9 Activities at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge | Crystal Digging, Birdwatching, Hunting & Fishing

One of the more than 100,000 tourists who visit Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge each year shows off an hourglass selenite crystal mined at the Selenite Crystal Digging Area in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. Photo provided by The_Real_Birdcatcher.

There's only one place in the world visitors can find a free Selenite Crystal Digging Area, historic Great Salt Plains Lake, and a designated National Birding Area all rolled into one, and that's at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge — Alfalfa County's top attraction for visitors to Great Salt Plains. Get maps of the entire refuge area, plus designatied public hunting and fishing areas. Enjoy bonus tips about crystal digging, waterfowl and wildlife viewing, and hiking trails at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.

Visitor Information

• Hours: Open from sunrise to sunset, year-round (see dates for Crystal Digging Season)

• Entry fee: Free

• Pet policy: Pets allowed on a leash

  
  

Quick Info

• Crystal Digging

• Birdwatching & Waterfowl Reports

• Public Hunting & Fishing Areas

• Great Salt Plains Lake

• Hiking Trails & Driving Tours

• Scenic Viewpoints & Stargazing

• Field Trips

• Camping & Cabins

• Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

• Directions

• FAQs

It's not the Serengeti in Africa! It's the Great Salt Plains in Northwest Oklahoma! Enjoy uninterrupted sunset views and wildlife viewing on Harold F. Miller Auto Tour Route, one of many scenic trails available at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma.

Things to Do at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

Located in one of the smallest counties in Oklahoma, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge offers some of the biggest outdoor experiences. The refuge’s most popular attraction, the Selenite Crystal Digging Area, is the only place in the world where visitors can dig for hourglass selenite crystals, and the refuge as a whole is listed as a Globally Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. View bald eagles in the wild, go crystal digging, book campgrounds, and enjoy the many outdoor activities available for free at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.

Jordon Ott digs the first crystal digging hole of the 2025 season. A rockhound from Michigan, Jordon drove with her husband, Pat, to mine the jewels of Alfalfa County. She scored a baby crystal cluster on her first dig!

1. Crystal Digging at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

One of the most popular seasonal activities at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is crystal digging at Great Salt Plains. More than 100,000 people visit annually to mine the jewels of Alfalfa County, the only place in the world to dig hourglass selenite crystals for free.

Massive crystal clusters can be mined at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge with some patience. This cluster was mined around 2010 by Keith Smith of Cherokee, Oklahoma. It measures about 8 inches long and 6 inches wide and weighs nearly 1 pound.

What are Hourglass Selenite Crystals?

The official State Crystal of Oklahoma, hourglass selenite crystals are clear crystals with a brown hourglass shape in the center. The unique crystals are formed when saline groundwater interacts with mineral gypsum in areas that contain fine sand and clay. Many people believe hourglass selenite crystals have special healing properties. The salt flats in Oklahoma are one of the only areas in the world where this phenomenon occurs, and Alfalfa County is the only place on earth where visitors can dig hourglass selenite crystals for free.

• Cyrstal Digging Season: April 1 to October 15

• Hours: Sunrise to sunset

• Entry fee: Free

Amenities at Selenite Crystal Digging Area

• Parking: Free at entryway and dig sites

• Restrooms: Located at entryway

• Showers: Not available

• Food and drink: Not available

Look for Selenite Sam on State Highway 8 west of Jet, Oklahoma, for directions to the Selenite Crystal Digging Area at Great Salt Plains in Alfalfa County.

Directions to Selenite Crystal Digging Area

The Selenite Crystal Digging Area occupies nearly one-third of the western side of Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge and is accessible by car. The drive to the crystal digging area takes about 20 minutes from Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center, with two main routes available and many interesting landmarks to see along the way.

Find the entryway to the Selenite Crystal Digging Area by way of U.S. 64 through Jet or SH 8 through Cherokee. Signs that indicate the way to the salt flats are well marked with Selenite Sam and easity spotted from the road.

