McCurtain County Wilderness Area, wilderness nature preserve in Oklahoma
The McCurtain County Wilderness Area is a protected natural space and National Natural Landmark in Oklahoma covering around 14,000 acres. The terrain consists mainly of shortleaf pine and hardwood forests, crossed by rivers and a reservoir with forested shores and rolling hills throughout.
The area was purchased by Oklahoma in 1918 to establish a game preserve protecting the declining deer population at the time. In the 1930s, workers improved infrastructure through conservation programs, and it was officially named a wildlife area in 1953, then recognized as a National Natural Landmark in 1975.
The name reflects the county in which this natural area sits. Visitors experience today how over a century of protection has kept this forest relatively unchanged from human activity. The way locals and visitors use the space for hunting, bird-watching, and quiet forest walks shows how minimal human presence remains at the heart of the landscape.
Access is about 21 miles north of Broken Bow via US Highway 259, followed by gravel roads to trailheads and boat ramp. A self-guided one-mile trail is open to the public, but exploring beyond main paths or overnight camping requires permits arranged at least two weeks in advance.
The Glover River is the only river in Oklahoma flowing completely untamed and undammed, home to the rare leopard darter fish first documented in 1955. This unbroken waterway makes the place extraordinary for fish species and ecosystems not found elsewhere in the state.
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