San Bois Mountains Wilderness Traverse

The San Bois Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma hide some of the state’s most challenging backcountry terrain, where early 1900s coal mining operations carved roads into steep mountainsides that time and weather have turned into technical obstacles. This route follows old mining haul roads through the Ouachita National Forest, climbing ridges where bootleggers once hid stills and descending into creek valleys carved by centuries of runoff. The route’s crux comes at Backbone Ridge crossing, where the old road has washed out into a series of rock ledges and water bars that require careful wheel placement and spotting.

Expert difficulty due to steep grades, loose rock, and multiple creek crossings that can become impassable during spring floods — experienced drivers with modified rigs and recovery gear only. Best season runs June through October when creeks are manageable and the clay-based soil isn’t a slippery nightmare. No permits required, but notify local authorities since this area sees almost no traffic and cell service is nonexistent for miles. You’ll earn access to some of Oklahoma’s most pristine wilderness and gain perspective on the hardscrabble coal mining history that shaped southeastern Oklahoma’s culture.