Challenge Yourself To Climb A Mesa When You Visit Gloss Mountain Sate Park This Summer In Oklahoma
Each year people from across the globe travel to Oklahoma to see the stunning red dirt that the Sooner state is famous for. One of the most memorizing examples of Oklahoma’s jewel-toned beauty is Gloss Mountain State Park. The park features only one trail but it’s a destination worth putting on your bucket list. A short but steep hike to the top of Cathedral Mountain Mesa in Gloss Mountain State Park will reveal a breathtaking view and a few other surprises that make this area truly unique!
Gloss Mountain State Park is located in just a few miles north of Fairview, Oklahoma. The area is often called Glass Mountain due to a map printing error made in 1875 when the "a" from Glass was accidentally changed to an "o" and the name Gloss Mountain stuck.
Inside the park are wonderful examples of mesas and buttes towering over the valley below. The park's Cathedral Mountain Mesa is well known for its mirror like exterior due to the high selenite content. Visitors can still see these glassy looking minerals poking up from the red dirt all around the park.
During summer months wildflowers bloom all around the beautiful mesas. If you're lucky you may also spot Oklahoma’s state reptile, the collard lizard known as the Mountain Boomer.
However, there are certain kinds of wildlife you may not want to cross paths with. Be sure to keep an eye and ear open for rattlesnakes. Visitors have noted seeing them around the trail.
There is only one way to the top of Cathedral Mountain Mesa, a short hike with an elevation gain of 150 feet. The trail can be challenging but the views from the top are certainly worth it.
Finding the trailhead is very easy. Simply follow the paved trail out of the parking lot and head up the stairs. Remember to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water. Oklahoma summers can be extremely hot and there is virtually no shade at Gloss Mountain State Park.
Climbing all those stairs can be quite challenging! At the top the trail branches out to a few look-out points. There are also a few benches where you can sit and catch your breath.
You'll definitely be inspired by the beauty of Oklahoma from the top of Cathedral Mountain Mesa. Overall, this short but strenuous hike is only 1.5 miles and can be fun for anyone with good mobility.
Gloss Mountain State Park is open daily from dawn until dusk. There is no onsite camping but there is a nice pavilion, restrooms, and BBQ grills to use for picnicking. Visit the Oklahoma State Tourism website for more information about the park.
Have you visited Gloss Mountain State Park and climbed to the top of Cathedral Mountain Mesa? Did you find the hike difficult? Tell us all about your experience in the comments below.
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
