on the top ridge. Several vista points along this trail offer views of the Arkansas River, midtown Tulsa, and downtown Tulsa. Trail terrain is typically smooth, with several more difficult areas of rocky and steep contours.

Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Map

Turkey Mountain Map   

The Future of Turkey Mountain

Due to its location and natural beauty, the Turkey Mountain area is occasionally under pressure to revise zoning statutes from commercial and real-estate developers. Thanks to continued support from the community, River Parks, and the City of Tulsa, none of these attempts have been successful to date. Thanks to the increasing usage of the area by runners, bikers, equestrians, and families, it is our hope at River Parks that the Turkey Mountain area will remain a vital, untouched area for future explorers. River Parks is currently pursuing options to improve the Turkey Mountain trail system, including trail reconstruction, larger climbing walls, and working with nearby property owners to expand the trail system. We would like to welcome you to explore this beautiful and unique area of River Parks!

Tulsa Oktoberfest

Held annually at the River West Festival Park, Tulsa Oktoberfest features giant tents, authentic German atmosphere, and beverages and food you’ll love. The festival is attended by well over 60,000 people every year.

29th Street Pedestrian Bridge

The Pedestrian Bridge, formerly used by the Midland Valley Railroad, spans the river’s 1,400-foot channel at 29th and Riverside.  Hundreds of persons cross the bridge each day.

OK Scotfest

This Celtic festival features the Highland Games and the all-new MacBeerFest. OK Scotfest received national media attention in 2011 when event coordinators constructed the World’s Largest Kilt in honor of the festival.

Park Art

Visitors to River Parks are often pleasantly surprised by the amount of art in the park. Thanks to NatureWorks and other artists and donations, River Parks boasts a work of art for every mile of trail along the east bank. Read more about art in the park here.

Zink Lake

This urban lake is created by a low-water dam underneath the Pedestrian Bridge near 31st Street and Riverside Drive.