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The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
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The
Campsite In a Wildlife Refuge
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Doris Campground
The campground is located within Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, which can be accessed from US 62, twelve miles west of Lawton, Oklahoma, at Cache, Oklahoma, by turning right and driving north fifteen miles on SH 115, then left on SH 49 and driving east about two and a half miles to the campground entrance.
Upon my first arrival at this campground in the fall of 2016, I found this to be a very good campground, one which I decided that I would like to return to often in the future. The amenities were good, the campsites were good and the check-in process was easy, you just had to seal your funds in an envelope and drop the envelope into a locked box.
Originally, I had rated this campground using my
Campsite Rating System (CRS) and posted a rating of 8.5 on my website. Not long after that, the check-in process changed to being only by the online process through Recreation.gov, which also added a registration fee in addition to the camping fee. I subsequently tried several times to camp at Doris Campground of which most of my attempts failed.
Finally, I subsequently used my Campsite Rating System (CRS) again with the current limitations and now, this campground has the rating of 5.0 on my website. Needless to say, due to my not desiring to register in advance for camping, I will not return to Doris much more if ever again.
Coordinates:
37.71800 -98.643400
Elevation: feet
1510 feet
The Site Facts
The
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, established in 1901, is located near Lawton, Oklahoma in the southwestern area of the state, has protected unique wildlife habitats and is the oldest managed wildlife facility in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service system.
This refuge has over 59,000 acres which hosts a rare piece of the past, a remnant mixed grass prairie. This island of natural grasslands escaped destruction because the rocks just underfoot defeated the plow.
At several locations in the refuge, the elevation above sea level is greater than 2,000 feet, including Mount Scott at 2,464 feet and Mount Pinchot at 2479 feet.
Remnants of the gravel deposits, predominantly well rounded boulders, 6 to 18 inches in diameter can be seen in many areas of the refuge.
2021 Update
COVID 19 has severely reduced services and personal in the park, including requiring online reservations at www.recreation.gov for all camping.
Also, due to the lack of personal operating the campground and refuge, much of the infrastructure is deteriorating.
The visitor center is closed until further notice.
On a positive note, all of the wild animals are doing well, in fact, with the decreased presence of people, they are even more active in the park.
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Onsite:
The Recreation
There is no admission charge for the public use areas on the refuge, which total 22,400 acres. The remaining 37,000 acres is closed to the public and for the exclusive use of wildlife although guided tours are scheduled.
A visitor center and bookstore, open seven days a week except holidays, displays art and has exceptional exhibits illustrating the four major habitats found on the refuge: Rocklands, Aquatic, Mixed-Grass Prairie, and Cross Timbers.
The Wildlife
Fishing for largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, and channel catfish is popular in the thirteen artificial lakes on the refuge.
Elk and deer hunting, to cull excessive numbers, is permitted in a managed hunt every fall. Hunters are chosen by lottery and a fee is charged.
The Wildlife Refuge
The refuge provides habitat for large native grazing animals such as American bison, Rocky Mountain elk, and white-tailed deer.
Texas longhorn cattle also share the refuge rangelands as a cultural and historical legacy species.
The Animals
More than 50 mammal, 240 bird, 64 reptile and amphibian, 36 fish, and 806 plant species thrive in this important refuge.
Nearby:
Fort Sill
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General Information:
This campground has a centrally located restroom with hot showers, available except during winter months.
Drinking water, chemical toilets, and trash dumpsters are conveniently placed throughout the campground.
A public pay phone is located near the Campground entrance, as is a dump station for RV's.
Recreation.gov Fees:
Registration: $6.00
Camping Fees:
47 non-electric sites: $14.00
23 electric-water sites: $22.00 - $24.00
20 primitive walk-in sites: $12.00
Federal Pass holders receive half off of camping fees but not registration fees.
Campground Includes:
All campsites have tables, fire rings, and fire grates/grills on site.
Group camping come with or without shelters and electricity.
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The 2021 Journey,
Doris Campground
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(Day
169 TN) 46°F. 7:30 am, overcast
Fort Richardson State Park
From Fort Richardson State Park, I drive north on US 281 to Wichita Falls, then IH 44 to Oklahoma where I get off of the interstate because it is a toll road and instead drive state and county highways north to
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
When I arrive late today, I drive directly to the shower house for a hot shower, after which, I drive to my campsite and park for the night. At the campsite, there is absolutely no phone service signal but at the shower house I do receive one bar.
Too, I choose site number 22 because it is located near the shower house and rest rooms. In fact, campsites 20 and 21 are even closer but none have electricity.
For the most part, during this visit, Doris campground has very few campers, only a few clusters of several campers in a couple of separate locations. I remember only a few years ago, there were many more who camp to camp at this campground.
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The 2020 Journey,
Doris Campground
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My effort to camp here came to an abrupt stop at the entrance gate when the park agent said that I could not enter without a reservation.
I left Doris campground and drove to
Mount Scott to photograph the views there. Later, I drove to Lawton, Oklahoma and overnighted at the d-mart there.
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The 2017 Journey,
Wichita Mountain Wilderness Area
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(m4camp-06-ok-doris-2017-0505.0538) Spring camping at Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge
(m4camp-06-ok-doris-2017-0505.0649) Hiking and Biking Trails abound in Wichita Mountain
(m4camp-06-ok-doris-2017-0505.0747) Jed Johnson Tower overlooking Lake in Wichita Mtns
(m4camp-06-ok-doris-2017-0505.0734) Raccoon on the hunt for food in Wichita Mountain
Road to Mount Scott
Located in the Wichita Mountains, a narrow winding road rises steeply to the
Mount Scott summit, (2,464 feet, 751 m), with a view that encompasses the whole refuge.
Although the mountains rise only 800 to 1000 feet above the surrounding prairie, they are steep and rocky.
(m2cont-nam-11-ok-11a-scott-2017-0505.0909) View from the Mount Scott Summit Road
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The 2016 Journey,
Doris Campground
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(m4camp-06-ok-doris-2016-1107.0720) Fall camping at Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge
(m4camp-06-ok-doris-2016-1107.0928) The Rocky Terrain which Defeated the Plow
(m4camp-06-ok-doris-2016-1107.1126) Buffalo on the grassland at Wichita Mountain
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The Wayƒarers Journal.
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See Ya above the Treeline!
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This Page Last Updated: 31 March 2026
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