Your Exploration Guide for Crystal Digging at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Great Salt Lake out in Utah, but have you heard of the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma? Yes, you read that right – in Oklahoma! Located just a few hours away from Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Wichita, the salt plains are accessible from all directions. It’s easily a day trip from those areas, but why not pitch a tent and camp under the stars while you’re there?

Crystal digging is one of the main activities in the Salt Plains. Young and old alike love finding treasure buried in the sand, and for a minimal car entry fee, you can spend the afternoon looking for selenite crystals.

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How did the Salt Plains Form in Oklahoma?

This part of Oklahoma was covered by an ocean in prehistoric times. When that ocean water evaporated, the salt remained. There is still a saline aquifer running below the land. When the saline groundwater makes contact with gypsum, selenite crystals are formed. These hourglass selenite crystals are only found in this 64-mile stretch of land near Jet, Oklahoma.

The salt plains were important to local history as salt was used for food preservation. Animals also loved to visit the salt flats, which made this a prime hunting ground. Because salt was such a valuable resource, many intense territorial battles occurred in this location. In 1930, President Hoover designated it a national wildlife refuge.

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Getting to Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is just a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Oklahoma City or just under two hours from Wichita, Kansas. The time goes by fast because the drive passes through some beautiful countryside. We stopped to take photos at the canola fields on the way!

What to Do at Salt Plains Wildlife Refuge

Although the main attraction at the salt plains is the selenite crystals, don’t let this rural landscape fool you. There are lots of other family activities such as birdwatching, hiking, and horseback riding available to visitors.

Download this map from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board that clearly shows where everything is in the area. Note that the dig area is southwest of the lake and the state park is in the northeast.

The wildlife area is a great place to see waterfowl and other birds. This refuge area was initially set up to protect migratory birds. Over 300 different species of birds, including the Whooping Crane, have been spotted here.

There are seven hiking and biking trails here including the easy 2.50-mile loop Eagle Roost Nature Trail.

Selenite Crystal Digging

Who knew you could spend a day digging for crystals in Oklahoma? The Selenite Crystal Dig Area is located in the Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Area at 66003 Garvin Road, Cherokee, OK 73728. It is southwest of the Great Salt Plains Lake. The best access points are located six miles west of Jet or three miles south of Cherokee.

Follow the signs for the designated digging area. All other areas are off limits to digging to protect local wildlife, especially the birds.

Tip: Make sure you enter the crystal digging area into your GPS. Cellular service can be spotty out there. If you don’t put in the coordinates beforehand, you may end up half an hour away at the state park!

The best part of salt plains Oklahoma is you can enjoy hours of crystal digging here. The hourglass-shaped selenite crystals are just a few inches under the surface, so even small children can easily find them with a small shovel.

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What’s so Special About Selenite?

As I mentioned before, the selenite minerals formed over time. Selenite itself is a relatively common crystal, at the Oklahoma dig site you can collect unique hourglass crystals. When held to the light, you can see an hourglass shape almost buried in the crystal itself. If you’re into healing properties of crystals, the Oklahoma hourglass selenite is used to clear negative energies.

What to Bring for Digging Crystals

If you plan to go out on the salt flats, I would recommend bringing:

Food/lunch
Snacks
Digging tools: shovel, hand trowel, bucket
Lots of water – Both for drinking and for rinsing the jewels
Towels or large body wipes to clean off dirty kids
Wear some clothes you don’t care about ruining
Laundry bag to store your dirty digging clothes – otherwise, the sand gets EVERYWHERE in the car
Sunscreen
Change of clean clothes for the ride home

When is the Best Time to Dig for Selenite in Oklahoma?

Crystal digging season is April 1 through October 15 from sunup to sundown. It’s very easy to spend an entire day at the park! If you’re going in the hotter summer months, get out there early. Extreme heat is common in the middle of the day.

The dig area is closed the rest of the year due to endangered whooping cranes migrating through Oklahoma.

How Much Does Crystal Digging Cost

It is free to dig for crystals from the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge – perfect for families on a budget.

Is there a limit on how many hourglass selenite crystals I can dig?

