Set on the shores of the scenic, shallow, and salty lake of the same name, Great Salt Plains State Park lies in the north of Oklahoma. Home to delightfully desolate landscapes that seemingly stretch forever, it is named after the pretty plains of sparkling salt – all that remains of a once vast prehistoric ocean.

While the ceaseless salt scenery is spectacular, the state park also has a wealth of great outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. Besides mountain biking and hiking, there is fabulous swimming and boating to be had out on the lake, as well as some excellent fishing and bird watching.

Remarkably, Great Salt Plains State Park is the only place on Earth where you can dig up your own selenite crystals. From April to October, thousands of people descend on the state park to search for the hourglass-shaped crystals, bask in the beautiful views, and enjoy the recreational activities on offer.