Salt Plains Wildlife Refuge Guided Birding Tour & Crystal Dig, OK
October 18, 2026 - October 24, 2026
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An Exclusive Experience at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge!
Support Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge by helping maintain the Eagle Roost Trail and Hoot Owl Loop. Volunteers will have have a private tour from refuge staff to experience a guided bird walk during the fall migration to see more than 60,000 Sandhill Cranes! You can also dig for selenite crystals on the salt flats, the only place in the world this is possible!
Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge was established March 26, 1930, The refuge consists of 32,197 acres in north-central Oklahoma. Landscapes include salt flats, mixed-grass prairie, herbaceous wetlands, forested riparian areas, rolling sand hills, and open water. The salt flats have always held an important role to wildlife and people. The refuge has been designated a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy, and a site of International Importance within the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network.
There is no experience needed to join a Volunteer Vacation! Your expert hosts will provide detailed instruction, tool demonstrations, and project oversight throughout the week. All you need is a willing attitude and to be in good physical condition to participate in moderate physical activity for approximately 6-8 hours a day with plenty of breaks, at your own pace. Find out more about what it’s like to join a Volunteer Vacation and other frequently asked questions here.
Avg. Temperature:
Typical weather for this area during this season has highs of around 70–75°F and lows of 45–50°F. Late October in northern Oklahoma is pleasantly cool with generally dry conditions punctuated by occasional showers or thunderstorms.
Sample Schedule:
Day 1: Arrival
Typically meet in the afternoon for check in, introductions, orientation, and camp setup. (Time/place TBD)
Day 2: Work Day
Enjoy a hearty breakfast, pack lunches, and be on the trail between 8 AM and 9 AM
Lunch and plenty of other breaks will be included.
Wrap up the work day in the late afternoon and head back to camp and enjoy a few hours of daylight for free time.
Reconvene at a chosen time for dinner.
After dinner has been cleaned up, evenings offer plenty of time to relax, sit around the campfire and get to know your fellow crew members, or enjoy more free time.
Day 3: Work Day
Day 4: Rest Day (Specific Day on Trip Will Be Confirmed By Host)
Your choice! Explore the area, take a recreational hike, tour local attractions, or hang out at camp. Group excursions can be planned or set-out on your own.
Day 5: Work Day
Day 6: Work Day
Day 7: Departure
Pack up and clean up, celebrate your accomplishments, wish each other a fond farewell, and depart. Please note: This schedule is subject to change due to weather or other circumstances. Any updates will be communicated to the group.
Land Acknowledgment:
AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Osage, Comanche, Ute, Kiowa, Wichita, people past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded these islands and mountain landscapes for countless generations, and those who continue this stewardship today. This acknowledgement is one step in our ongoing commitment to uplift Indigenous voices. We invite the American Hiking Society community to learn about, support, and stand in solidarity with the Indigenous peoples whose lands we live, work, and recreate on.
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