SH-49 begins in Kiowa County at SH-54 south of Cooperton and heads due east. The highway crosses into Comanche Co. about east of that point. The road continues east for about two miles more, where it makes a ninety-degree turn to the north. It continues north for around a half-mile, then angles northeast. It then enters the Wichita MountainsWildlife Refuge. Through the refuge, SH-49 is unsigned, appearing only as a nameless road. Inside the refuge, the speed limit drops to, with a night speed limit of. Upon entering the refuge, the highway curves around to the southwest. SH-49 passes in between Big Four Mountain and Sunset Peak. The road then drops down to Antelope Flat, where it crosses the stream that feeds Caddo Lake, as well as passing near the lake itself. It serves as the northern terminus of Indiahoma Road, which heads south towards French Lake, the trailhead of the Dog Run Hollow hiking trail, and many of the peaks in the southwest part of the refuge, before eventually serving the town of Indiahoma south of the refuge. After the Indiahoma Road intersection, it crosses the stream that forms French Lake. At the Boulder Turnoff, it intersects the road leading to Lost Lake and Eagle Mountain. The road then curves northeast to bypass Quanah Parker Lake and its campsite. The road then curves due south towards the Cache Wye. At the Cache Wye, SH-49 intersects State Highway 115, which is also unsigned. Motorists on eastbound SH-49 that continue straight at the junction will be put on southbound SH-115; to continue east, a left turn must be made. SH-49 and SH-115 are effectively concurrent east of the Cache Wye, although signage is still not posted. The two highways turn northeast, then curve back around to the east. SH-115 then splits off to the north, while SH-49 continues a general eastbound heading. SH-49 continues through the eastern part of the refuge. It serves as the primary access to Mount Scott, with an access road connecting the highway to the mountain's summit. SH-49 then passes between Elmer Thomas Lake and Lake Lawtonka before exiting the refuge. At this entrance to the park, there is an "end SH-49" assembly posted on westbound SH-49. This is an error, as SH-49 exits the other side of the park, and ODOT does not list two different SH-49s. After leaving the refuge, SH-49 passes through the south side of Medicine Park. Running south of Mount Cummins, it meets the southern terminus of State Highway 58. Four miles later, it ends at I-44 exit 45.
History
SH-49 was added to the state highway system in 1939. At this time, SH-49 began at US-62 in Cache, and entered the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, following present-day SH-115 until the Cache Wye. SH-49 then emerged from the refuge near Medicine Park and followed the remainder of its present-day routing. The portion of highway between the Cache Wye and Cache itself was renumbered to become part of SH-115 in 1962. The same year, the portion of road leading west from the Cache Wye to SH-54 was added to the highway, bringing it to its present-day extent. At this time, the road between SH-54 and the Cache Wye was gravel. It was paved in 1973.