Please note: The final roads leading to the entryway of the Selenite Crystal Digging Area are dirt and gravel. Travelers should be prepared to drive slowly and be especially cautious during rainy weather.

• From Jet: Drive 7 miles west on US 64, then go 3 miles north and 2 miles east.

• From Cherokee: Drive 2 miles south and 5 miles east.

Need a lesson on digging crystals at Great Salt Plains? Get crystal digging tips in the Guide to Selenite Crystal Digging Area.

From State Highway 64 south of Cherokee, visitors follow directions from Selenite Sam to the Selenite Crystal Digging Area, part of Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. Photo by meador.org.

Two bald eagles soak up some sunshine during mild fall weather in Northwest Oklahoma. Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge serves as a safe nesting place for bald and golden eagles, as well as endangered whooping cranes.

2. Birdwatching & Wildlife Viewing

Prepare your binoculars for one-of-a-kind birdwatching and wildlife viewing at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Thousands of wildlife enthusiasts flock to the refuge year-round to watch nesting bald eagles, endangered whooping cranes and more than 300 species of migratory waterfowl in natural habitats. Visitors also are likely to spot native wildlife, like white-tailed deer, porcupines, American badgers, eastern fox squirrels, and even muskrats on occasion.

Best Times & Places for Birding and Viewing Wildlife

The best times for watching annual migrations of waterfowl and wildlife at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge are spring and fall. Winter months are best for viewing nesting eagles.

• March to May: Catch peak migration for shorebirds, including semipalmated sandpipers, western sandpipers, and white-rumped sandpipers from the Observation Deck at Selenite Crystal Digging Area and refuge hiking trails.

• July to October: Visit during peak migration for shorebirds, including greater yellowlegs, willets, sanderlings, least sandpipers, and stilt sandpipers, and spot them from the north spillway dam overlook, Eagle Roost Trail Observation Deck, and Casey Tower Overlook, part of Harold F. Miller Auto Tour Route.

• October to early April: See whooping cranes and sandhill cranes at Eagle Roost Trail, Cottonwood Point (open to fishing only), Jet Recreation Trail, and Hoot Owl Loop.

• November to February: Visit the refuge during peak nesting season for golden and bald eagles. See them from Jet Recreation Trail, Cottonwood Point Fishing Trail (open to fishing only), and Harold F. Miller Auto Tour Route.

Fun Fact: As well as furnishing safe habitats for endangered species like bald eagles and whooping cranes, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge provides a safe stopover every year for more than 40,000 American White Pelicans, 100,000 geese, 70,000 ducks, and thousands of sandhill cranes.

Resource: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tips for Best Views at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

• Go out early to enjoy watching birds and wildlife when they are most active. Birds on the refuge tend to settle down shortly before or after noon. 

• Eagle Roost Trail is a good place to see sandhill cranes in the morning and at sunset.

• Capture sunset views of birds in wide-open native grasslands at Big Marsh Overlook on State Highway 11.

Watch birding activity and keep up with waterfowl counts with National Audubon Society’s Important Bird Area Data.

⬇️ Download the official Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Bird Checklist from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Bird Checklist.pdf

Download PDF • 569KB

Fishing enthusiasts reel in walleye, catfish, largemouth bass, and other fish species from waterways at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge and Great Salt Plains Lake in Alfalfa County.

3. Public Hunting and Fishing Areas

Hunting and fishing are two big reasons visitors head to Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge all year long. Find out how to hunt on refuge wildlife areas for deer, geese, sandhill cranes and other game, as well as where to catch catfish, largemouth bass and more popular fish species.

Hunting Areas & Wildlife Regulations

Hunting is one of the most popular activities during fall and winter throughout the Great Salt Plains region. Out-of-state hunters who do not have access to private lands through local guides can use Salt Plains National Wildlife Public Hunting Areas north of State Highway 11 to hunt waterfowl, deer and other game during specified gaming seasons.

