Region
Highlights
- Black Mesa is the highest point in Oklahoma.
- It is a mesa that extends from Mesa de Maya in Colorado southeasterly 28 miles along the north bank of the Cimarron River, crossing the northeast corner of New Mexico to end in the Oklahoma panhandle.
- Its highest elevation is over 5,700 feet in Colorado; in New Mexico it attains 5,239 feet ; and in Oklahoma, it reaches 4,973 feet, the highest point in that state.
- In Oklahoma it is home to Black Mesa Nature Preserve.
Routes
17 summits • 8.5 mi • 623 ft gain • 3 hr 5 min
3 summits • 8.4 mi • 612 ft gain • 3 hr 5 min
1 summit • 8.7 mi • 486 ft gain • 2 hr 51 min
1 summit • 9.2 mi • 557 ft gain • 3 hr 16 min
Latest summits
"Three state high points in 3 days ✅
We got into Black Mesa State Park around 8pm. Got setup in our tents then tried to sleep through the most intense lightening storm I think I’ve ever seen.
We woke up late, around 7am and got a start at the camp store. Most parts of me were sore but the hard stuff was behind us. We scoped out some dinosaur tracks and a dinosaur quarry where we saw a replica of a Apatosaurus femur. From there it was off to Black Mesa, OK.
An easy flat hike up to some switchbacks that put you on top of the mesa. Saw a pronghorn stag watching us from afar. Black Mesa high point is right on the west edge of the OK panhandle. Walking another 1,200’ puts you back into NM on the mesa. We signed the registry, snacked then headed west to the cliff edges and looked out into New Mexico.
There were a biblical amount of locust and I’ve never seen any bigger. Almost stepped on a tarantula on the way back down.
Then drove out further than any civilized person would ever consider to find the tri state marker on the border of CO, NM and OK then drove 50 miles of dirt roads to head back to CO springs. Hop on the plane then back to PA.
" — wiweasel • Oct 1, 2023
"Eleventh trip to the Oklahoma Panhandle to hike up Black Mesa. There were more vehicles at the trailhead parking lot than I've ever seen. Seems like a popular place these days and there were over 150 entries in the logbook at the summit since I was last here about 4 weeks ago. The weather was nice with only a slight breeze and perfectly clear skies until late in the afternoon when a few clouds rolled in. I shared some water with two hikers that hadn't brought enough. One of them had leg cramps because he was already pretty dehydrated. People do under estimate the hike and often start out with only a small water bottle, a cell phone and nothing else. Several years ago the Rangers put in water cache just beyond the two mile mark because they were rescuing quite a few hikers after getting emergency calls." — StoneMan • Mar 26, 2022
"Took advantage of a few clear sunny days with no wind and temps in the 60's during December and drove up to the trailhead to hike this mesa again. Took my time and spent the entire day up on the mesa. Finally decided to head back to the trailhead walking out in the dark and was met by a Park Ranger who checks the parking area every night. I guess they get a little concerned when they see a vehicle there after dusk since overnight camping isn't allowed and hiking is from dawn to dusk now. We ended up having a conversation about ranching and cattle and tracking animals until he got a call and had to leave." — StoneMan • Dec 9, 2020
"The panhandle OK area looks so much like the Old Western cowboy vs indians movies/shows, all I could think of was they were behind every rock n hill. But so different in its beauty, worth the visit !!" — 6sniders • Jun 14, 2017
"After bagging Guadalupe Peak in Texas the night before, we met up with Roy from Memphis to climb Black Mesa. This hike was so much prettier than we were expecting! The wet winter made everything very green!" — Kevin • Jun 3, 2017
"3rd of 4 state highpoints in 4 day weekend (NM, CO, OK, TX). Fun drive to Kenton and to the parking lot. Mellow flat walk and then up on top to find the obelisk. Saw another party behind us." — alexjoseph • Apr 23, 2017
"Drove all night from Guadalupe Peak, Texas to get an early start. It turned out to be a beautiful day, sunny and warm. Nice easy 4.2 mile hike to the summit along the mesa. A lot of wildflowers this time of year and I saw a lone Pronghorn grazing in the distance." — StoneMan • May 9, 2012
"very nice hike up a new marked route to the summit from the northeast of the mesa. the old route from the south noted in the guidebook "Highpoints of the United States" by Don Holmes. 4.6 miles to the summit. the Nature Conservancy has a sign for an easement in the area. summit about 1330 pm under sunny skies, 70 degree and northward. I hear then see a massive flock of sandhill cranes overhead heading south to Bosque del Apache! very cool!" — rhudedog • Oct 16, 2010
"Since I had to catch a plane in Oklahoma City later in day, I had to start very early to get to this high point. So awoke at 4 am to drive to trailhead for what turned out to be a 6:15 a.m start in total darkness, the moon having set about an hour earlier. It was difficult to be sure I was on the trail due to the darkness and the limited reach of my headlamp. I could see what looked like the summit against the stars, but the trail didn't seem to be going there. Luckily it was not raining/snowing or I would have had real difficulty. There are helpful arrows along the trail about every half mile or so, so once I convinced myself that they were indeed pointing along the correct trail I was able to relax, and, of course it gradually grew a bit less dark. Reached summit at approximately sunrise. Light snow on ground, temperature around 25 degrees, very nice highpoint." — wbrouhaha • Oct 30, 2009
"Had a fun time with my Dad on this one. 8.6 mile RT hike through some pretty gnarly country. Rattlesnake warnings and someone target shooting along the way added some nice flavor." — catamount • May 21, 2006