Osage Prairie Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding

The Midland Valley Railroad originally ran from Fort Smith AK to Wichita KS. The 17 miles from N. Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa to W. 166th Street North in Skiatook have been paved with asphalt to provide an extensive trail with only subtle elevation changes.

The trail begins at the northeast corner of the Oklahoma State University(Tulsa) parking lot, just off Greenwood Ave. There are nine road crossings in the six miles from the trailhead to E. 56th Street North. This portion is maintained by the City of Tulsa and includes a substantial bridge crossing Flat Rock Creek. There is generally good shade north of the Gilcrease Expressway.

The middle segment of the trail from E. 56th Street N. to about a mile north of Sperry is maintained by the Tulsa County Parks Department. There are eleven road crossings in this six mile segment along with a number of old railroad bridges.

The northern segment runs from the Tulsa-Osage county line through Skiatook's Central Park and ends at W. 166th Street North. The substantial truss bridge at Bird Creek is just inside Osage County. There are five road crossings in this five mile section, which is maintained by Skiatook.

On a recent trip, without trying, I saw bluebirds, cardinals and killdeer. Great opportunities to see songbirds.