Tour of the Wichitas bike ride approaching

Volunteers with The Friends of the Trail are completing preparations for the 2024 Tour of the Wichitas bike ride that will be held Saturday, June 15.

Tour of the Wichita’s offers a beautiful cycling ride through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and mountains and the historic Fort Sill Army Post. The ride takes participants through some of the most enchanting and historic scenery in Southwest Oklahoma. The 2024 Tour offers four routes: 16.7 miles, 31.2 miles, 54.1 miles and 67.3 miles.

Tour of the Wichitas is considered a “stop-and-smell-the-roses” kind of ride as bikers are encouraged to take time to bask in their surroundings.

“Tour of the Wichitas is one of the most beautiful rides in southwest Oklahoma,” said Kim Rogalski, Friends of the Trail Committee member. “This ride is planned by local bike riders who are passionate about riding and who love southwest Oklahoma. No matter what route they ride, every rider that has taken part in Tour of the Wichitas have always said they can’t believe how beautiful and fun the ride is.”

Riders can pre-register on the Tour of the Wichitas Website: tourofthewichitas.com. On the website, riders can also explore this year’s routes and they will find a detailed calendar for this year’s event. Come and go pre-registration and packet pick-up will take place from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, June 14 at the Fort Sill MWR Patriot Club, located at 500 Upton Road on Fort Sill Army Post. On-site registration and packet pick-up will begin at 6 a.m. before the event on Saturday, June 15 at the Fort Sill MWR Patriot Club. The 2024 Tour of the Wichitas bike ride is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 15. The ride will begin at the Fort Sill Patriot Club.

New this year, riders will be required to obtain a pass to get on Fort Sill. Visitor passes can be obtained online: https://pass.aie.army.mil/steps/branch_selection

The host hotel for the 2024 Tour of the Wichitas is the Holiday Inn Aultman and Allin Halls on Fort Sill. A block of rooms is reserved for riders participating in the 2024 Tour for $72 a night. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel at 580-355-4475.

Cost to participate in the 2024 Tour of the Wichitas is $40 for single riders and $50 for tandem. Registration is now open at tourofthewichitas.com. Online registration is available through Thursday, June 13.

For more information on the 2024 Tour of the Wichitas or to view maps of the routes, calendar of events or to pre-register, visit tourofthewichitas.com.