Aldo538 - Mar 4, 2021 5:53 pm Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2021
Never disappoints
Fun hike to do with the kids. Did this last one with my daughter. We had a warmer and sunny day for December though it was quite windy at the top. Great views of the surrounding mountains and Charons' wilderness area.
nader - Dec 24, 2020 1:36 pm Date Climbed: Nov 23, 2020
Elk Mountain and Charons Garden
See trip report. Cloudy/foggy day.
technicolorNH - May 12, 2019 6:32 pm Date Climbed: May 11, 2019
That’s a really big summit boulder
I climbed up to the east false summit and then worked my way through the boulders to the west. There were a few spots I could have fit through when I was skinnier but not now!
BLBonnet - Jun 13, 2016 4:23 pm Date Climbed: May 11, 2016
Not bad, Oklahoma. Not bad.
All of Charon's Wilderness looks gorgeous. Took me and my buddies less than an hour to climb. I was surprised that Oklahoma could actually offer a legitimate mountain hike. There's not really a clear summit, but the views were nevertheless spectacular.
Don't use google maps to get here. We were taken clear to the other side of the mountain.
MaverickMerk - May 12, 2015 1:05 pm Date Climbed: May 8, 2015
Beautiful Area
Gorgeous area for a short hike. plenty of climbing opportunities in the area. will definitely return to the witchitas if i find myself back in oklahoma. also explored the area near "The Narrows" trail.
splandswest - Mar 8, 2015 8:25 am Date Climbed: Mar 7, 2015
Ascent via NW Corner
... with both of my sons, climbed Elk Mountain via the rocky slabs on the NW corner. Started from Sunset camp via trail to Valley of Boulders. Nearing the base of Elk Mt, left trail striking out on a course up the mountain, boulder hopping and probably 30-35 degree climb. Upon reaching the false summit on the NW side we hiked over huge slabs along the West edge above Wagon Rock and the Apple and the Pear before heading eastward to pick up the Elk Mt Trail down and back to Sunset Camp.
I go to the Wichitas at least 2-3 times a year, and its still my favorite hike in all of Oklahoma. We take the Charon's Garden trail to the summit then try to find a new landmark to get to on the way down. Easy scramble down the mountain to meet up with the trail back to the parking lot.
Some great areas to practice friction climbing, these slabs are SO HOT during summer months.
mountainhare - Feb 9, 2013 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2012
Great hike
This was quite a treat after busting myself on Twin Rocks earlier in the day. Nice steady trail, great summit views, had it to myself.
koryrogers - Jun 6, 2012 1:05 am Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2006
Climbed Many Times, Never Disappoints
Lately my favorite route is in from Treasure Lake, scramble up from the trail to Apple and Pear, then up and over the top, back down the Elk Mountain to meet up with the Charon Gardens trail and eventually make my way back to the car. The view from Apple and Pear is hard to beat in the Wichita Mountains - especially late in the evening. Ultimately I love this mountain because you have a easy trail to and from the top, with access to virtually any difficulty hiking you like.
Bluebell08 - Nov 19, 2011 6:07 pm Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2011
Nice fall hike
Nice hike up the trail and then among the boulders. Buffalo on the summit, great views, and lots of fun scrambling. Nice fall day in Oklahoma. Wish I had my climbing gear to try some route out here.
alecdavis1992 - Jan 3, 2011 7:43 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2010
Good times
Ive climbed this a handful of times with friends, its always a good time finding different routes. There is some mildly intense scrambling fun to be had.
AFmountaineer - Nov 10, 2010 11:31 am Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2010
Sprained Ankle
Sprained my ankle scrambling around Little Baldy so instead of rockclimbing we hiked up Elk Mountain. Fun mountain with cool views.
Climbed with my 7 year-old son. It was hot, just after a storm and there were snakes and lizards everywhere. Man, I hate snakes!
Mark Doiron - Mar 21, 2008 8:29 am Date Climbed: Mar 20, 2008
Loop Through Apple and Pear
Were we successful? Well, we didn't climb on top of the summit boulder--too difficult for me, anyway. But, that wasn't the goal. We hiked the class 1 trail to the summit, then continued along the animal trails and across the rock slabs to descend on the western slope to Apple and Pear. From there we scrambled a steep Class 3 route along a small, flowing stream just to the south of those big rocks. Then we hiked along Charon's Garden Trail, through Valley of Boulders, and back to the Jeep. Great day, great weather. Because of Easter and Holy City nearby, the refuge was packed. But our early start and more challenging route meant that we saw very few at the beginning, and none once we struck out off the main trails. We didn't realize how packed it was until we returned to the parking lot (both lots were full!).
metasyn11 - Dec 31, 2007 12:18 am Date Climbed: Dec 30, 2007
northside scramble
Bushwhacked from the parking lot which led to a class 3 scramble up the north side of Elk Mountain. Lots of fun climbing around the summit area (there are several subsidiary summits of comparable height). It was quite a zoo of people out there on this beautiful Christmas break Sunday, but the scrambling and the buffalo were worth it.
Aldo538 - Mar 4, 2021 5:53 pm Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2021
Never disappointsFun hike to do with the kids. Did this last one with my daughter. We had a warmer and sunny day for December though it was quite windy at the top. Great views of the surrounding mountains and Charons' wilderness area.
nader - Dec 24, 2020 1:36 pm Date Climbed: Nov 23, 2020
Elk Mountain and Charons GardenSee trip report. Cloudy/foggy day.
technicolorNH - May 12, 2019 6:32 pm Date Climbed: May 11, 2019
That’s a really big summit boulderI climbed up to the east false summit and then worked my way through the boulders to the west. There were a few spots I could have fit through when I was skinnier but not now!