The limit is 10 pounds, plus one additional large cluster for their personal use.

Can I sell the selenite crystals I find?

Selling the hourglass crystals from the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is illegal, under penalty of law

Is it Hard to Find the Crystals?

Once you reach the digging area, stake out a spot for your family’s dig. Use a small shovel to make a hole about 2 feet around and dig down until you hit wet sand. It should be only a couple feet. If there is actual water in the bottom of your hole, splash it up around the edges and it will reveal crystals for you. Remove the crystals carefully. Some people I ran into recommended bringing egg crates or bubble wrap to transport your crystals as some of them are fragile.

Because the crystals are relatively close to the surface, even young kids should have no problem finding their special treasures.

Bonus: The sand here is pliable so you can make sandcastles or sand animals with your family. We made a giant lizard!

The dig site for crystals is in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. The Great Salt Plains Lake is nestled between the refuge and Great Salt Plains State Park. This can be easily confused, so if you are using your GPS or looking for directions, make sure you’re using the correct location.

Explore the Great Salt Plains State Park

After you’ve had your fill of crystal digging, spend some time exploring the surrounding area. You might be surprised to find that there is a lot to do here!

Note: You’ll need a parking pass for most Oklahoma State Parks, including the Great Salt Plains State Park. You can pay at the park, buy in advance online, or opt for an annual pass for $75.00.

Download this map of the state park from the state tourism office.

Enjoy the Lake

The Great Salt Plains Lake is a saltwater lake that is half as salty as the ocean. It’s a popular spot for fishing, both onshore and in a boat. You can cast your line for hybrid striper, catfish, and sand bass.

The lake is also a great place to go swimming, canoeing, or kayaking. You’ll want to bring your own canoe or kayak as there isn’t a place nearby to rent them.

Go Hiking or Biking

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails to explore as well. We saw some wildflowers and caught a glimpse of wildlife on our hike. The kids loved getting out and exploring nature. The Nathan Boone Trail is an easy 5.3 miles loop with great views of the lake, red bluffs, and the salt flats across the lake.

State Park Camping

The Great Salt Plains State Park has camping and restrooms, making an overnight stay convenient. Making your trip a weekend getaway allows kids to not only search for crystals but also enjoy the unique environment, which includes marshes and grasslands. Parking passes are included for overnight guests.

There are 95 camping sites and 64 RV sites here for overnight stays. For the convenience of visitors, comfort stations with showers are available in the campgrounds and throughout the park. You can make reservations here through the state tourism system.

If you’re not up for pitching a tent, six renovated, eco-friendly cabins may be reserved. Each has a fridge and stove, as well as reasonably priced rates. Cabins require a 2-night minimum stay on weekends and a 3-night minimum stay on holiday weekends during peak season. You can make reservations here through the state tourism system.

This is a fun day trip for the entire family. Crystal digging in Oklahoma is truly one of the most unique places to do in the state and even the United States. It’s something you won’t forget! And it’s a great opportunity to find some unique crystals. Just be sure to pack everything you need before heading out. And don’t forget the sunscreen!

Find out more about this and other state parks on the TravelOK website. More information about the wildlife refuge area is available on the US Fish and Wildlife Service website. You can also find more weekend getaway ideas in Oklahoma here too.

Have you ever been crystal digging? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below!

Guest Author: Emily Stringer, The Traveling Okies

Emily is an avid traveler and homeschool mom based in Yukon, Oklahoma. When she isn’t busy teaching she enjoys traveling both in the US and across the world. Besides traveling she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. Something fun to know about Emily is she collects a cookbook from every country she visits.

Find Emily on Instagram @travelingokie405 or join her Facebook Group of traveling okies here.

Originally published June 8, 2020. Updated May 2023.

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For more family travel inspiration, check out our latest posts here:

Your Exploration Guide for Crystal Digging at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

How did the Salt Plains Form in Oklahoma?

Getting to Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

What to Do at Salt Plains Wildlife Refuge

Selenite Crystal Digging

Find These Camping Meal Plans and More in Our Etsy Shop.

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Find These Camping Meal Plans and More in Our Etsy Shop.

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