Gloss Mountain State Park (also called Glass Mountain State Park) is a small day use park in northwest Oklahoma, where a cluster of red mesas rises out of the surrounding prairie. The rock here is full of selenite gypsum, so in bright sun the slopes catch the light and glint like scattered glass, which is where the name comes from. The strongest compositions are built from the low trails when the red walls of the mesas and table tops rise up against a clear blue sky. You can also take the short but steep trail up Cathedral Mountain, where a set of stairs gets you onto the mesa top and opens a wide view over the valley floor and the distant Lone Peak. Early or late in the day gives you the best light, warming the red rock and throwing long shadows across the prairie, while strong midday sun is the time to catch the sparkle in the gypsum. The skies out here can be a big part of your compositions too, often ranging from dramatic storm clouds and clean sunsets, to clear dark nights that make it an amazing stargazing spot if you stay late enough. This State Park is free to visit and open from sunrise to sunset (and often later if you are experimenting with astrophotography), with a parking area, picnic shelters and restrooms at the base. Watch your footing and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes in the warmer months. Make sure to stay on the trails while you are shooting in order to preserve the park's ecosystem. (Fairview, Oklahoma, USA)
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