The sandstone walls of Autograph Rock bear the signatures of soldiers, teamsters, gold seekers, and other travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. The rock was an important campsite along the route. The names give the trail's history a human face: they recall the different people who traveled here.
Autograph Rock is privately owned. To visit, you must arrange an appointment by phone with the Cimarron Heritage Center: 580-544-3479. The center is responsible for access; check the contact details before setting out. It shares the history of Cimarron County and provides historical information about the Santa Fe Trail. Its grounds also include a restored Santa Fe depot.
Traces of the Santa Fe Trail
The Cimarron Route of the Santa Fe Trail crosses what is now Cimarron County. Camp Nichols was established in June 1865 to protect travelers along this route. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The station adds another aspect to the trail's history alongside the stories of campsites and landmarks: protecting travelers.
The Santa Fe Trail crossed the Cimarron River at Willow Bar, a spot often used as a campsite. Upper Spring, known as Flag Spring, was also a campsite along the trail. Its natural features include a high rocky hill, a spring, and a pond formed by an earthen dam; it also offers views of the Cimarron Valley. Cedar Spring, in turn, supplied water to the camp and passing wagon trains. Together, these sites illustrate the different functions of stopping places: navigation, camping, and water supply.
Shortgrass Prairie and Black Mesa
In southwestern Cimarron County lies the Rita Blanca WMA, a shortgrass prairie. It is divided into 46 units and extends for 26 miles along the Oklahoma–Texas border. Black Mesa Nature Preserve offers a different perspective on the landscape: it marks the transition where the Rocky Mountains meet the shortgrass prairie. The preserve covers about 1,600 acres and is home to 23 rare plant species.
At Black Mesa Nature Preserve, visitors can hike up to the plateau, where Oklahoma's highest point sits at 4,973 feet above sea level. Visits were limited to the hours between sunrise and sunset. Check visiting conditions before setting out.
Black Mesa State Park lies at the tri-state corner with Colorado and New Mexico. The park takes its name from a layer of black lava rock that covered the mesa about 30 million years ago. The dark nights make it especially well suited to stargazing and draw astronomy enthusiasts. The annual Perseid meteor shower is also visible every August; specific viewing conditions vary. RV campsites with water and electrical hookups can be reserved online at the park. Check availability before your trip.
Lake, Museum, and Directions
Lake Carl Etling normally covers 159 surface acres and has five miles of shoreline; water levels can vary. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, flathead catfish, walleye, and black bass, though stocking and conditions may change. Boat ramps are located on the east and south sides. However, water sports are not allowed at Lake Carl Etling; check the current conditions before setting out.
In the hamlet of Kenton, the Kenton Museum occupies the oldest surviving building: built in 1902 from local stone, it was Dr. Lane's residence. The collection includes items related to the settlement of No Man's Land, photographs, dinosaur track artifacts, kitchen fixtures, antiques, and household tools. The dinosaur tracks themselves were discovered in the 1980s and are on private land outside Black Mesa State Park. The museum collection and the discovery site are therefore two distinct places to visit for the history of the dinosaur tracks.
At the county level, US Highways 56, 65, 412, 287, and 385, as well as State Highways 3, 95, and 325, provide access to Cimarron County. This lets you plan your route around the places and landscapes that interest you most.
Discover more destinations: Boise City, Wagoner County, Mayes County, Sequoyah County, Lincoln County, Atoka County, Delaware County, Garvin County
For the broader travel overview: Oklahoma.
