A Sneak Peak the new Trails at Bales Park in Tulsa

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We’ve had days of over 100F heat for quite a while now. When the weather gets you down you have to learn how adjust if you don’t want to end up spending all summer on the dreadmill at the gym or mall walking. Me, I am getting up earlier and getting out before it is too hot.

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Back in March of this year the City of Tulsa Parks Department announced that they had a grant to build some trails at Bales Park. Bales Park is right across a four lane highway from Turkey Mountain and there has been some talk of connecting the two trail systems.

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The signs and netting were down on the ground so I figured I was good to go.

I saw on Strava that a friend of mine checked out the trails so I thought I would. I think they are having a soft opening while they do finishing touches.

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Downtwon Tulsa from the trail at Bales Park looking north. The highway department is redoing the intersection shown in the foreground. Rumor has it that they are making it so that Bales Park and Turkey Mountain can interconnect.

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Turn 90 degrees to your right and look east. That is Turkey Mountain right across the road. Oh well time to move on.

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The trails that city is building using Rogue Trails as a contractor look a lot like the recent trails built on Turkey Mountain. An emphasis on shedding water to avoid erosion and making the trails “flowy” back and forth and up and down, side to side.

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Sure the flowy parts are for the mountain bikes but they are good trails to hike on as well and they will last longer and require less maintenance.

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The trails go deep into Bales Park in areas where I doubt many people have been Lots of big oak and hickory trees there.

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It’ll provide a great alternative to Turkey Mountain which on weekend afternoons can get crowded in the parking lots. Although, you get a quarter mile down any of the trails you are basically by yourself on the busiest of days.

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Today, it was just me. And an equipment operator from Rogue building trail.

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I gave him a wide berth. Supposedly there will be about 3 plus miles of trail. I made it to just over two miles today.

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I didn’t see any critters besides a few squirrels and birds. Despite being early in the day it was still kind of hot.

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I’m very happy about this latest addition to the Tulas Trail scene. The Gilcrease museum up in north Tulsa is raising funds to build an extensive trail system on property they have adjacent to the museum and connect their trail to the Katy Rails to Trail system which connects to the Tulsa River Parks system (as does Turkey Mountain’s trails). I love interconnected trails.

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I think the city is having a grand opening set for sometime in August or so for their new trails. I am not into crowds so I’ll just be happy with the mini grand opening I treated myself to today. I do think that the people of Tulsa will be happy with the new trails at Bales Park.

I’m linking with Skywatch Friday. Check it out!!

28 thoughts on “A Sneak Peak the new Trails at Bales Park in Tulsa

  1. Sallie

    Loved your private grand opening of this great trail. It’s a great one and wonderful that your City is working to continue the interconnected system. That’s something I love about Eugene , even though my walks are limited to shorter distances on ours. (Just like wilderness areas, I am glad they are there even if I can’t actually use all of them!). We’re now under a heat dome also — it got up to the high 90s yesterday. I hope reading this post motivates me to get myself in gear earlier in the mornings and get out there.

  2. Penelope Notes

    Early, early mornings are the best! We owe our thanks to the folks working to preserve nature and provide spaces out in the open air. Terribly hot as it is, shade trees must make it a bit better. Interconnected trails are a wonderful place to get lost in.

  3. Citu

    Genial labor la que hacen con los senderos . Me alegra que de frutos. Me encantaron los paisajes. Te mando un beso.

  4. Nancy Chan

    Yes, when the weather is hot, we get up earlier for our morning walk when it is nice and cool. Thanks for showing us your hiking trails. They are well maintained.

  5. Eileen

    The new trail looks nice, I like to hike in a forest where it is shady and a little cooler.
    Pretty scenes and photos. Take care, enjoy your day and happy weekend.

  6. Alana

    The construction of the trails is intresting – I have not seen anything quite like that where I live in New York. The trails I use for exercise are paved and somewhat open – could use some more shade, even here. We’ve been fortunate – we get breaks between each time it gets hot.

  7. Joyful

    It seems it’s been so hot everywhere including here. I enjoyed all your beautiful photos especially the natural trails through the forest.

  8. Amy

    You’ve got a lot of really nice trails there. I am one of those people who can’t handle Summer, when we live in Northland the humidity was usually 99% but down here it’s more dry than anything so Im looking forward to that.

  9. Ms. Donyarific

    It’s a refreshing sight to be beneath those trees during summer! Would be lovely to bring out a lazy chair and a good book to read! Oh, hoping for cooler days there in your place. Keep safe and well-hydrated.
    Thanks for hosting Skywatch Friday! Enjoy the weekend!

  10. Pat

    Wonderful new trails to explore, Yogi. I like the mysterious-looking one that goes into the trees.

    It has been hot here too, but we did have a few days of cooler temperatures and rain which were a blessing. One storm came with amazing lightning–I never saw a show like it!

  11. Gaelyn

    Trails are looking great, especially all that rock work. Nice to have so many interconnecting. Though I’m not fond of sharing the trail with mt bikes. Still… My hat is off to you getting out early to walk. Me, just being lazy.

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