Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma, United States

4The_Real_Birdcatcher 5:00 PM Aug 19, 2015

Can you dig it? Yes, I can!
Positives: Unique experience, great value (free!) Negatives: Remote location, limited facilities My wife loves places that offer the chance to find unusual minerals, so we scheduled a two day road trip through northern Oklahoma primarily to dig for selenite crystals here. Getting There - There are two main entrances to the dig site. The "south" entrance is over a gravel road about six miles west of Jet on US 64. The "west" entrance is over a paved road a couple of miles south of Cherokee, also on US 64. Inside the Refuge - Driving conditions varied inside the refuge. The parking area at the front gate was in good shape, but the road to the dig site was pockmarked with giant water-filled potholes. A large permanent sign warned visitors of "muddy conditions." (That was an understatement!) Another large parking area was available immediately next to the dig site. Like the first parking area, it was in good shape. Where to Dig - A large salt flat borders the lake; it extends quite a distance from the water. Digging is permitted in a relatively small section of the flat. A cable fence clearly marks the dig site. People are apparently reluctant to walk very far from their cars. We noticed many more holes at the front of the dig site than at the back. Thinking others had found "the mother lode," we started digging at the front, too, but found the area was "played out." Disappointed, we moved to further back where few holes had been dug. That's where we found larger, more interesting crystals in relative abundance. Solitude - We arrived about 2:00 p.m. on a Friday and found only two other people at the dig site. A group of six joined us after 3:30 p.m. About 5:00 p.m. a larger group including a photographer came to take what appeared to be high school pictures, At no time was the site was crowded. Be Prepared - Be sure to pack essentials like water, snacks, sun block and a change of shoes before you go. Towns near the refuge are small with few retail options. Amenities are almost non-existent at the dig site. A couple of restrooms and a wooden observation deck sit next to the main gate. Beyond that, you're on your own. You'll need a shovel or two, work gloves, and a container for your crystals. Due to the strong salt content of the soil, you'll probably want to change shoes after digging. We put our "work shoes" and gloves into plastic bags to keep salt from covering the floor of our vehicle. Looking for Crystals - No one told us how deep or wide to dig. We dug some deep holes but found most crystals in the top six inches of soil. We'd turn over a shovel-full of dirt and sift through the material by hand because the crystals blended with the salt-crusted sand. Once we got the hang of digging and sifting our production quality and quantity improved dramatically. The Bottom Line - Unless you live in the region, you really have to want to go here to visit this refuge. Depending on your temperament, its seclusion and solitude could be considered benefits...or drawbacks. Digging is only permitted from late spring to late autumn. But the opportunity to find crystals for free only one reason people travel here. The lake is on a major migratory route, making it a great place to watch birds and other wildlife. Additionally, fishing and hunting are conducted in season in the general vicinity. Lodging is extremely limited and expensive in the area. We drove 55 files to Blackwell to find a reasonably priced room. We'd like to visit again to watch flocks of birds migrate, but would want to find a place to stay closer to the refuge.

4suze h 5:00 PM Aug 9, 2020

amazing wildlife
Go for the day to see eagles, pelicans and other waterbirds. Camp at the nearby state park. Dig for crystals, go fishing, hiking. bring water if you g digging. be prepared t be really filthy afterwards.