Cavanal Hill "The World's Highest Hill" - (918) 647-9178

Cavanal - Known as the Word's Highest Hill is located in Poteau, Oklahoma.

History

What does it take to be a mountain? Cavanal is 1,999 feet above the surrounding terrain and only likes 1 foot becoming a mountain.

The word “Cavanal” is derived from a French word meaning “Cave.” It was a favorite mountain for the French & Indians one hundred fifty years ago. On the mountains eastern side is the site of the Historic Witteville Coal Mines. At the turn of the century orchards were established by Captain McKenna. Also, during the same period, Walter Beard, an early Mayor of Poteau, operated a summer resort. Senator Kerr constructed a summer lodge at the site where the famous resort/hotel once stood. The senator also planted pine seedlings on the mountain. At this time, none of the above structures existed.

Thomas Nuttal of Boston became interested in the mountain in 1819 and spent time studying plant life, talking to the Indians & French Trappers about the mountains and its wonders. The Indians told him that they often heard rumbling noises from the deep caves.

Prior to World War II, an English Class in one of the High Schools of LeFlore County corresponded with a similar class in England. Each class gathered as much material as possible about the other country and sent it to them. Following this exchange, they prepared data about their own areas and exchanged that also. In the materials first exchanged, the England class found a report in a Boy Scout Manual that Cavanal located near Poteau, was the World’s Highest Hill. There was no explanation as to why it was so designated. Apparently there were no further letters between the two classes.

About 1952, the Poteau Chamber of Commerce started an investigation to try to determine how Cavanal came to be named “The World’s Highest Hill”. Very few sources even have a definition of a hill and a mountain; however, in checking with the British Geological Society, it was found that they defined a hill of being less than 2,000 feet above the local terrain and a mountain as being 2,000 feet or more above the local terrain. Several people have seen Geography books and other printed matter, which shows Cavanal to be the world’s highest hill. It has been established that Cavanal is 1,999 feet above the local terrain, just one foot short of being a mountain. However, it is still a mystery as to who put the original title, “The World’s Highest Hill”, on Cavanal.

The first road up Cavanal was built by a Poteau Man, Sam Sorrels, and the road followed almost the same route as the present road. Mr. Sorrels walked and showed the bulldozer where he wanted the road built. His road started at Witteville, which is about 2 miles from U.S. Highway 59 and is on the first plateau of Cavanal. Only 4 or 5 houses remain at Witteville, the once thriving coal mining town near Poteau.

In the early days of television, Mr. Sorrels deeded the road to the LeFlore County Highway System and also deeded a park site to the City of Poteau, atop Cavanal. A shelter house was built and many people went there to watch television because of the excellent reception.

There are several lookout points along the edge of the flat plateau on top of Cavanal. From these vantage points, the visitor can see almost 2/3 of LeFlore County and has a wonderful view of Lake Wister, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Poteau Mountains, and the Quachita National Forest mountains. The top of Cavanal is about 20° cooler in the summer than the valley below and there are picnic tables. There is a “hand-dug” well that provides excellent drinking water. An Indian Family dug the well around 1885 and the last 15 feet of the well was dug through solid rock, evidently hand chiseled. The state forestry department maintains a fire lookout tower on top of Cavanal and visitors are welcome to climb the tower for a better view of the countryside.

The top of Cavanal is relatively flat and has 5 small lakes that were established by the Oklahoma Game and Fish Commission. The soil is a sandy loam and produces top quality fruit. There are the remains of an apple orchard on the top at this time. Geologists say that the underground rock formation is in the shape of a bowl and that water-producing wells could easily be drilled on the 1/2 mile by 1 1/2 mile top.

Information for this brochure was taken from the following references:
“The Proud Heritage of LeFlore County” by Henry L. Peck.
“Oklahoma Place Names” by George H. Shirk
“Kiamichi Vacationland—Master Brochure”



Directions to Cavanal:
From the North: Hwy 59/271 in Poteau turn right at Hughes Drive. Proceed to the next stop sign and turn right onto Witteville Rd. Follow on this road for 1.2 miles until you reach a “Y” in the road. Go left to the top of the Hill.

From the South: Hwy 59/271 in Poteau, turn left at Smith Ave/Mockingbird Lane (4th Traffic Light), turn Right onto Witteville, follow up to the top.

Tags: Tourist Attraction