The Wichita Mountains, located near Lawton in southwestern Oklahoma, are one of my favorite places to shoot. Most of the area is part of the 59,020 acre Wichita Moutains National Wildlife Refuge. The habitat is a remnant mixed grass prairie and granite peaks, with thousands of lichen covered granite boulders. The Refuge provides habitat for large native grazing animals including American bison and Rocky Mountain Elk.
To answer a frequent question, to find Heart Rock, drive south on Hwy 49 from the Refuge Headquarters. Right after the Dog Run Hollow exit, the road starts downhill, then makes a very slight rise up and around a corner. Right after the corner is a pull-off spot on the left. Heart Rock is across the road, right after the trail comes out of the evergreens and starts up a giant sloping boulder. From Hiking The Wichitas – Now YOU Can Find It! By Alan Thode
