Quartz Mountain State Park– 14722 Highway 44a
Quartz Mountain State Park (https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/quartz-mounta...)
Cradling the shores of Lake Altus-Lugert, Quartz Mountain State Park promises an oasis of family fun in southwestern Oklahoma. From boating to bouldering, this gateway to the Wichita Mountains has attracted generations of outdoor enthusiasts.
Funded by the New Deal and built under the guidance of the National Park Service with manpower from the Civilian Conservation Corps, Quartz Mountain was completed in 1937, joining six other projects across the state to form the original seven Oklahoma State Parks. A mid-century lodge and golf course were completed in the 1950’s, expanding and introducing the park to a whole new world of guests as families took to the road.
In the 1970s, a partnership was forged with the Oklahoma Arts Institute and a native stone amphitheater was constructed for outdoor performances. In addition to the amphitheater, a performance hall and dedicated art studios were built to accommodate the students at the Quartz Mountain Art Institute. Tragically, a large fire destroyed the original lodge in 1995, but it was rebuilt and reopened in 2001. Shortly after the lodge completion, the park was transferred to the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education, who ran it for nearly two decades before turning it back over to Oklahoma State Parks in 2020.
Beyond hiking, mountain biking and water recreation in the park, guests can also enjoy a nearby amusement park. Rock climbers and rappelers can explore Baldy Point climbing area. Towering 300 feet above the prairie, this micro-range offers an excellent stomping grounds for budding climbers to broaden their skills and experts to hone their scrambling chops.
The park features five separate camping areas with nearly 100 primitive and just as many RV sites, some with full hookups. Stay in one of the eight fully equipped cabins and wake up to some of the finest beach views Oklahoma has to offer.
Eagle watches are held January through February, and the seasonal ATV riding area is available April through October, featuring approximately 400 acres of land and two miles of trails.