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 accessible as points. 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 3400 acres of land public hunting land managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and approximately 4300 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 Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation regulations.