Dining While dining options are a bit limited in the area, the Quartz Mountain Lodge conveniently offers guests a new on-site restaurant, Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen , now serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is recognized for delicious comfort foods like burgers, nachos and sandwiches, along with local brews from Stonecloud Brewing. They also have an extensive breakfast menu to get you fueled and ready for a busy day of exploring. If you’re looking to dine outside of the park, check out McCollom Market , located in the town of Hobart, just 25 minutes northeast of the Quartz Mountain Lodge. This fun little sandwich shop also serves up hearty baked potatoes for a nutritious lunch or you can satisfy your sweet tooth with ice cream to go. Hobart also has a rave-worthy donut shop, Molly’s Donut’s , impressing guests with a wide selection of donuts, cinnamon rolls and savory croissants. If your family needs to load up on any other supplies or snacks, there is a Walmart in Hobart for any last- minute needs. Hiking The park lies in a “buffer zone” between dry, western climates and wetter, eastern climates, lending to its diverse range of habitats, plants and animals. Flowers, like Indian Blanket, coreopsis, prairie larkspur, sunflower, milkweed and spiderwort, cover the grassy plains in the spring. Keep your eyes peeled for eastern bullfrogs and narrow-mouthed salamanders near the lake. Bobcats, cottontail rabbits, deer mice, coyote and beavers also make their home here. When out hiking, wear sturdy hiking or tennis shoes since the terrain can be rocky and several species of snakes, including rattlesnakes, can be found in this part of the state. Also, watch for cactus needles as they are commonly encountered on the park’s trails. Always pack plenty of water and snacks before starting a hike to stay safe and keep kids happy on the trail. Our family’s favorite hike in the park is Baldy Point Loop , a gorgeous 2-mile trail with sweeping views of the flower-covered hills in the spring and opportunities to watch climbers scale massive rocks in this granite paradise. New Horizon Trail is only a half-mile roundtrip hike, but be prepared for a fairly steep climb with a bit of rock scrambling leading up to the summit of Quartz Mountain. The climb will be worth it, though, as hikers are rewarded with incredible views of the surrounding lakes and mountains. A few other trails start near the lodge, including Cave Trail , a 10-minute walk from the Great Plains Amphitheater leading up to a small cave that children delight in exploring. Twin Peaks Trail is a paved, 1-mile roundtrip path that starts near the bridge on the south side of the lodge and winds around the lake’s cove to a surprisingly stunning view of Lake Altus. Sunrise Trail is a quarter-mile moderate climb beginning at the Great Plains Amphitheater and leading hikers up Quartz Mountain for new perspectives of the ancient mountain range.
(LEFT) GRAB A TASTY, FILLING LUNCH AT MCCOLLUM MARKET IN HOBART. (MIDDLE) HIKING CAVE TRAIL IS A KID FAVORITE. (BOTTOM) QUARTZ MOUNTAIN STATE PARK IS HOME TO ONE OF OKLAHOMA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES.
60 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAY-JUNE 2022
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