Light brown areas outline the public hunting area on a map of the northern section of Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Map provided by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Hunt Types Available at Refuge Public Hunting Area

• White-tailed deer: Allowed via permit through Oklahoma State Controlled Hunting Program

• Spring turkey: Allowed via permit through Oklahoma State Controlled Hunting Program

• Ducks: Follow Oklahoma State Seasons for Zone 1

• Geese: Follow Oklahoma State Seasons for Zone 1

• Mergansers: Follow Oklahoma State Seasons for Zone 1

• Coot: Follow Oklahoma State Seasons for Zone 1

• Sandhill Crane: Follow Oklahoma State Seasons for Zone 1

• Pheasant: Follow Oklahoma State Seasons for Zone 1

• Quail: Follow Oklahoma State Seasons for Zone 1

• Dove: Follow Oklahoma State Seasons for Zone 1

Download full zoning and state hunting regulations: Hunting Brochure for Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.

Directions to Public Hunting Area Parking

Fishing at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

Fishing season at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge runs hand-in-hand with crystal digging season. Public fishing areas and trails are open April 1 to October 15, with the exception of the area east of the buoy line of Great Salt Plains Lake, which is open year-round. Licensed fishing enthusiasts can throw a line in at any of these locations from sunrise to sunset any day of the week during open fishing season.

Light blue areas on map indicate waterways and areas at Great Salt Plains Lake open to public fishing. The eastern tip of the lake is open for year-round fishing, while other areas are open from April 1 to October 15. Map provided by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Public Fishing Areas

• Along State Highway 11: Under any right-of-way bridges and bridges over Sand Creek.

• North State Highway 11: All waterways between county roads 670 to 700

• Cottonwood Point Fishing Trail: Closed to hikers not fishing

• Sand Creek Fishing Trail: North of State Highway 11

• Jet Recreation Trail: Accessible by State Highway 38, south of dam spillway

• Bonham Kids’ Pond: Located just west of Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center

• Great Salt Plains Lake: Open year-round west of buoy line south of Cottonwood Point Fishing Trail

Download map and full regulations: Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Fishing and Boating Brochure

Bonus Fishy Adventure: Not into fishing but love lake life? Take a sunset drive past Byron State Fish Hatchery, just north of the refuge on County Road 710. Managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the hatchery produces walleye, saugeye, sauger, striped bass and other species of fish that stock nearby fishing areas. In operation since 1929, Byron State Fish Hatchery sometimes offers tours to the public. Call ahead to check for staff availability.

• Phone: (580) 474-2663

• Address: 71082 Jefferson Road, Byron, OK 73722

• Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., M-F

Kayaking is a perfect activity at Great Salt Plains Lake. Consistent low lake levels and high saline content put a damper on swimming and motorboating in the lake, but sunset views on the water can't be Photo by Becky Wilber.

4. Great Salt Plains Lake

Technically a reservoir formed from the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River, Great Salt Plains Lake serves as a recreational area at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge and a historic landmark for all of Alfalfa County. Designed as a flood control system for the larger Great Salt Plains area, Great Salt Plains Lake was built following a 1931 study for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Construction of the lake began in September 1938, with the dam being completed in July 1941.

Today, visitors enjoy catching catfish and largemouth bass from the banks of Great Salt Plains Lake, photographing its red shale bluffs, kayaking on shallow waters, and soaking up sunset views over the dam spillway. Campgrounds around the lake are available year-round through Salt Plains State Park. Book RV sites with full hookups, tent camping sites and cabins online or through the office.

Fun Fact: Due to its being built on the edge of Alfalfa County's salt flats, Great Salt Plains Lake has a saline content of nearly one-fourth that of the ocean.

A baby heron waits for its siblings to hatch in a nest on Ralston Island at Great Salt Plains Lake. The island is the largest heron rookery in Oklahoma and hosts more than 30,000 birds each year that shelter at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.

