The Magic of the Southern Great Plains
Almost a year and a half after last setting foot in the southern Great Plains, I returned for a multi-day trip in Oklahoma and Texas in October of 2026. This blog follows that journey from start to finish. Enjoy.
Just before 7 AM on October 16, 2026, I left from my house in Missouri and headed south on I-44 towards the great State of Oklahoma. The drive south was uneventful; however, I came across a Travel America just outside Joplin, MO, with a unique display. This display showcased the distances from the current location to places such as Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Dallas, and Brownsville, TX, to name a few. They had not only a large display, but also a much smaller one near the gas station entrance. I imagine many people take pictures in front of this structure.
Later that afternoon, I arrived in Southwestern Oklahoma. The rivers were high from recent heavy rainfall, and it was a shocking sight. In all of my years living in Southwestern Oklahoma, I had only ever seen Deep Little Red Creek out of its banks. During this trip, I also saw the North Red River out of its banks, and the impacts were obvious. Dried dirt lay across perfect asphalt roads, with water pooling in ditches. I spent the rest of the afternoon at my secondary house in Tipton, where I chatted with my former neighbor for nearly 4 hours. As night fell, I drove to Altus, where I was staying for the trip. The skies welcomed me back with a beautiful, vibrant display of reds, oranges, and yellows mixed with shades of blue. I ate dinner at The Plaza Restaurant and later fell asleep after admiring the beautiful flat plains.
Just before 7 AM, I awoke in Altus, Oklahoma, ready to conquer the world! I wanted to climb Baldy Point at Quartz Mountain State Park for a third time. The drive from Altus to Quartz Mountain State Park reminded me why I fell in love with Southwestern Oklahoma in the first place. A mixture of plains and skyscraper-high mountains presented itself, showcasing the ruggedness. As I paralleled Baldy Point, I saw 3 deer jump out right in front of me. They were far enough away that I didn't have to slam on the brakes, and I could watch them cross peacefully. Not to my surprise, the road leading into the parking lot was washed out in sections and muddy. Thankfully, I was used to these conditions and powered through with my 2016 Ford Explorer. I was somewhat nervous, as I was not in my 2012 Ford Explorer, which I modified for off-roading, but rather in my 2016 Ford Explorer Sport on street tires with a lower valence and height. No surprise to me, though; she handled the adverse conditions, and shortly after, I arrived at the base of Baldy Point.
I had arrived early enough that I was the only person at Baldy Point. Temperatures were in the mid-40s, and the surroundings were peaceful. I grabbed my hiking backpack and slipped on my old but trusty Hoka Speedgoat 5s, which had seen all kinds of terrain.
One thing I found interesting was that the vegetation leading into the rugged trail was high off the ground. Having hiked and summited Baldy Point multiple times in the past, I realized I had only done so in winter and early spring when vegetation was shorter. This vegetation difference became a factor just 0.25 miles into the climb when I realized I had gone off trail by about 600 ft. I realized this once I reached a large, slick rock built into the side of Baldy Point. Another realization came when I was inclining faster than I should have. I stopped in my tracks and began questioning if I was on trail or not. I started loading maps onto my phone. After cross-referencing distances and maps, I determined I'd taken a game trail and was off course by about 600 ft. This created an interesting dynamic, as the recent rain had made the gravel loose on such an incline. Using my experience, I decided to slide down the side rather than risk slipping and injuring myself, something I had done before in the backcountry of the Wichita Mountains. After getting off the game trail, I then had to navigate through large brush and cross-reference maps once again to find the primary trail.
After finding the primary trail, I started making quick work of it. The memories of each hole and rocky section came back. I found myself speeding through small scrambles, and soon enough I made it to my favorite section of the summit, which showcased the beautiful mountainous backside that only those hiking were afforded. As shown in the video, the backside of Baldy Point is my favorite because the transition from flat plains to mountains occurs almost immediately, and in that split moment, I always feel that I am somewhere else rather than in Southwestern Oklahoma. Seeing such beautiful terrain brings great peace to my mind, and it's truly a gift to sit on the side of Baldy Point and have such a display to myself.
Soon after, I made it to another section I truly enjoy because it involves climbing up rocks to get to the final sections of the summit. As I've gotten older and more confident, I've realized that simple things like climbing large rocks have become easier for me. Three years ago, when I climbed this same rocky section, I turned around because I was nervous. However, after two summits, I knew exactly what I needed to do to clear the section easily. After clearing that section, I came upon what I have always found to be the most dangerous section of the summit.
As shown in the video above, I have always felt that this section of the summit is dangerous. Why? Once you get past that scramble, you have to hike up a very slick piece of rock on a steep incline with loose gravel. Throw in water, and now you've got a challenge! If you're planning to hike this section, make sure your shoes have strong grip, as you'll need it here. I saw water trickling down the side of the rock and stayed to the left.
