The Wichita Mountains IMPROVE site is in a broad drainage in the Wichita Mountains. It is located on the lower slopes of Elk Mountain at an elevation of 518 m (1,699 ft). Valley bottom elevations in the vicinity are near 500 m (1,640 ft). Mountain summit elevations south of the drainage are near 650 to 680 m (2,130 to 2,230 ft). To the north terrain rises to 650 to 700 m (2,130 to 2,300 ft) at distances ~ 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi). The terrain is thus a generally WNW to ESE oriented valley, draining to the WSW toward the town of Lawton. Ground cover is predominantly grassland, with scattered patches of forest.