Ralston Island

The largest heron rookery in Oklahoma, Ralston Island stands out in the center of Great Salt Plains Lake. Closed to visitors, the island once welcomed energetic swimmiers and kayakers to its shores. Today, it serves as a host to more than 30,000 birds each year. Protective barriers added to Ralston island in the early 2000s help protect the island from erosion.

Resources: National Geographic

Great Salt Plains Lake Levels & Boat Launches

Consistently low lake levels, high saline content, and an average depth of only 4 feet during recent years have put an unwelcome damper on swimming and boating in Great Salt Plains Lake. While it is generally safe for visitors to swim in Great Salt Plains Lake, it is not recommended. Likewise, larger boats are allowed in the lake via boat ramps, but due to shallow lake levels, it is not recommended to use large boats, particularly heavy boats with motors. Kayaks can be launched from Sandy Beach or any designated boat ramp.

Boat Launches

• Cottonwood Point

• Sandy Beach

• Coon Hollow

• Zaloudek

The entryway to Eagle Roost Nature Trail offers displays of nature and wildlife to look for at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors may see squirrels, skunks, racoons and deer, as well as marshlands and several native tree species. The trail also hosts engangered birds, like bald eagles and whooping cranes.

5. Hiking Trails & Driving Tours

Two things you can always count on with a visit to Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge are open nature trails and driving tours. Access to free on-site walking trails at the refuge and hiking and equestrian trails next door at Salt Plains State Park guarantee visitors see new wildlife every day while visiting Great Salt Plains.

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Hiking Trails

• Eagle Roost National Recreation Trail

• Hoot Owl Loop

• Sandpiper Nature Trail

• Jet Recreation Trail

• Casey Marsh Trail (Accessible by Harold F. Miller Auto Tour Route)

Salt Plains State Park Hiking Trails

• Nathan Boone Trail

• Nathan Boone Southwest Loop

• Nathan Boone North Loop

• Sibley Equestrian Trail

• Sibley Equestrian Trail South

• Tonkawa Trail & Wildwood Chapel Trailhead

Please note: Salt Plains State Park charges a $10 fee for all vehicles that enter the park. Fees can be paid online by scanning the QR code on signs in designated areas.

Get full details of hiking trails, including wildlife viewing, trailhead locations, distance of trails and fitness level requirements, from Hiking Trails at Great Salt Plains | Best Places to Explore Outdoors in Alfalfa County.

Enjoy clear night skies and incredible stargazing experiences from the Observation Tower at the Selenite Crystal Digging Area. Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge and all of Alfalfa County are rated Level 3 for rural skies on the Bortle Dark Sky Scale.

6. Scenic Viewpoints & Best Stargazing Spots

With no tall buildings, few highline wires and no modern wind turbines dotting the horizon, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge offers some of the most stunning sunset views on the planet. Likewise, stargazing under the clear skies of rural Oklahoma is like nothing many people have experienced before. On clear nights, with little light pollution present, the Milky Way is generally visible after 10:30 p.m.

Top Scenic Viewpoints

• Dam Overlook at North Spillway

• Eagle Roost Trail Observation Deck

• Casey Tower Overlook (part of Harold F. Miller Auto Tour Route)

• Big Marsh Boardwalk

• Sandpiper Trail Observation Deck

• George Sibley Monument

• Selenite Crystal Digging Area Observation Tower

Stargazing tip: All of Alfalfa County is rated for fairly low levels of light pollution — Level 3 on the Bortle Dark Sky Scale. Rural areas near industrial sites, however, may not provide the clearest night sky views. For best stargazing in Alfalfa County, look for areas away from bright lights and outside of towns.

Kids under 16 years old can fish in Bonham Kid's Pond from April 1 to October 15 at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. The pond is located just west of the Visitor Center, across the road from Eagle Roost Trailhead.

