09/01/2026
This is the Sandpiper Trail on the Northwestern edge of the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge near Jet Oklahoma. It's about 32,000 acres of flat, salty plains, water and woods. The massive flat salt crust was left by an ancient ocean. Yes these small pools of water were actually pink. The color is caused by a salt-loving bacteria and algae thriving in the highly concentrated salt water. When the water level drops and salt concentration spikes during the hot summer months the bacteria and algae multiply rapidly. The bacteria contains reddish-pink pigments to protect against intense solar radiation. The color disappears when rain dilutes the salt level. I didn't see any sandpipers but I did spot a couple coyotes trotting across the salt flat.
