A few years ago, Gerad Findlay, an avid adventurer and Jeep enthusiast, mapped several routes through western Oklahoma. All the routes are on public roads, but some of the roads are little more than Jeep trails. He posted these routes on a Facebook page and the route he named “Sugar Creek” quickly became the most popular. It starts in Hinton, about an hour west of Oklahoma City, and makes for an easy day trip in either a 4WD vehicle or dual sport motorcycle.
In January 2023, Kevin Carpenter and I met at the Love’s Travel Stop off I-40 and Hinton and took our dual sport motorcycles for a 4-hour loop of the 122-mile ride.
The route follows a tunnel under I-40.We were surprised by several water crossings – not something we expected in western Oklahoma.We found this old storm cellar along the route.This cave is dug in the side of a hill.These watering troughs are made from old jet engine crates.I had never been to Wagon Wheel Mound.Green Acres, Oklahoma is the “Place to Be”.We made a quick stop in downtown Gracemont, Oklahoma.Heaven?This is part of Purgatory Road. It had recently been graded.Kevin pulled a big wheelie on Purgatory Road.We were surprised by the number of water crossings, something we didn’t expect in normally dry western Oklahoma.We met across the street from Love’s Travel Stops. I rode my 21-year-old Suzuki DRZ on the route.
Loaded up my Suzuki DRZ-400 for an overnight camping trip. I have had this motorcycle for 22 years and it still runs strong and does exactly what I want it to do. I have my camping gear pretty well sorted now after all these years.
