World Country Guide

Introduction

This is the best area for viewing the Great Salt Lake, the largest lake west of the Mississippi River. One of the most unusual rock formations in the west can be seen at the Devil’s Slide, which resembles a gigantic children’s slide. Among the natural scenic wonders are the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, the East Canyon State Park, the Willard Bay State Park, the Lost Creek State Park, and the Antelope Island State Park.
On the western edge of Bridgerland in Cache Valley are the Wellsville Mountains. The Wellsville Cone and Box Elder Peak are the highest peaks in this range. The 1500-year-old Jardine Juniper, the oldest juniper in the Rocky Mountains, is 19km (12 miles) from Logan in Logan Canyon and a short hike from Wood Camp Campground. Cultural attractions include the American West Heritage Center, which includes the Man and His Bread Museum and the Ronald V Jensen Living Historical Farm, an authentic Mormon pioneer farm. Daily activities here are performed exactly as they would have been in 1917. The centre is currently a massive 65 hectares (160 acres) and intends to add another 71 hectares (175 acres). Other popular sights include the Nora Eccles Art Museum, Chase Fine Arts Centre, the Mormon Temple and Rendezvous Beach.
The Great Salt Lake is the second saltiest body of water in the world, after the Dead Sea. It stretches 148km (92 miles) north to south and is about 77km (48 miles) wide. Salt Lake City is a thriving modern city whose proximity to the mountains and lakes makes it a popular base for outdoor enthusiasts. The city is also the spiritual centre of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and home to the Salt Lake Temple and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The Museum of Church History and Art houses Mormon historical memorabilia, fine art sculptures and paintings. The Utah State History Museum houses State historical exhibits, featuring hundreds of photographs, some 3500 artefacts and other works of art. Other attractions include the Marmalade Historic District, where many of the original pioneer homes can be found; the Pioneer Memorial Museum; and the Utah Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah. Southeast of the city, the year-round Snowbird Tram rises 870m (2854ft) to the top of the 3300m (10827ft) Hidden Peak with a 360-degree view of Utah’s mountain ranges and valleys. Among the natural attractions are the Great Salt Lake Park, Jordan River State Park and This Is The Place Park.
The Timpanogos Cave National Monument is on the north slope of Mount Timpanogos. The Alpine Scenic Loop is one of Utah’s most popular summer drive destinations. Lying across Utah’s northern border, the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area stretches from Ashley National Forest to the south Wyoming desert. Recreational activities available include fishing, boating and hiking.
Sheep Creek Canyon Geological Area offers spectacular rock formations. The Drive-Through-the-Ages Geological Area has rock layers that were laid down during a period of more than a billion years. Dinosaur National Monument sprawls across eastern Utah and into Colorado. Pittsburgh palaeontologist Earl Douglass began scouring the area for bones in 1908 and the quarry he excavated lies at the west end of the park.
Fish Lake offers cabins and other facilities on the shoreline. Views of the unusual cliffs of Thousand Lake Mountain to the north and Boulder Mountain to the south are offered near Teasdale and Torrey. Big Rock Candy Mountain in Marysvale Canyon is the only formation of its kind. Little Sahara Recreation Area has more than 20,000 acres of free-moving sand dunes.
Attractions include Lake Powell at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; the Cedar Breaks National Monument; Mammoth Cave; and the Boulder Mountain Scenic Byway. Southeast of Cedar Breaks is picturesque Navajo Lake and the 1040-acre Joshua Tree Natural Area near the Arizona border. Bryce Canyon National Park shows thousands of delicately carved spires rising in brilliant colours from amphitheatres. Capitol Dome, Hickman Bridge, the Waterpocket Fold and Cathedral Valley are sandstone formations. Zion National Park is one of the nation’s oldest national parks and offers miles of trails.
Moab is a great base for exploring Utah’s southeast. The town boasts the Hole ’n the Rock, a 14-room house carved out of a sandstone cliff, the Dan O’Laurie Museum and Pale Creek Ranch which offers trail rides into the La Sal Mountains. The Navajo Tribal Reservation covers 64,750km (25,000 sq miles) in three States. Canyonland National Park is divided into three sections by the Green and Colorado rivers: the Needles Region contains spires, arches and canyons and Native American ruins; Island in the Sky offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and canyons; the rugged Maze area is the most remote district of the park.