The Creepiest Hike in Oklahoma Takes You Through the Ruins of an Abandoned Government Experiment

Oklahoma is full of abandoned places to explore, but this one might be one of the creepiest. The Parallel Forest Loop Trail, found within the Parallel Forest of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, takes you through an abandoned government experiment from 1912, and it’s as creepy as it sounds. Let's go explore this abandoned trail in Oklahoma — if you dare.

Located in southwest Oklahoma, the Wichita Mountains are rocky promontories full of natural beauty and breathtaking views. These mountains are home to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge — 59,000 spectacular acres full of free-roaming wildlife. But, there is a creepy area here known as the Parallel Forest that many visitors swear is haunted. To explore this area, you can find the Parallel Forest Trail in Lawton.

In 1912, the government planted 20,000 red cedar trees, all exactly six feet apart, as part of a project to study the effects of the Dust Bowl. Even though the project was abandoned, the trees kept growing in their perfectly placed spots. The red cedars encompass about 16 acres with 100 trees growing in one direction and 200 in another.

Many mysterious sights and sounds have been reported in this abandoned area. Most of the sunlight is blocked by the tree canopy, so it's even creepier to know it's dark inside the forest, and it only gets darker the closer it is to sunset. If you don't want to get lost in these woods, I suggest downloading the AllTrails+ app to your phone. Not all of the hike is haunted, though. The easy, 0.7-mile loop trail is almost one mile long and takes you along a beautiful stream and through breathtaking scenery.

There are also some interesting things along the path that make you wonder what has happened here in the past. Where do you think the circular man-made rock formation (pictured below) came from? It seems to be a mystery.

What do you think? Would you be up for exploring this abandoned trail in Oklahoma? To learn more about the hike, check out AllTrails.com. If you want all the latest info on just about any hiking trail you can imagine, give AllTrails+ a try. Take this Turner Falls Park trail to an abandoned castle in Oklahoma for another fascinating hike.

Not all of the trails within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge are haunted. One of the best hiking trails in the state is the Narrows Trail in the Wichita Mountains. It’s not too long, but it’s definitely a trail for experienced hikers due to the rugged terrain. Lace up those hiking boots; fill up the Yetis, and head to this majestic trail if you're looking for a hike that's full of beauty (without the eerie forest).

Plan your own trip to the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma with Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner.