Deer Run Trail at Sequoyah State Park (near Wagoner and Tahlequah) is an easy and pleasant 2.4 mile forested out-and-back hike (1.2 miles each way). It is open to hikers and cyclists. It was maintained in nice condition when I walked it in July.

Getting to Deer Run (North) Trailhead

Sequoyah State Park is on Highway 51 in Cherokee County between Wagoner (8 miles to the west) and Tahlequah (17 miles to the east).

Watch for the sign at the entrance to the park on the south side of Highway 51.

Shortly after you enter the park, you will see the visitor center (office) on the right. This is where you should park.

The Deer Run Trailhead is about 100 yards up the road (south) on the right (west side).

The Trail

The trail generally runs in a southwestern direction from the north trailhead down near the park office to the south trailhead on Park 30 road.

When we hiked it back in July, I was pleased with how nicely maintained the trail was. It seemed to have been recently mowed.

There were no blazes on the trail, but none were needed since it was pretty easy to follow.

Sequoyah State Park is on a peninsula on Fort Gibson Lake. This trail is not close enough for any lake views.

Final Notes

I would estimate I had 80% AT&T cell signal coverage. These photos are all from my hike on July 5, 2020.

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Map

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It’s nice to come across wilderness trails within a city. The Oxbow Lake and North Woods trails at Oxley Nature Center in Tulsa are a couple of scenic trails that make an easy 2-mile semi-loop with lush woods and pretty lake (pond) views.

Getting to North Woods Trailhead

These 2 trails are in the nature center’s North Woods Unit.

To get there, head to Mohawk Park, just as if heading to the Tulsa Zoo. The nature center is in the back of the park of the north end.

Instead of going in the main entrance of Oxley Nature Center, head to the northwest corner of the park and watch for the “North Woods Unit” sign (pictured) that is about 100 feet from the road.

There is not a parking area here, but I am told it is okay to park over to the side of the road on Mohawk Boulevard.

The Trails

This hike is a 2.2-mile semi-loop. Oxbow Lake Trail is the initial spur and then North Woods Trail is the loop.

The Oxbow Lake Trail is a .7-mile-long boomerang-shaped that starts at the North Woods Trailhead, heads west for about a quarter-mile, and then passes through a gate and turns to a northwest direction. After the turn, you can probably see Nelson’s Oxbow Lake on the right. This part of the trail is on an isthmus between Mallard Lake (a small triangular lake) and Nelson’s Oxbow on the right.

At about .6-mile, there is a bench with a Mallard Lake viewing area. The levee for Lake Yahola is in the distance.

About .1-mile further north is an access road crossing. After this is the North Woods Trail, mostly a loop about .9-mile long.

There is a short initial spur on North Woods Trail. Pretty quickly you arrive at the fork of the loop. On my recent hike, we took a right to take the loop counterclockwise.

The trail works its way through a mature forested area (with some cool tall trees) that is bounded by Nelson’s Oxbow Lake, Flat Rock Creek, and Bird Creek.

Final Notes

When I was last there, the signage was pretty good and the trails were pretty easy to follow and pretty well maintained.

There was a spot on North Woods where it looks like another trail is under construction and no signage to clearly indicate what it is. It wasn’t hard to figure out where the loop is to continue on though.

There is almost no elevation change on this hike. I had pretty good AT&T cell coverage.

These photos are all from my July 25, 2020 hike.

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Sequoyah State Park in northeast Oklahoma (Cherokee County, near Wagoner and Tahlequah) is a really cool park. It has over a half dozen trails which are all accessible to hikers and walkers with many also being open to bikes as well.

I hope to get some detailed info about some of the trails posted soon. In the meantime, here is the park map with trails and also the Hiking and Biking Trail System Map flyer. They are also available at the park lodge (Sequoyah Lodge).

Trail info can also be obtained at the park office near the front entrance and at the nature center.

Like most Oklahoma state parks, you will probably need to pay a day use fee of $8 to $10.

Sequoyah State Park Map with Trails (from park guide brochure) (pdf)

Sequoyah State Park Hiking and Biking Trail System Map Flyer – p. 1 (pdf)

Sequoyah State Park Hiking and Biking Trail System Map Flyer – p 2 (pdf)

Revised: 7-14-2020.

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11-1-2024 Note: Mike visited this paved trail on 11-2-2024. At that point, the building where it starts was not currently being used as the visitor center. So you may need to ask where the old visitor center is. The path starts next to the building (on the right if you are facing the building and runs briefly along the parking lot.

The Tenkiller Multi-Use Trail is an enjoyable multi-use paved trail at Tenkiller State Park in northwest Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. It is a pleasant and easy walk through the front part of the park which heads to a pretty lake overlook.

Getting to the Tenkiller Multi-Use Trail

If you’re coming from the east on I-40, take Highway 82 north through Vian for about 9 miles. Then turn left and head west on Highway 100 for about 3 miles. Tenkiller State Park will be on your right, prior to crossing Tenkiller Ferry Dam.

Head into the park to the visitor center. The paved multi-use trail starts next to it.

When I was last there, there was a sign that said Whispering Pines Trail at the start. To the best of my knowledge though, it is still referred to as the Multi-Use Trail.

The Trail

Even though this is a paved path which is only partially wooded, it is still a pleasant easy walk through the front part of the park.

The path takes you past cabins, some pavilions, and a scenic fishing pond area.

I think the coolest area is the wooded part with a small loop at the end of the trail. The endpoint of this part is Crappie Point. It has some nice views of Lake Tenkiller and the dam and floodgates.

It is about 1.3 miles to walk the entire trail down to Crappie Point and back.

There are a few nature information signs along the trail.

I had AT&T cell signal about 75% of the time.

These photos are from my August 19, 2017 visit to the trail.

Photo Gallery

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Map

Note: In most Oklahoma state parks, you will probably need to pay a day use fee of $8 to $10.

Last revised: 8-15-2021.

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