After climbing to the "top" of Baldy Point, I had a majestic view of the mountains to the east, with Lake Lugert tucked away. Even though I was at the "top," I wasn't actually at the summit, so I continued south toward Baldy Point. I have always found that the final sections are relatively easy, with gravel trails, streams, and slick rocks in between.
One thing I have always loved about Baldy Point is that roughly 60 ft from the Summit, I begin to get a sense of how high up I truly am. This time that sense came as I watched a car drive east towards Lake Lugert. The car looked like an ant driving at vehicle speed along the flat plains. From their angle, I am not even recognizable, and they don't know someone is alongside that mountain. Such a scale really puts things into perspective.
Just before 9:40 AM, I scrambled to the summit, as I had twice before. After a short scramble, I had done it: A THIRD SUMMIT ON BALDY POINT! I was beyond ecstatic; this entire hike was spontaneous, and yet here I was at the top of Baldy Point at Quartz Mountain State Park for a THIRD TIME!
I stayed at the summit for roughly 20 minutes before descending down the side of Baldy Point. Afterward, I got ready for the main reason I was in Oklahoma: to finish my left arm sleeve tattoo.
Now, for those who are unaware, since November of 2024, I have been working on filling both of my forearms with tattoos that are meaningful to me. This meant not only memorial tattoos but also large landscape pieces inspired by real-life trips I have taken over the past 3 years. On my right arm is a grizzly bear that goes into a forested river with a cabin and mountains in the background. This design reflects my love for grizzly bears, rivers, and mountainous landscapes. Now, on the left side, I have "Kampaglod," which is Swedish for "fighting spirit." Alongside it is another large landscape piece that calls back to a 2024 trip on the Wisconsin River, where I encountered a Bald Eagle flying alongside and above me. Inspired by such an experience, I asked Aaron at Attitude Ink in Altus (who has done all but 3 tattoos on me) to make a similar design for a tattoo. This left one large spot open on my left forearm, which I purposely kept blank until I became inspired once again. That inspiration came during my Yahara River Expedition earlier this year, where I kayaked multiple lakes and river systems in roughly two days.
Drawing on this inspiration, I asked Aaron to create a scene of a river winding through a forest, featuring a kayak as though someone were paddling down the water. Just after 1:40 PM, Aaron got to work turning this idea into reality for me.
During the process, Aaron had the movie "Jeepers Creepers" playing. I had never seen this movie before, but I felt the need to say.... It's definitely an interesting movie with a weird-looking reptilian that comes after humans. Weird movies aside, Aaron absolutely knocked the tattoo out of the water, and I left extremely happy with the final result. What I love most is that it all fits together so naturally! Alongisde this tattoo is "Kampaglod" which then flows beautifully into the river scene with the bald eagle on the other side. In a way, it's almost as if you are seeing the viewpoint from someone kayaking and then another of a bald eagle passing that kayak. I absolutely love it!
Later that night, I went to my favorite Italian restaurant in Altus, "Roma's," and had a splendid Chicken Pesto Genovese dinner. The Chicken Pesto Genovese had spinach, broccoli, green peppers, tomatoes, penne pasta, and chicken breast all mixed together with a pesto sauce. If you ever find yourself in Altus, I highly recommend this meal, as it was delish! Afterward, I headed back to the hotel to sleep, since I planned to travel to the Texas Panhandle the following day.
The following day, I woke early and headed west toward an area I knew all too well: the Texas Panhandle. That same morning, I researched hiking areas in the northern Panhandle and discovered an area I had never known about. This area was called "Lake Meredith National Recreational Area," and it featured a large lake with canyons cut alongside it. Instantly, I was intrigued by the landscape and shocked that I had only heard of it then. As I crossed into the Texas Panhandle from Oklahoma and drove toward Fritch, Texas, a love for the land returned to my soul. Memories of chasing storms, hiking, and kayaking across these lands over the past decade entered my mind. I was at peace, to say the least. Many will agree that loving such flat lands is likely insanity, but for me, seeing such wide-open spaces has always brought joy. I believe this may primarily be from my love for clouds and thunderstorms.
After a four-hour drive, I arrived at Lake Meredith National Recreational Area and was immediately taken aback by the beauty of the land before I even stepped out of my vehicle. Beautiful canyons replaced the once-flat plains, and a large lake opened up before me. I hopped out of the car and went to the Harbor Bay Trailhead, where I studied the map. I had decided to hike to the top of the canyon. Afterward, I'd hike back down and go eastward into the Fritch Canyons.
As I started my hike, joy came over me. I had traveled to the Texas Panhandle so many times over the past decade and had discovered something new. It felt like a brand new adventure alongside land I'd grown to know and love so well. The trail had such a natural Texas caprock feel and look. Honestly, for the first section, I felt like I was back at Caprock Canyon State Park in the southern Panhandle, surrounded by thick red clay sections with rugged vegetation. It was honestly perfection.
