Great Salt Lake Region, Utah Attractions
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The Great Salt Lake travel region includes the counties of Tooele and Salt Lake in Utah.
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, half an hour's drive northwest of Salt Lake City, is the largest inland lake west of the Mississippi, 72mi/116km long, 34mi/54km wide and up to 50ft/15m deep. It is a remnant of a much larger freshwater lake, Lake Bonneville. Following a fall in the water table this was left with no outlet and shrank as a result of evaporation, leaving the Great Salt Lake Desert. The combination of evaporation with the inflow of surface waters rich in minerals led the salt content of the lake to rise steadily, and at one stage it reached 27% (eight times as high as the world's oceans). In the last few years the water level of the lake has risen as a result of heavy rainfall in the surrounding mountains. At the south end of the lake are bathing beaches and a recreation park (boat hire).Like the Dead Sea in Israel, Great Salt Lake is salty enough to allow bathers to float without sinking.
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island is the largest of ten islands on Great Salt Lake. All 28,463 acres of the island have been designated as a state park, which can be reached by boat or by the 7.5-mile Davis County Causeway in Syracruse, which was reopened in 1993 after years of flooding.
Antelope Island - Fielding Garr Ranch
The Fielding Garr Ranch on Antelope Island was established as a farm in 1848, making it the oldest anglo-built house in Utah still on its original foundation.
Saltair Resort
From its opening in 1893 until it burned down in 1925, Saltair Resort was one of the most popular attractions on Great Salt Lake. It was restored and reopened, with a visitor center showing the history of the resort.
Great Salt Lake State Park
Great Salt Lake State Park has a marina with 300 slips on Great Salt Lake. The park is located 16mi/26km west of Salt Lake City.
Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats are a barren and flat region covering 159sqmi/143sqkm. The flats are under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management. Covering 30,000 acres, the area is popular with high speed auto racers who have set numerous land speed records there. The Bonneville Salt Flats are remnants of the ancient Lake Bonneville which covered a third of Utah during the ice age. The salt is as much as six feet deep in places.
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County is the most populous of the 29 counties in Utah. It is part of the Great Salt Lake travel region.
Bingham Canyon
Bingham Canyon is located in Salt Lake County, 25 mi southwest of Salt Lake City. It is the home of the world's largest man-made excavation, the Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine. The mine is so large it has taken over the site of the former town of Bingham.
Bingham Canyon Copper Mine
In Bingham Canyon, 25mi/40km southwest of Salt Lake City near the township of Copperton, is the world's largest opencast copper mine, which is also the largest man-made hole in the earth's surface, almost 2.5mi/4km in diameter and over 2950ft/900m deep. From the Visitor Center (informative displays and video shows on copper-mining) there is a good view into the terraced interior of the mine.A visit to the mine includes watching large trucks taking copper ore to the crusher where they are reduced in size and put on a five-mile conveyor belt.
Salt Lake City International Airport
The Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is the 25th busiest airport in America and the 62nd busiest in the world. It serves 21 million passengers each year. There are four runways, used by 11 airlines. It is located 5mi/8km northwest of downtown Salt Lake City.
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Bluffdale
The suburb of Bluffdale (pop. 4,700) is located south of Salt Lake City near Riverton and Herriman.
Veterans Memorial State Park
Veterans Memorial State Park is located south of Bluffdale. The park is a 30 acre memorial to veterans featuring a cemetery, chapel, wall of honor and museum.
Draper
Draper (pop. 35,000) is a fast-growing town located 20mi/32km south of Salt Lake City. It is one of the most desirable places to live in Utah.
Riverton
Riverton (pop. 33,000) is a desirable and fast-growing city located to the south of Salt Lake City in Utah.
South Jordan
The fast-growing city of South Jordan (pop. 40,000) is located on Highway 15 in the southern region of Salt Lake City.
West Jordan
The fast-growing city of West Jordan (pop. 92,000) is a suburb of Salt Lake City. It hosts a Western Stampede in early July.
Gardner Village
Gardner Village is located 12mi/19km south of Salt Lake City in West Jordan. It features more than 22 specialty retail shops surrounding the historic Gardner Mill. Visitors can also eat in the restaurant or visit the day spa. It is one of Utah's most unique shopping and dining experiences.
West Valley City
West Valley City (120,000) is a bedroom community of Salt Lake City and the second largest city in the state of Utah.
E Center
The "E Center" is home to the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League. This 10,500-seat facility was the scene of hockey and ice skating competition during the 2002 Olympics.
Midvale
Midvale (pop. 27,000) is part of the greater Salt Lake City area.
Midvale Historical Society Museum
The Midvale Historical Society Museum features exhibits on the history of the town and surrounding area.
Murray
Murray (pop. 44,000) is a suburb of Salt Lake City in Salt Lake County, Utah.
Arrowhead Park
Arrowhead Park in Murray is a municipal park on the Jordan River. It features walking trails and picnic facilities.
Murray City Amphitheatre
The Murray City Amphitheatre in Murray Park features a free evening concert series and lunch concerts on Tuesday afternoons.
Murray Parkway Golf Course
The Murray Parkway Golf Course is one of the most popular golf courses in Utah. The 18 hole, 72-par course is 6,794 yards long.
Wheeler Historic Farm
The Wheeler Historic Farm in Murray features agricultural exhibits, wagon rides, special events and children's activities.
