Optima Lake is located in the panhandle of Oklahoma in Texas County on the Beaver River, approximately 4 1/2 miles northeast of Hardesty, and 20 miles east of Guymon. All public use areas around the lake are access points only. The water level in the lake has never reached normal pool.
Visitors should be aware that the lake's level can be very low. Depending on rainfall and evaporation rates, the lake may offer no water-based recreation and may not be suitable for swimming, fishing, boating or other activities. Visitors should come for the quiet natural setting -- with or without water in the lake area.
There is approximately 3,400 acres of public hunting land managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and approximately 4,300 acres of Federal Wildlife Refuge. The primary species available are quail, deer, dove, pheasant, and turkey. The public hunting area is open year round, and is governed by ODWC regulations. Some special regulations may apply on the Wildlife Refuge. Optima Lake is also a prime area to view a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds.