River Parks Trail (Tulsa, OK)

2013.05.17 - -This past weekend in Tulsa, OK became one experience building on itself and then exponentially with the next. It started with me getting the wrong dates at the Hyatt Regency downtown, and the understanding front desk clerk changing them while honoring the same low price. As a bonus, right outside the hotel doors, Mayfest was happening with live music and food abound. Couldn't have been a better start to the weekend and after getting our entertainment fill, we went to bed because we had a nice hike planned the next day.

We decided to start our trek just east of Route 66 and Riverside Dr. The River Parks Trail follows the Arkansas River and is paved wide enough to allow two lanes for bicycle traffic and a wide enough lane just for walkers. Where we took our first steps is an arch acting as both a starting point and finish line.

Coincidentally, there were a few caches hidden along the way and as it turned out they were near some very interesting public art. A sculpture of two deer named Nature Works hosted one cache, while another was near an amazing suspended cube. In total we found 18 caches along this stretch. It was fun finding a cache and learning more about Tulsa.

On this stretch of the River Parks Trail there is a hut where one can stop, get a cold one, and cool off for a bit. Blue Rose Cafe is also here. With their slogan being, 'No Crybabies, it is a neat motorcycle, bicycle, walker restaurant with live entertainment and good food. We didn't stop on our hike, but took note and after we were done, came back for our celebration lunch. 

We walked for a bit and then came to where we were about to cross on the Midland Valley Trail and River Trails Pedestrian Bridge. Stopping for water near a sailboat sculpture, we drank up as it was getting warm, but the thought of some wind passing through sails would have been very much appreciated. While there, On the Arkansas, a beautiful out of service fountain rests. An island of circles, must of sprayed magnificently at one time, and yet may circle back to do so again.

Careful on the pedestrian bridge as walkers, hikers, and bikers all use it to cross the river, but it is only wide enough for those on two legs and not wheels. If you see a road bike flying towards you, it may be best to move aside and avoid a collision. At the center of the bridge, in one direction, downtown Tulsa is set with the River at the fore front offering an awesome photo opportunity. The other side looks down river in the direction of where the Arkansas leads into the Mississippi.


It wasn't surprising that the western side of the River was less used, yet the trail was just as wide. It was pleasant to just walk for a bit without the big crowds. We stopped for a couple more caches, but also found symmetry under a bridge and a red robot on a tree. As mentioned before, some treasures cannot be found without exploration.

Our next stop was River West Festival Park and the floating amphitheater. Two cables keep it anchored and make it easy to pull to shore. One of these days, we'll have to see a show just to see how the stage comes to live and gain more perspective.

Our final stop was a reward on itself. The Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza has eight flags, one for every state Route 66 travels through. They are placed from east to west starting and ending with Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. We first discovered this site on our Route 66 trip early one morning while leaving Tulsa. It had just as much significance then, as we relived it again.

An amazing sculpture illustrates East meeting West as they do in Oklahoma. Before Oklahoma, there is a perception of cars and business men and after, there are cowboys and stagecoaches. Not far from here, the original Mother Road can be traveled and it transcends time. I can still envision people down on their luck during the Dust Bowl traveling this legendary road to a better life out west. In the photo on the left, there are three roads, the old closed off Mother Road, a new Mother Road, and the Interstate. Not hard to tell which had the most interesting stories.


We hiked 5.08 miles in 3 hours : 14 minutes. We averaged 38 minutes : 18 seconds a mile including a lot of caching. Our fastest mile was the 2nd mile at 30 minutes : 50 seconds.

Trail Miles Blogged: 37:13 miles.