TURKEY 
TRAIL RULES- Pets must be on leash.
- Dirt trails closed when muddy. Check Riverparks.org for updated trail conditions.
- Curfew is 11:00PM to 5:00AM daily.
- Motor vehicles are prohibited.
- No weapons except as permitted by State Law.
- Cyclists must yield to pedestrians.
- Class I and II e-bikes allowed but must be pedal assist. One Wheels permitted.
- Helmets are strongly encouraged.
- Riders descending, yield to riders climbing.
- All users move to your right to allow others to pass.
- Leave No Trace – pack it in and pack it out.
- Glass containers of any kind prohibited.
- Be aware of your surrounds, carry a cell phone, and extra water.
- Trail users are encouraged to use GPS enabled cell phones to aid emergency responders.
- Carry water for you and your pet.
- Stay on existing trails. Do not cut switchbacks or build new trails.
- Overnight camping, glass containers, and open fires are prohibited.
For Mountain Bike Rentals, Contact Tom's Bicycles Tulsa
Restore Nature – Maximize Access
Enhance Trails – Integrate Programing
Turkey Mountain Master Plan: Preserving the Past and Shaping the Future.
Rising above the west bank of the Arkansas River, River Parks’ Turkey Mountain is an untamed oasis in the heart of the city. Encompassing over 750 rugged acres, the park’s thick canopy of native trees watch over winding trails, serene ponds and ancient boulders. Secured to remain a public park in perpetuity, the Wilderness is a one-of-a-kind regional destination that continues to grow in popularity. Turkey Mountain is Tulsa's top destination for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking.
A final version has been completed for a community-driven Turkey Mountain Master Plan that will address the park’s management, preservation, and programming based on over 4000 public comments and 3 public meetings which provided the community input that formed the basis for the Master Plan. River Parks Authority has overseen the planning process, with Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates providing professional guidance to establish a vision, assuring the Wilderness will offer the best in outdoor recreation for current and future generations.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN BY WATCHING OR READING THE FOLLOWING NEWS LINKS.
Tulsa World Article on Upcoming Trail Work
Tulsa World Article On Master Plan Completion
KTUL News Piece
Channel 6 (KOTV) News Piece
Channel 2 (KJRH) News Piece
Download the November 14, 2019 Public Presentation Meeting slides outlining the key aspects of the presentation HERE. Download a printable document HERE. Please note that this presentation is based on several public meetings and over 4,000 public comments. It truly is a plan created by the citizens of Tulsa for their vision of what Turkey could look like in the future. As of right now, there is no funding to pursue the implementation of any aspect of this plan.
YOU HELPED US SHAPE THE TURKEY MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE
No group is better equipped to share insights, practical experiences and passion for the Wilderness than the park users who have championed Turkey Mountain over decades. Community input was essential to crafting a plan for this well-loved public space. Over 4000 public comments and 3 public meetings provided the community input that formed the basis for the Master Plan. Through the eyes of regular park users, a better understanding was gained of:
- How the Wilderness is used now and how areas of expansion might be used
- How the landscape and park features contribute to the Wilderness experience
- How visitors are presently navigating the area and interacting with nature
- Identifying the unique and valued aspects of the Wilderness experience will inform an array of best practices for specific elements of the Master Plan.
A Brief History of Turkey Mountain
Land acquisition for a public park on Turkey Mountain began in 1978 with 147 acres purchased with funds from Tulsa County, a federal grant, and a contribution from the landowner, J.L. Reynolds. In 1996, Stephen J. Jatras donated an additional 80 acres of land at the corner of 71st and Elwood. In subsequent years, additional tracts were acquired with City of Tulsa 3rd Penny Sales Tax funds. Those parcels and others owned by the City of Tulsa were leased to the Authority and included in the Wilderness boundaries. The extension of the VisionTulsa program in 2016 includes $7.6MM for Turkey Mountain: $5.6MM for the acquisition of additional land for the park and $2MM for amenities. A loan to River Parks Authority from the George Kaiser Family Foundation and QuikTrip Corporation allowed the Vision land purchases to begin soon after the vote so that acquisition opportunities would not be lost.
The origin of the name Turkey Mountain remains an unsolved mystery, as does local lore of Viking visits which are very likely not true. But the land figured into Tulsa’s early history as the site of oil well drilling, the remnants of which can still be seen around Turkey Mountain today. The Mountain is traversed by a section of the 1904 Midland Valley Railroad line now owned by the Union Pacific Railroad and operated by the Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway which runs twice daily, mornings and evenings, Monday through Friday. It is believed that the name Turkey Mountain stems from the likelihood that the area was once a popular spot for hunting wild turkeys.
You might have read about “petroglyphs” at Turkey Mountain. We have had multiple professional archaeologists out to examine them in great detail and they were not placed there by the Vikings as is often rumored. The archaeologists tell us that the sandstone is very soft and highly erodible and any carvings in them would quickly fade with exposure to wind, rain, and sun. At most, these carvings were done in the 1920s by oil field workers who were all over the mountain exploring for oil.
In late 2017, Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum announced that the City of Tulsa had agreed to transfer title to River Parks Authority for its leased Turkey Mountain properties, assuring that it will remain public park property in perpetuity. In support of this action by the City, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which has been land banking properties on Turkey Mountain for over a decade, announced that it will deed its properties to the River Parks Authority for inclusion at Turkey Mountain. It is expected that a master plan encompassing the entire Wilderness will be undertaken in the next year or two.
Improvements at the main entrance to the Wilderness Area were completed in 2009 with a grant from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. That gift financed expanded parking, a restroom building, climbing boulders and improved trailhead access. The entrance is further enhanced by two bronze wildlife sculptures donated to the citizens of Tulsa by NatureWorks, Inc., “Rio Grande Turkeys” and “Rocky Mountain Bighorn." Three pavilions located near the entrance were financed by proceeds from “Wild Turkey,” a biennial fund-raising event that benefits River Parks’ projects and programs. Friends of River Parks donors also contributed to the pavilions. In response to demand, a second parking lot to serve park visitors was opened and later expanded on 61st Street, west of Elwood Avenue.
