We recently ventured out to Tulsa Redbud Nature Preserve for a family outing recently. The preserve is in east Tulsa and you drive past trucking yard and pipe coating mills to get to it and it is worth the drive. It is a fairly small preserve but important and was acquired by the Nature Conservancy before it was transferred to the City of Tulsa because it has plant and animal species found nowhere else in northeastern Oklahoma. Since the emphasis is on preservation and not recreation they have restricted hours and allow only foot traffic. Leave your bicycles and horses home. Check the link above for the hours. They are generally open from eight to five and are currently closed on Monday and Tuesday.
They have about 2.5 miles of hiking trails. Much of it is along a cliff face that contains caves and springs and requires some care while hiking. It is fun but watch your step.
This is our family portrait. My fancy schmancy wrap around camera tripod was missing a part so we did the old wedge the camera in a tree any which way we can trick.
Here you go, bark bokeh.
Two and a half miles doesn’t sound like much but it took us a while and we enjoyed it.
And of course with Garmin you can follow along on our hike.
Alan, your adventures, interests, photography, blog, and especially your family is inspiring
What a fun day for all of you!! And I do love seeing the pictures of all three of you!!! Wonderful and such a beautiful place!! Have a great new week!! Thanks for hosting — as always!!
Great cliffs and rocky challenge. Love the family selfie.
Looks like a great place for hiking with the family.. Wonderful shots!
Nice spot for a family hike. Some of the trail looks like a bit of a challenge, which is always fun.
Ah ~ lovely to see a family enjoying themselves and nature ~ one of the photos with the rock formation could be ‘Yogi’s Den’ ~ Fun shots!
Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
Those caves look very interesting, although not sure I would venture inside.
I like the creativity using the tree as a temp tripod. Looks like a photographers dream place to explore.
what a special place 🙂
Wow, it could be difficult hiking and transfering from rocks to rocks. The landscape looks so dry too! By the way, what is a natural gas professional?
Those walking sticks look like a very good idea on that terrain. I have a pair and they come in very handy when the trail gets very tricky. I can put my camera in a back pack and have both hands free to use my “balance sticks”. Thanks for taking us along on the adventure.
That bark bokeh is awesome!
Second picture is intriguing ..!
I think you got a bit of a workout walking that trail with so many rocks.
Hiking: log or short trips always good family time.
Oh this looks like a great walk — I think I could still do it. I love what Nature Conservancy does and used to belong to it, but we got so much mail from them asking for more that I had to let it lapse. Too much guilt. (It is too bad that worthy causes don’t give you an option of checking ‘this and no more this year please)
I know what you mean. I’m done with Nature Conservancy and Habitat for Humanity both because of the nonstop fund raising.