Prepare Your Vehicle for a Trip to Great Salt Plains Selenite Crystal Digging Area
- Korina Dove
- Jan 22
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 17
Let's face it, mining for selenite crystals is a dirty job. While you don't need to do anything special to prepare the outside of your vehicle for a trip to the Great Salt Plains, taking a few steps before you get elbows deep inside a crystal hole can save you a trip to the vacuum side of the carwash after you leave. Take these tips with a grain of salt while planning your visit to the Selenite Crystal Digging Area at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Alfalfa County.
Prepare Your Vehicle for a Trip to Great Salt Plains - Car Prep for Crystal Diggers
Place plastic or cardboard materials over your floorboards. Large trashbags or broken-down boxes work great.
Throw some blankets over the seats. You can use plastic or cardboard, too, but your passengers might appreciate a blanket more.
Put on comfortable shoes and clothing that you don't mind getting muddy and sandy.
If possible, pack an extra pair of shoes and clothes. Yes, this is totally related to the interior of your vehicle.
No Need to Get Salty! Minimize Interior Salt & Sand
After you finish mining crystals, try to dry off as best as you can if you're wet, and dust as much salt and sand off your clothes as possible.
Sit on a tailgate or the edge of the seat of your car with the door open and clap your shoes together to get off bulk of sand and salt off the soles of your shoes.
Change into clean shoes, if you brought them, and put your dirty shoes in a plastic bag or container.
Drive to the entryway restrooms and change into clean clothes, if available.
Rinse your hands with tap water or clean with wet wipes.
Take a selfie with your haul, and leave a review about your trip to the Selenite Crystal Digging Area!
Take Scenic Drives on the Salt Flats
If you're just visiting the Selenite Crystal Digging Area for a scenic drive and not getting out to dig crystals, you don't need to do anything special to prepare your vehicle for the trip.
The tires on your vehicle will pick up some salt, most of which will be whisked away as soon as you head out on the highway, but salt from the salt flats can damage metal and other materials, so it's always a good idea to give the bottom of your car a quick rinse after you leave the salt flats.
So you know: During open season, visitors are always welcome to use the main road to drive to Crystal digging areas, take photos or have a look around. During off season, vehicles can park outside the entryway to take in views from the Observation Deck, which is open to the public every day of the year.
Opening Season & Hours of Selenite Crystal Digging Area
Crystal Digging Area: open sunrise to sunset, April 1 to October 15
Observation Deck: open 24 hours, year-round
Best Time to Go Crystal Digging
Spring: Anytime of day
Summer: Early morning
Fall: Anytime of day
Not sure what you're getting yourself into? Learn all about how to dig crystals in our Guide to Selenite Crystal Digging Area.
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