Oklahoma’s Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Finally Announces Reopening

The Rush Fire in Oklahoma seems to have been nearing an end and the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge Management has released some good news. Folks wanting to see the wildlife and hit the trails should be excited to hear the recent announcement.

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Announces More Reopenings

Earlier today, Nov. 4, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge management released a statement letting the public know about which parts have been opened. The good news is that it seems to be the majority of the landmark.

Per the statement they released via Facebook, Highway 115 and Highway 49 are back open to the public, along with most recreational areas and trailheads. They do want folks to know that the the Mount Scott Roadway is currently open to pedestrians only, so folks are still unable to drive up the mountain.

In the next few days, other portions of the Wildlife Refuge are expected to open back up. According to the statement:

• The Holy City will reopen Tuesday, November 5.
• On Wednesday, November 6, the campgrounds on the Refuge will resume normal operation, with reservations required per usual.
• Wednesday, the Visitors Center will also reopen back to normal hours.

They will still be doing inspections on the Mount Scott roadway, but they stated they "will reopen to motorists and cyclists as soon as we can."

Be On The Lookout While Visiting

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While the rain for the last few days has been helping with finally putting the Rush Fire out, there will still be firefighters and personnel on the Refuge checking for hotspots and ensuring that nothing goes unchecked. The Wildlife Refuge Management has asked visitors to drive cautiously and watch for both recovery crew members and displaced wildlife.

The recent downpour and strong winds have also brought some obstacles within the last few days and cyclists and bikers are being warned to watch for debris and objects in the road. Though, not much should still be there, since clean up crews have been hard at work, making the Refuge as safe as it usually is.

For more updates on the Rush Fire containment and recovery, follow along the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Facebook page.