Bonneville Salt Flats
Our view of the Bonneville Salt Flats
Imagine a place so flat you can see the curvature of the Earth, so barren that not even the simplest life forms seem to exist.
The Bonneville Salt Flats is one of the most unique natural features in Utah, or the U.S. for that matter, stretching over 30,000 acres. It is located along I-80 near the Utah-Nevada border. This was one the top bucket list locations to visit on our cross-country road trips in 2019. To say we enjoyed our time there would be major understatement. We absolutely loved it. So much so we visited on both of our cross-country road trips of 2019! If it's not on your bucket list, add it immediately.
Terry and Janet on the Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats is a densely packed salt pan in Tooele County in northwestern Utah. The area is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville and is the largest of many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake. The property is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is known for land speed records at the "Bonneville Speedway". Access to the flats is open to the public.
The famous Bonneville Speedway is located in the western portion of the flats, near Wendover, Utah. It is perfectly flat and has a thick crust of salty soil. It looks like a frozen lake bed covered with snow. No vegetation grows on the salt flats.
Driving on the Bonneville Speedway
Perhaps the most impressive spot to view the Salt Flats is along along I-80, about 10 miles east of Wendover. A rest stop has been established there (offering restrooms and water). The rest area is surrounded by perfectly flat land that looks like it is covered by snow. To the north and west, low mountains break the view. To the east and south, it looks like flat land extends virtually forever.
At the rest stop you can walk out onto the salty soil. When you return, a water spray station has been set up so you can wash the salt from your shoes.
This is not an alien planet far from Earth. This is the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats.