Salt Lake City and the Bonneville Salt Flats

Before heading down to Capitol Reef National Park, I spent a weekend exploring the Salt Lake City area. What surprised me most was the quality of the scenery less than an hour from downtown SLC in the Wasatch Range. My favorite location was Little Cottonwood Canyon. I also drove Guardsman Pass, which connects the Big Cottonwood Canyon area with Park City. I found Little Cottonwood Canyon more scenic, but both drives were worth the time.

Salt Lake City itself feels a little like stepping back in time. Not because the city feels outdated, but because the vibe reminded me of an earlier era. The biggest reason is that there seemed to be almost no urban disorder, which feels increasingly rare in cities in the American West. Even beyond that, the city felt more like the late 1990s or early 2000s in a way I cannot fully explain. Maybe it was because people did not seem as glued to their phones. Within the city itself, my favorite activity was visiting the Utah State Capitol. It is an absolutely beautiful building.

I also drove out to the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Salt Flats have an unusual, ethereal quality, and you can drive out onto them. I found them interesting, but I was not wowed by them. From what I had read, the flats can take on a magical quality in the right light, but it was overcast when I visited, and it started to rain as I left for the drive back to Salt Lake City.

The Utah-Nevada border is surreal in its own way. Only a few miles west of the flats is Wendover, Utah, which sits right against the state line. West Wendover, Nevada, begins immediately on the other side. There is no gap in development, but the border is completely obvious: the casinos start as soon as you cross into Nevada.

I enjoyed my time exploring Salt Lake City, but the southern part of Utah, with its incredible landscapes, is where I am most eager to return.