Summary
The park is home to the Great Salt Plains Lake, a shallow saline lake that is popular for fishing, boating, and swimming. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, bird watching, and camping in the park.
One of the main attractions of the park is the salt flats, which are the only place in the world where hourglass-shaped selenite crystals can be found. These crystals are formed when the saltwater in the lake evaporates, leaving behind gypsum deposits that eventually crystallize into the unique shapes.
Other points of interest in the park include the Great Salt Plains Wildlife Viewing Area, which is home to a variety of migratory birds, including sandhill cranes, pelicans, and ducks. Visitors can also explore the nearby town of Jet, which has a rich history dating back to the pioneer days of Oklahoma.
The best time to visit Great Salt Plains State Park is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the wildlife is most active. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities and events throughout the year.
Overall, Great Salt Plains State Park is a unique and beautiful destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Its one-of-a-kind natural features and diverse wildlife make it a must-see destination in Oklahoma.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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