Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi)

Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi) photo
View of Roman Nose Canyon from Inspiration Point on Mesa Loop Trail

I recently visited Roman Nose State Park, near Watonga, Oklahoma. The brownish-red canyons and mesas in this semi-arid region of west Oklahoma are very different from the scenery of east Oklahoma or that of west Arkansas.

It was a pretty cool trip.

Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi) photo
Lake Loop Trail – Roman Nose State Park

Roman Nose State Park was originally built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is named for Henry Roman Nose, a Southern Cheyenne Chief.

There are a lot of hiking trails in the park. Unfortunately, it can be rather difficult to tell where one trail ends and another begins since there are no blazes and only limited signage. What signs there are often are out-of-date.

Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi) photo
View of Watonga Lake from Lake Loop Trail

I definitely recommend the Mesa Loop Trail. It is a 1.8-mile loop trail that makes a shape somewhat like two long Christmas stockings. At the center is the trail’s literal highpoint – Inspiration Point. Inspiration Point provides a wonderful view of the most of the park as well as the Bitter Creek/Roman Nose Canyon area to the north.

Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi) photo
View of Gypsum Bluffs along Lake Loop Trail (Vultures Flying Overhead)

You will have to walk another trail in order to reach the Mesa Loop Trail. I suggest walking the Lake Loop Trail to get there. (Unlike the similarly named Lakeshore Loop Trail, the Lake Loop Trail is actually not a loop.)

Begin at the Lake Loop trailhead near the park’s Canyon Vista camping area. (Parking is nearby.) This trail is an easy walk as much of it is a former road.

Eventually, you will reach and walk across the earthen dam for Lake Watonga. After the dam, take a right at the first fork to proceed toward the Mesa Loop Trail. (You will probably be able to see the large mesa at this point.)

Shortly after that, you will reach the Mesa Loop Trail. (You have walked .8 miles at this point.) Turn left.

From here the trail proceeds south along the east side of the mesa. Then it works its way up to the top of the mesa.

After Inspiration Point, the trail heads southward along the west side of the mesa, and then it goes back down to ground level.

At the southernmost tip of the loop is a direction sign with the letter “I”. Stay to the right. Later, you will see a few other signs which permit you to continue along the Lakeshore Loop Trail. Continue to stay right to stay on the Mesa Loop.

After you have walked about 2.6 miles, you will be back at the point where you began the Mesa Loop. Here, turn left to head back to the Lake Loop trailhead where you began. The entire hike is about 3.4 miles.

Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi) photo
Mesa Loop Trail – Roman Nose State Park

Among the cool things to see along the trail are the plentiful cactus plants along the top of the mesa and the white gypsum rock that is almost everywhere in the park. (You can read an interesting (1959) summary of the geography and ecology of the park at this pdf link.)

This is not a difficult trail to walk. The elevation change to the top of the mesa is only about 100 feet. You should exercise caution with children due to some of the drop-offs on the mesa.

Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi) photo
Prickley-Pear Cactus along Mesa Loop Trail

All the trails in the park are open to mountain bikes. Many are open to horses as well. (The Mesa Loop Trail is, but the Lake Loop Trail is not.)

It appears that much of the work of constructing and maintaining the park trails has been done by the Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship. If you have a chance, thank them for their work.

Map

Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi) photo
Contour map – Lake Loop and Mesa Loop. (Click to enlarge.)
CLICK – Interactive Trail Map
Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi) photo
Official Roman Nose State Park Map (Click for pdf).
Roman Nose: Lake Loop/Mesa Loop Trails (3 mi) photo
Elevation profile based on gps data.
Lake Loop and Mesa Loop - Roman Nose State Park
LocationRoman Nose State Park, Blaine County, Oklahoma (near Watonga)
Hike Length/Type3.4 mile semi-loop
DifficultyMildly challenging (2 of 5).
Other Permitted UsageMountain Biking (all), Horses (Mesa Loop)
Gpx file by MikeLink
Date Hiked10-09-2010
DirectionsGoogle Maps Directions to Lake Loop Trailhead
Official Info(580) 623-7281 Website Official Park Map (pdf)

Last revised: 9-21-2019.

By Mike Newman

Mike Newman, editor and creator of Arklahoma Hiker, likes to day hike and walk outdoors in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

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