Salt places to visit · Near Jet and Cherokee, Oklahoma
Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
A shimmering salt flat where anyone can dig for crystals, and one of the most important shorebird habitats in the Western Hemisphere.
At a glance
| Where | Alfalfa County, Near Jet and Cherokee, Oklahoma |
|---|---|
| Type of place | Wildlife refuge and crystal dig |
| What you'll do | Dig for selenite crystals (a form of gypsum, tinted chocolate-brown by iron) that grow just under the salt crust. Pour water into your hole to make them easier to spot. |
| When to go | The dig area is open April 1 to October 15, sunrise to sunset; it closes the rest of the year to protect whooping cranes. |
| Cost and limits | Free. Up to 10 pounds and one large cluster per person per day, and crystals may not be sold. |
| Bring | A shovel, sun protection and plenty of water, and rinse the salt off your car afterwards. |
Plan your visit: official information
The salt story
President Herbert Hoover created the refuge in 1930. It covers 32,080 acres, about a third of it bare salt flat, and about 312 bird species have been recorded. Long before that, the Osage people controlled the salt plains, using the salt to bleach deer hides and as a valuable trade good.
Hours, seasons and prices change. Check with the site before you travel.
More salt places
Cite this page
For school projects and reports. Teachers often prefer the original sources too: see the list below.
The Salt Almanac. (2026, November 8). Salt plains national wildlife refuge. https://saltalmanac.com/places/salt-plains-oklahoma
“Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge | Salt Places to Visit.” The Salt Almanac, 8 Nov. 2026, saltalmanac.com/places/salt-plains-oklahoma. Accessed [today's date].
“Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge | Salt Places to Visit.” The Salt Almanac. Last modified November 8, 2026. https://saltalmanac.com/places/salt-plains-oklahoma.
Original sources
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Selenite crystal digging, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/salt-plains/crystal-digging
- Wikipedia. Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Plains_National_Wildlife_Refuge