The highest point in Oklahoma, Black Mesa, is 1,517 m (4,975 ft) above sea-level. This area is found in the extreme western part of the state's Panhandle, and is named for the dark pumice found all over the terrain. When this area was volcanically active, lava flows, cones and domes all worked in concert to shape the landscape that can be seen today. The main draw to the area is nearby Capulin Volcano in New Mexico, which spewed forth the lava flow that created Black Mesa. Igneous rocks, the type associated with all volcanism, are much more durable and erosion-resistant than the sedimentary rocks that they overlay; thus, the borders of the lava flow form a sort of cap that prevents the rock beneath them from being eroded as quickly as the rock immediately next to the flow's boundary. This type of process is what formed Black Mesa, OK, as well as many of the features in northeast New Mexico.

The route to the "summit" of Black Mesa is signed much better than it was formerly. The Nature Conservancy purchased much of the land in the area and is maintaining its natural beauty for the coming generations. The trail begins at the northeast end of the mesa and meanders around its base before ascending around 500 ft to the top. It then continues for a short distance to the summit marker in the midst of what seems to be a vast plain. The tall granite column contains some interesting information including the fact that Cimarron County, OK is the only county in the U.S.A. to touch 4 different states (Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, & Kansas). It also shows the distance from the highpoint to each state boundary. All in all, the route encompasses 8.4 miles round-trip and only about 800 vertical feet.

---

2003.01.11 - The hike was very lonely; as opposed to the 50 or so people that climbed Guadalupe Peak two weeks earlier, I only saw 2 other souls on this Saturday afternoon. Wandering around the base of the mesa provided me with a few good pictures. There was very little snow left on the ground, but the contrast between the white and the dark rock made a beautiful image. Later, on the descent, I got a great picture of this scene at sunset. It took 1 hour to hike from the trailhead to the mesa's top and another 15 minutes to reach the summit marker. I spent 35 minutes at the summit taking photos and a short video before beginning my descent. I returned to the trailhead at 18:05 making the total time spent on this highpoint 3 hours and 5 minutes.