Tag Archives: Wildlife refuge

Animals, Hiking, Museums/Events, Parks

Road Trip to the West

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We got up at 5am on Saturday to start our trip west.

I was hoping to get to the Great Salt Plains State Park before the sun was too harsh.

I love my pillow too much to have made it there for the actual sunrise.

It is a 3 hour drive from our house to get there.

We started on the northern side of the Salt Plains at the Sandpiper Trail.

I love this place.

It is a pretty short, easy trail.

Less then a mile total.

I think it is just beautiful.

Next we went to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.

There are trails to walk and an Auto Tour.

This is a short trail that is right off the Auto Tour road.

I am really glad I never saw the movie The Birds.

I have only seen commercials for it and still all these birds flying in massive groups made me slightly uneasy.

Thanks, Alfred Hitchcock.

Next we went to the Sod House Museum.

It is pretty close to the Salt Plains and I have been wanting to see it.

They built the museum around it!

I love history and grew up reading westerns so I was fascinated to see what I have read so much about.

They did say that mud daubers and non-poisonous snakes were thought to be a good thing because they killed mice, rats, and spiders.

So they lived with you…

I do not think I could handle that.

Next door to the Sod House is the Little Sahara State Park.

I have been wanting to see this for a while.

It is mostly for ATV’s and that sort of thing but we did find a small walking path to look around some.

Lot’s of playing going on.

We could not stay and watch too long because someone(me) did not put sunscreen on anybody!

I burned…

My skin sees sun peek through the clounds and it turns red.

This is my youngest philosophy on life.

Fling yourself as fast as you can and don’t worry about falling until it happens.

He actually does not care if he falls.

He would do it again the same way.

Last stop, Gloss Mountain State Park.

We actually went there pretty recently but I could not help stopping while in the area!

I thought the people going up the steps gave it a nice sense of scale.

This was actually taken by Nick!

I took some also but did not like them as much.

This little guy had a full photo shoot while we were there.

He has not paid yet…

I love how diverse Oklahoma is!

So much to see!

Hiking

Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge ~Okmulgee, OK

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The Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge is located around Okmulgee.

The walking and hiking paths are south of town.

There are three different ones to choose from but I cannot remember the names and the lettering is too small to read on the map they have on their site. So I only know the name of the one we went on.

This time we went on the trail farthest south on their map called the Railroad Trail River Overlook.

It leads to a observation deck overlooking a river.

It is only 1/2 mile to the overlook but we kept going after that and walked around the refuge.

Playing ring around the Rosie in a clover field.

I love Oklahoma sunsets.

There is a short trail right off 75 that just goes to a lake and another one that is stroller and wheelchair friendly.

The stroller friendly one is the boardwalk trail.

Sorry I do not have all the trail names!!!

It is a beautiful place to go and if you are quiet you might see some wildlife.

Animals, Hiking

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, MN

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We visited the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge while up in Minnesota visiting family this Christmas.

On the friday before Christmas we went with my husbands parents, some of my nephew’s and my niece.

Be sure to visit the visitor center if you have kids.

They have a lot of stuff to touch and lot’s of buttons to push.

My husband and I decided to go back the next morning to hike the Old Indian Trail.

The brochure says that it is approximately 2 miles.

Our GPS said it was close to 3 miles.

It is a nice easy trail that goes through some beautiful woods.

Beaver Lodge.

We “had” to get out on the ice for a couple shots.

See, I needed this shot.

There are more trails to go on but some of them are only open Sept-Feb.

If you live in the area you really need to check this place out!

The animals are waiting for you to come see them!