The Great Salt Plains

In northern oklahoma, eight miles north of the town of jet and 12 miles from cherokee in alfalfa county, there is a truly otherworldly place called the great salt plains state park. The great salt lake in this state park has half as much salt content compared to the ocean. Recreational opportunities at great salt plains state park include boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and exploring.

The stunning landscape of oklahoma salt plains state park is a dry, flat area that was once covered by an ocean. Great salt plains lake is located on the salt fork of the arkansas river near the communities of jet and cherokee. Salt plains national wildlife refuge was established march 26, 1930, for migratory and breeding birds.

Both marbled and hudsonian godwits have been seen in the spring as well as cinnamon teal.

The lake consists of 8,700 surface acres and sits in a basin bordered by salt plains on the west with red shale bluffs and sandy beaches nearer the dam. Visit great salt plains national wildlife refuge, one of the chain of refuge areas for ducks and geese on the continental central flyway. It is notable for the variety of birds that are attracted to ralstin island (not open to the public) and also for the selenite crystals that can be collected along the shoreline. The broad expanse of unvegetated salt plains (~65 km 2 ) is punctuated by small regions of sparse scrub brush.