Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge protects one of Oklahoma's strangest combinations of landscape and wildlife habitat. A broad expanse of salt flats borders wetlands, prairie and Great Salt Plains Lake, creating an environment that attracts large numbers of migratory birds while also exposing a glittering mineral surface unlike almost anywhere else in the state. The refuge is internationally known for hourglass-shaped selenite crystals that form beneath the salt surface. In designated areas and during the permitted season, visitors can dig for crystals, which often contain the distinctive hourglass inclusion created by sand trapped during growth. Birding is equally important. The refuge lies along major migration routes and supports waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and other species. Conditions on the flats can be harsh, with intense sun, wind and very little shade, so water and sun protection are essential. Crystal digging, wildlife observation and the unusual geology make the refuge one of Oklahoma's most distinctive natural destinations.