Turkey Mountain: Hiking, Trail Running, and Mountain Biking

Turkey Mountain, a 750-acre park located along the west bank of the Arkansas River in Tulsa, serves as a natural retreat within the urban environment. Known for its hiking, trail running, and mountain biking opportunities, the park features a rich landscape of native trees, scenic trails, tranquil ponds, and striking boulders. It has secured its status as a public park indefinitely, positioning itself as a vital recreational asset for the community.

A significant development for the park is the completion of a community-centric Master Plan that addresses its future management, preservation, and programming. This plan is rooted in input from over 4,000 public comments collected during three community meetings. The River Parks Authority, with expert guidance from Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, aims to enhance the park's outdoor recreational offerings in a manner that reflects the community's desires and usage patterns.

The Master Plan steps from extensive community engagement, which has provided insights into current park use, potential expansion areas, and visitor interactions with the environment. The collected knowledge is set to inform best practices within the plan, ensuring that it captures the unique aspects that locals cherish about the Wilderness.

Turkey Mountain's history traces back to its acquisition for public use beginning in 1978. Initial land purchases were made possible through a collaboration of local funding and federal grants, followed by donations and further land acquisitions in later years. Notably, the extension of the VisionTulsa program in 2016 allocated significant resources towards the park's development. While the true origin of the mountain's name remains elusive, it is believed to relate to the area's previous abundance of wild turkeys.

The park has also been the subject of various speculations, including unfounded claims of Viking visits and mysterious petroglyphs that have been debunked by archaeologists. The presence of these carvings is instead attributed to oil field workers in the 1920s. Recent shifts have solidified the park's future as public land, including a transfer of properties from the City of Tulsa to River Parks Authority.

Improvements at Turkey Mountain have occurred over the years, including the completion of a main entrance in 2009, enhanced parking facilities, and the addition of restrooms and climbing boulders. Recent expansions, including two bronze wildlife sculptures and community-funded pavilions, have further enriched the entrance experience, providing visitors with a welcoming space to appreciate this treasured area. A second parking lot has also been established to accommodate the growing number of park visitors.