NABSQNO 14S-525174-3842362

NABSQNO 14S-525174-3842362.
Centennial Arch in Comanche County, Oklahoma
Photo by Jay Wilbur

NABSQNO 14S-525174-3842362. Centennial Arch is an arc natural arch eroded through granite. It is located in the Charons Gardens Wilderness Area within the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, Comanche County, Oklahoma. It has a span of 40 feet, a height of 4 feet, a width of 3 feet, a thickness of 2 feet, and a separation of 2 feet. Access is via the Elk Mountain trail from the Sunset Picnic Area, then bushwacking using a GPS receiver.

Centennial Arch has been documented, at least since the 1950's, as simply "Natural Bridge". It was appropriately renamed in 2007 in honor of the Oklahoma statehood centennial.

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Natural arches through granite are somewhat rare. Indeed, Centennial Arch may be the only arc natural arch that exists today in granite. The area around Centennial Arch is also very unusual because it boasts a cluster of granite arches, although they are all small. Perhaps the most interesting of these is called "Native Arch" by Rod Gertson, a frequent visitor to the area who first brought these arches to the attention of NABS. It is a double arch with an opening about 4 feet by 5 feet in size. Mr. Gertson's photo is below.



© 2007, 2008 by Jay H. Wilbur and Rod Gertson, All Rights Reserved.