News Release

Healthy Parks, Healthy People

News Release Date: December 31, 2017

Contact: Kevin Mohr, 580-497-2742 x3003

Begin your New Years Resolution at Washita Battlefield. Parks, like Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, harness the power to promote the health of people. Washita can become your cornerstone of mental, physical, and spiritual health, and social well-being. Here’s how.

To commemorate the 150th of the Battle of the Washita, you are challenged to honor those who suffered or died, by walking the trails. If you were to walk the Dust and Fire trail 53 times, which represents the 53 women and children captives, you will have walked roughly a marathon. This is the Moccasin Marathon. If you were to walk the Battlefield trail 18 times, representing Major Joel Elliott and his detachment that died, you would walk the equivalent of a marathon. This is the Trooper Challenge.

Beginning on November 26, 2017, you may register at the park and pick up your log book between 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Once a week a Ranger will walk the Dust and Fire Trail for the Moccasin Marathon on Sundays @ 1:30 p.m. Twice a month, on the 7th and 22nd, a Ranger will walk the Battlefield Trail for the Trooper Challenge @ 12:00 p.m. You are encouraged to join the Ranger and learn about the Battle of the Washita. If you are unable to accompany the Ranger, you can log your walks on the honor system. Those who complete one marathon will receive a commemorative 150th coin. Those who complete both will receive the coin and a 150th commemorative blanket. You have one year to complete the marathons and a special recognition event will be during the week of November 27, 2018.