The farther I went east from the parking lot, the more those canyons opened up, and within a quarter-mile, I felt like I was in a new world. The view shown in the photo above was what I saw, and it made me feel whole in my mind and at peace with the world. I kept thinking this place had escaped me for so long, but now here I was! As morning slowly turned into afternoon, temperatures rose, and with no clouds in sight, I felt the heat through my black hoodie, which I wore to protect my new tattoo; still, I kept going. I zig-zagged between the canyons until I reached a trailhead where I could go either alongside the canyon or climb up it. I chose to climb, as mentioned in my plan earlier.
As I made my way towards the top on the rugged red clay trail, I came across a granite boulder that reminded me of a skull. The granite boulder reminded me of a skull because of its bone-fragment look, and I found it a really unique feature along the trail. I hit switchbacks the entire way up, but they were relatively easy. I found it cool, though, that I could see the elevation gain since I was alongside the canyon. Each switchback felt like I was higher and higher (because I was), but it was a cool visual as I looked back down each pass and saw the trail at the bottom get smaller. Not long after coming across the skull-like boulder, I came across a switchback with what sounded like running water nearby. So, me being me, I decided to go off-trail about 10 feet and found a very small creek with a small waterfall running down towards the bottom of the canyon.
Soon I found myself at the top of the canyon, and I was really surprised by how high up I now was. Not to my surprise, the wind also picked up now that I was out in the open and no longer protected by the canyon walls.
I continued west on the now flat, zig-zagging trail atop the canyon. Soon I found myself back toward the parking lot, but from a much higher elevation. From up here, my vehicle looked like an ant, and I couldn't believe how high I truly was. From there, I continued along the trail until I reached the most southwestern part of the canyon. Battling sustained winds of 10 to 15 with gusts up to 25 mph, I took a self-portrait from atop the canyon with absolutely spectacular canyons and the lake behind me. After I looked at what I had taken, I became very excited, as this self-portrait was one of my favorites. Given the scenery behind me, my love for these lands, and the trip I had taken to get here, I felt happiness and excitement come over me, and yet I wasn't even close to being done with the hike.
I made my way back towards the lower trail and hiked eastward. Not long after, I heard something just above me ruffle the trees. I looked toward the top of the canyon and saw two mule deer about 100ft from me trying to gain elevation and put distance between them and me. They kept a close eye on me, and soon after, I looked down and saw two more mule deer running for cover. I couldn't believe it! I was in between four mule deer! As soon as I noticed, I turned on my Meta glasses and recorded the whole thing. I am so glad I don't have to take out my phone for moments like that and risk missing the whole experience. After they hid in the brush, I stood by and watched them watch me from afar. After about 5 minutes, the mule deer moved farther away, and I continued on my way.
Feeling absolutely elated from this encounter, I continued my hike. I even texted my mother that I had a close encounter with four mule deer and how happy I was. However, this wasn't my only encounter with mule deer. Shortly after hitting a zig-zag, I noticed a single mule deer down in a valley and then watched as a second emerged. Both noticed me, and I watched the second approach the first as if to say, "It's time to get out of here." Shortly thereafter, they watched me from the brush, as shown in the video, before running off into the forested valley.
The further I pushed into the Fritch Canyons, the more rugged the trail became, replacing once well-maintained paths with a rougher style that I preferred. The elevation began to drop, and I found myself approaching the same forested valley where I'd spotted the mule deer not long ago. I kept thinking to myself, "What if I have an even closer encounter? I know they're likely down here with me." Before making my way down into that valley, I took the picture above. I truly couldn't believe I had views like that in front of me. Views like these are why I fell in love with both the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma backcountry, filled with granite and red clay natural beauties carved into mountainous forms. It's just absolutely breathtaking to see in person.
Shortly after making my way down into the valley, I came across a creek with wonderful displays of caprock features that resembled Caprock Canyon State Park in the southern half of the Panhandle. It's here that I chose to turn around, as I had started to feel small pains in my left upper leg from an injury I sustained 3 years prior. Knowing how this could turn into something serious, I turned around out of caution.
While my hike back to the trailhead was uneventful, I was truly at peace and in awe of such beautiful landscapes being presented to me, all for free, mind you. The closer I came to the trailhead, the less I felt pain in my upper left leg, though somewhat dissapointed, I knew I had made the right choice as you can never be to sure. After all was said and done, I had hiked 4.06 miles along the Texas Panhandle backcountry and felt proud of myself because, years later after an MCL tear, fractures in my fibula, and a dislocated knee, I was still able to hike rough terrain and see the things I love. After my hike, I traveled back to Oklahoma and ate Mexican food in Elk City. The following day, I headed back to Missouri and ended my multi-day trip along the plains.
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog! Have a wonderful day/night!
About the writer: Michael Thornton graduated from Rose State College with a major in Emergency Management. He is the Director of Warren County Emergency Management and an Oklahoma Certified Emergency Manager. In 2024, he was awarded the OEMA Innovator Award for his severe weather operations in Tillman County.
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