Parks around Fritch

Within the dry and windswept high plains of the Texas Panhandle lies a hidden oasis, a welcoming haven where wildlife and humans find respite from the dry grasslands above. Through this plain, the Canadian River has cut dramatic 200-foot canyons, or breaks, where humans have eked out a living for over 13,000 years. Lake Meredith now occupies these hidden coves where early humans once roamed.

13,000 years ago this site was already well-known by mammoth hunters as a place to get the best stone for their tools. Centuries passed but the colorful flint found right here in the Texas panhandle never lost its value and usefulness. Visit and gain a sense of how integral this site was to the survival, commerce and culture of the High Plains.

Once buffalo grazed the shortgrass prairies you see today at Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the Texas Panhandle. Once a lake reflected the clouds. The buffalo have vanished. The lake has dried. But the shortgrass prairie remains as one of the best in the high plains grassland ecosystem. In fact, this prairie is so important that 175 acres of it carries the designation of National Natu...

Located in the middle of the Oklahoma panhandle, the 4,333-acre Optima National Wildlfie Refuge is made up of grasslands and wooded bottomland on the Coldwater Creek arm of the Optima Reservoir.

Located in an area once known as "No Man's Land" in the Oklahoma Panhandle, this lake is set in a scenic area of sand hills, rock outcroppings and rolling grasslands. Historical points of interest exist close to the lake.

The site protects and interprets the setting along the Washita River where Lt. Col. George A. Custer led the 7th U.S. Cavalry on a surprise dawn attack against the Southern Cheyenne village of Peace Chief Black Kettle on November 27, 1868. The attack was an important event in the tragic clash of cultures of the Indian Wars era.

Fort Supply Lake is located in northwest Oklahoma in Woodward County on Wolf Creek, approximately 1 mile south of Fort Supply, and 12 miles northwest of Woodward. This man-made lake offers extensive opportunities for the outdoor recreation enthusiast. Opportunities include camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, and hunting. A major attraction for campers is the numerous campsites located on the wa...

"They tumble out of the sky like maple leaves, side-slipping right and left to lose altitude, feet spraddled toward shouts of welcome below." Aldo Leopold could easily have been describing the more than 40,000 geese that punctuate the quiet beauty of the 8,200-acre Washita National Wildlife Refuge each winter. Within the refuge, the slow-moving Washita River winds through prairie and farmla...

Foss Dam and Reservoir, on the Washita River in Custer County, provide regulation of the river flows and municipal and industrial water supplies for several cities in Oklahoma. The lake has approximately 6,800 water surface acres, 7,000 land acres and 63 miles of shoreline. Accessible from numerous roads. Several boat ramps and camping facilities. Predominate species include largemouth bass, crapp...

Located in Southwest Oklahoma, near city of Lone Wolf. The lake has approximately 6,500 water surface acres, 4,300 land acres and 49 miles of shoreline. Fish species include largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, catfish, hybrid striped bass, and white bass. Fishing is available year-round. Several boat ramps and camping facilities are available. Quartz Mountain Resort Park features miniature go...

Muleshoe NWR is the oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas. It was established by Executive Order on October 24, 1935. Located on the high plains of west Texas, Muleshoe was established as a wintering area for migrating waterfowl and sandhill cranes.

Grulla National Wildlfie Refuge is located in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, near the small town of Arch, approximately 25 miles northwest of Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. This 3,236-acre refuge is managed by the staff at Muleshoe NWR. More than 2,000 acres of the refuge is the saline lake bed of Salt Lake. When the lake holds sufficient water, Grulla NWR is a beneficial wintering area ...

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland offers a diversity of outdoor opportunities and special places to explore. These lands are yours to visit, to care for, but most of all, to enjoy! So, what are you waiting for? Pack up your family and friends and head for adventure in Colorado’s great outdoors where recreation opportunities abound.

Petroglyphs indicate early cultures near here. 34 mi NW of Tucumari on NM 104.

Come view a dramatic landscape—a unique place of mountains, plains, and sky. Born of fire and forces continually reshaping the earth's surface, Capulin Volcano provides access to nature's most awe-inspiring work.

Mountain Park Dam, Mountain Park Project, forms Tom Steed Reservoir, and regulates natural flows of West Otter Creek and diverted flows from Elk Creek to provide municipal and industrial water supplies for the cities of Altus, Snyder, and Frederick, Oklahoma. The water is conveyed from the reservoir to the cities through an aqueduct system that consists of 40 miles of pipeline, two pumping plants...

The Sabinoso Wilderness now contains a total of 16,030 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of New Mexico. In 2009 the Sabinoso Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an ag...

Canton Lake is located in west Oklahoma on the North Canadian River, 2 miles north of the town of Canton. This man-made lake offers extensive opportunity for outdoor recreational activities. Canton Lake plays host to a large number of campers, picnickers, boaters, fishermen, and hunters every year. It is one of the few places that offers these types of recreational opportunities in western Oklahom...

The Wichita Mountains Wilderness now contains a total of 8,570 acres and is managed by the Fish & Wildlife Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Oklahoma. In 1970 the Wichita Mountains Wilderness became part of the now over 110 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solit...

Fort Cobb Dam and Reservoir, Washita Basin Project, are on Pond (Cobb) Creek, a tributary of the Washita River in Caddo County, Oklahoma. The lake has approximately 4,000 water surface acres, 4,5550 land acres and 45 miles of shoreline. Accessible from numerous roads. Several boat ramps and camping facilities. Predominate species include largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, hybrid striped bass, and...

Sumner Dam and Lake Sumner, features of the Carlsbad Project, are on the Pecos River about 250 river miles north of Carlsbad and about 16 miles northwest of Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The Lake has 4,500 water surface acres when full with 60 miles of shoreline. Recreation is managed for Reclamation by the New Mexico State Parks. There is a visitor center operated by NM State Parks. No food service ...

The 59,020-acre Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge hosts a rare piece of the past - a remnant mixed grass prairie. This refuge is an island where the natural carpet of grass escaped destruction because the rocks underfoot defeated the plow. The prairie community hums with life. The refuge provides habitat for large native grazing animals and Texas Longhorn cattle. Bison, elk, deer, coyote...

Located in the high central plains of northeastern New Mexico, Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 as a feeding and resting area for migratory birds. Over 350 acres of the Refuge are planted with wheat, corn, barley, and alfalfa to provide food for resident and migratory wildlife. Visitors may see bald and golden eagles, falcons, hawks, sandhill cranes, ducks, white pelicans,...

One of America's first great trade routes, the Santa Fe Trail was critical to our country's westward expansion. Visit historic sites and landmarks like Bent's Fort, Trinidad, Raton Pass, Cimarron, Fort Union, Pecos, Point of Rocks, and Santa Fe. Enjoy spectacular scenery, from rugged mountains to the plains.