7. Field Trips at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

Do you want the privilege of having a Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Specialist all to yourself and a small group of friends or children? Field trips and private tours at the refuge are available year-round at no charge. Anyone interested just needs to call at least a week in advance. Groups can choose from a variety of tours and even suggest a customized field trip to learn about specific refuge features.

Available April 1 to October 15

• Selenite Crystal Digging and Great Salt Plains History Tours: Learn how to dig for crystals, the military history of the salt flats and the importance of the Great Salt Plains to wildlife.

• Fishing Activity: Practice casting, learn about species of fish at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, and fish in Bonham Kids' Pond. The fishing activity is open to everyone of all ages. Fishing in Bonham Kids' Pond is limited to youths under the age of 16.

Available Year-Round

• Birdwatching and Nature Walks: Learn about the more than 300 species of birds at the refuge, feel feathers collected from the wild, and view other common items found on refuge trails, like tracks and scat, more commonly known as animal poop. 🤭

Schedule a Field Trip or Activity

• Contact: Melissa Robell

• Email: melissa_robell@fws.gov

• Phone: (580) 596-6454

Please note: At least one week notice is required for all field trips, tours, and activities.

Campers on River Road at Salt Plains State Park enjoy a campfire after fishing and hiking at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Philip Richmond.

8. Camping at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

Technically, you can't camp at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, but you can camp right next door at Salt Plains State Park. You'll find 116 campsites with full hookups for RVs, and shady spots for tent camping, plus six adorable rental cabins and two equestrian campgrounds, ready for use. Salt Plains State Park also offers a community building for small events and day use picnic shelters for quick getaways to Great Salt Plains.

Campgrounds

• Sandy Beach Campground

• Sandy Beach West Campground (tent camping only)

• River Road Campground

• North Spillway Campground

• South Spillway Campground

• Salt Plains Campground

• Nathan Boone Equestrian Camp

• George Sibley Equestrian Camp

Booking Campsites & Cabins at Salt Plains State Park

• Online: okstateparks.reserveamerica.com

• By phone: (580) 626-4731

• By email: Hannah.Miller@travelok.com

• In person: 23280 S. Spillway Drive, Jet, OK 73749

  
  

Find Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center next to the blue sign with a sandhill crane at 71189 Harper Road.

9. Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Information

The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is currently under construction, but visitors always have access to refuge staff during regular hours. Call with questions about activities and services at the refuge, get directions to specific locations, or ask for information about an interesting sight.

• Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., M-F

• Address: 71189 Harper Road, Jet OK

• Phone: (580) 596-6454

Good News! New displays and better infrastructure are expected to be unveiled at the Visitor Center in 2025. Watch Alfalfa County Buzz for the big announcement!

Directions to Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

FAQs

When can you dig for crystals in Oklahoma?

Visitors can dig for crystals from April 1 to October 15 at the Selenite Crystal Digging Area, part of Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. It's the only place in the world you can dig hourglass selenite crystals for free.

How much does it cost to go to the Great salt plains?

Entering Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is always free. In fact, visiting Great Salt Plains is one of the cheapest vacations families and solo travelers can take. Most activities at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge and Salt Plains State Park are free. Licenses are required to fish and hunt. Salt Plains State Park charges nominal campground fees for RV sites, tent camping sites and cabins. There is a $10 fee to enter Salt Plains State Park.

What caused the salt flats in Oklahoma?

It is believed that the salt flats in Oklahoma were formed thousands of years ago after a shallow sea evaporated and left behind saline groundwater.

What is there to do in Salt Plains State Park?

Salt Plains State Park has tons of activities, including camping, fishing, and hiking. It also sits next door to Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, popular for crystal digging, birdwatching, fishing, hunting, and hiking.

What are the Great Salt Plains?

The Great Salt Plains make up a unique land mass in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, that takes up 11,200 acres of Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. The area is best known for the Selenite Crystal Digging Area, the only place in the world visitors can dig hourglass selenite crystals for free, and being a National Birding Area where endangered species, like bald eagles and whooping cranes, nest and shelter.