The Great Salt Plains NWR is located in northern Oklahoma in Alfalfa County north of Jet, east of Cherokee and bounded by SRs 38, 11, 8 and U.S. Highway 64.
Covering 32,000 acres and encompassing the Great Salt Plains, the area was once valued for its thin covering of salt and still draws large numbers of visitors who dig for selenite crystals on the salt flats.
The construction of the Salt River Dam has turned much of the area into a lake, but the flats remain among the largest in the Midwest. The refuge is home to beavers, coyotes, white-tailed deer, and visiting migratory birds.
A self-guided nature walk leads through various habitats. Visitors can also take a 2.5 mile driving tour.
The refuge takes in Great Salt Plains Lake and abuts Great Salt Plains State Park, which offers campsites and cabins. The refuge is open to vehicle traffic from dawn-dusk daily; the headquarters is open Mon-Fri from 7:30 am to 4 pm.