BLBonnet - Jun 13, 2016 4:23 pm Date Climbed: May 11, 2016
Not bad, Oklahoma. Not bad.All of Charon's Wilderness looks gorgeous. Took me and my buddies less than an hour to climb. I was surprised that Oklahoma could actually offer a legitimate mountain hike. There's not really a clear summit, but the views were nevertheless spectacular.
Don't use google maps to get here. We were taken clear to the other side of the mountain.
MaverickMerk - May 12, 2015 1:05 pm Date Climbed: May 8, 2015
Beautiful AreaGorgeous area for a short hike. plenty of climbing opportunities in the area. will definitely return to the witchitas if i find myself back in oklahoma. also explored the area near "The Narrows" trail.
splandswest - Mar 8, 2015 8:25 am Date Climbed: Mar 7, 2015
Ascent via NW Corner... with both of my sons, climbed Elk Mountain via the rocky slabs on the NW corner. Started from Sunset camp via trail to Valley of Boulders. Nearing the base of Elk Mt, left trail striking out on a course up the mountain, boulder hopping and probably 30-35 degree climb. Upon reaching the false summit on the NW side we hiked over huge slabs along the West edge above Wagon Rock and the Apple and the Pear before heading eastward to pick up the Elk Mt Trail down and back to Sunset Camp.
mgriffin015 - Feb 27, 2015 3:02 pm
Favorite Hike in OKI go to the Wichitas at least 2-3 times a year, and its still my favorite hike in all of Oklahoma. We take the Charon's Garden trail to the summit then try to find a new landmark to get to on the way down. Easy scramble down the mountain to meet up with the trail back to the parking lot.
AltitudeSickness - Aug 1, 2014 11:52 am
Slab ClimbingSome great areas to practice friction climbing, these slabs are SO HOT during summer months.
mountainhare - Feb 9, 2013 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2012
Great hikeThis was quite a treat after busting myself on Twin Rocks earlier in the day. Nice steady trail, great summit views, had it to myself.
koryrogers - Jun 6, 2012 1:05 am Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2006
Climbed Many Times, Never DisappointsLately my favorite route is in from Treasure Lake, scramble up from the trail to Apple and Pear, then up and over the top, back down the Elk Mountain to meet up with the Charon Gardens trail and eventually make my way back to the car. The view from Apple and Pear is hard to beat in the Wichita Mountains - especially late in the evening. Ultimately I love this mountain because you have a easy trail to and from the top, with access to virtually any difficulty hiking you like.
Bluebell08 - Nov 19, 2011 6:07 pm Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2011
Nice fall hikeNice hike up the trail and then among the boulders. Buffalo on the summit, great views, and lots of fun scrambling. Nice fall day in Oklahoma. Wish I had my climbing gear to try some route out here.
alecdavis1992 - Jan 3, 2011 7:43 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2010
Good timesIve climbed this a handful of times with friends, its always a good time finding different routes. There is some mildly intense scrambling fun to be had.
AFmountaineer - Nov 10, 2010 11:31 am Date Climbed: Nov 7, 2010
Sprained AnkleSprained my ankle scrambling around Little Baldy so instead of rockclimbing we hiked up Elk Mountain. Fun mountain with cool views.
Vagabond Manifesto - Feb 10, 2010 3:33 am Date Climbed: May 1, 2008
ElkLove the Wichitas! Like a humid, hardwood-forest version of Joshua Tree...
GeoExplorer - May 25, 2009 1:46 am
A nice walkI've walked this mountain many times when I was a Boy Scout.
Cookie Addict - Sep 25, 2008 6:36 am
snakes everywhereClimbed with my 7 year-old son. It was hot, just after a storm and there were snakes and lizards everywhere. Man, I hate snakes!
Mark Doiron - Mar 21, 2008 8:29 am Date Climbed: Mar 20, 2008
Loop Through Apple and PearWere we successful? Well, we didn't climb on top of the summit boulder--too difficult for me, anyway. But, that wasn't the goal. We hiked the class 1 trail to the summit, then continued along the animal trails and across the rock slabs to descend on the western slope to Apple and Pear. From there we scrambled a steep Class 3 route along a small, flowing stream just to the south of those big rocks. Then we hiked along Charon's Garden Trail, through Valley of Boulders, and back to the Jeep. Great day, great weather. Because of Easter and Holy City nearby, the refuge was packed. But our early start and more challenging route meant that we saw very few at the beginning, and none once we struck out off the main trails. We didn't realize how packed it was until we returned to the parking lot (both lots were full!).
metasyn11 - Dec 31, 2007 12:18 am Date Climbed: Dec 30, 2007
northside scrambleBushwhacked from the parking lot which led to a class 3 scramble up the north side of Elk Mountain. Lots of fun climbing around the summit area (there are several subsidiary summits of comparable height). It was quite a zoo of people out there on this beautiful Christmas break Sunday, but the scrambling and the buffalo were worth it.
Bubba Suess - Mar 9, 2007 10:23 pm
First summit in OklahomaI climbed the mountain on my first trip to the Wichitas. I returned 13 times. It got me through four years in Texas!
Bubba Suess - Mar 9, 2007 10:23 pm
First summit in OklahomaI climbed the mountain on my first trip to the Wichitas. I returned 13 times. It got me through four years in Texas!