Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area, National recreation area in southeastern Oklahoma, United States.
Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area is a camping and hiking destination within the Ouachita National Forest in southeastern Oklahoma featuring numerous campsites and outdoor activity zones. The area includes picnic sites, tent camping facilities, and marked trails throughout forested terrain.
The federal government established this recreation area in 1988 to preserve natural resources and provide outdoor recreation opportunities in the region. The designation came as part of broader conservation efforts to protect the Ouachita forest landscape.
The area lies in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, with the nearby town of Whitesboro about 11 km to the southwest. State Highway 1, the Talimena Scenic Byway, bisects the recreation area, and U.S. Highway 271 loops up through the summit. Visitors can watch hang-gliding from the ridge and hike the 45-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail section.
Camping facilities with picnic tables, fire rings, and grills are available from March through November at various sites throughout the area. Year-round backpacking options exist for those seeking extended outdoor experiences.
The recreation area was created by an act of Congress on October 18, 1988, together with the nearby Upper Kiamichi River and Black Fork Mountain Wilderness areas. It covers 26,445 acres, mostly in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, and includes an 85-acre lake. A 45-mile section of the Ouachita National Recreation Trail crosses it.
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