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For a Half Day
Great Salt Lake: No visit to the region is complete without a glimpse of the Great Salt Lake (tel: (801) 250 1898) that gave this city its name. Several times saltier than the ocean, with a salinity as high as 27% at times, it is the largest lake west of the Mississippi River. In the late 19th century, it was lined with fashionable resorts. Today, only the shabby Salt Air Palace gives testimony to its former glory days. Floating in the lake and picnicking are popular activities. The Great Salt Lake is open to the public daily 0800-dusk and admission is free. The lake is located 27km (17 miles) west of Salt Lake City and is reached from exit 104 on I-80.
For a Whole Day
Dinosaur National Monument: Covering 842 sq km (325 sq miles) in Utah and Colorado, the Dinosaur National Monument (tel: (970) 374 3000; website: www.nps.gov/dino) contains the largest quarry of bones from the Jurassic Period ever found. The Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Centre is closed indefinitely, but a few fossils can be seen by hiking 0.8km (0.5 miles) from the temporary visitor centre. The dinosaur fossils lie on the Utah side of the park, east of Vernal and north of Jensen, about 296km (185 miles) from Salt Lake City via Highway 40. The temporary visitor centre is open daily 0830-1730 (summer) and Monday to Friday 0830-1630 (winter). The park itself is open from sunrise to sunset and there is an admission charge. The area is also popular for whitewater rafting on the Green and Yampa rivers, while the Colorado side has miles of hiking trails and scenic canyons.
Park City: Nestled in the western ranges of the Rockies, Utah's largest ski area and headquarters of the US ski team is just 51km (32 miles) east and a mere 30 minutes' drive from Salt Lake City via I-80. A former silver mining boom town in the late 19th century, the historic buildings of the central downtown area are a charming contrast to the modern condos of the surrounding ski resorts. This is Salt Lake City's year-round playground, a liveable town of summer concerts, farmers' markets, over two dozen art galleries, day spas and 300 days of sunshine. In summer visitors hike and bike 563km (350 miles) of scenic trails or go for an adrenaline rush on the Alpine Coaster and zipline. In winter, Park City is the major ski and snowboard hub, surrounded by Utah's famed powder snow ski resorts. Every January the town draws over 40,000 visitors/day to the Sundance Film Festival. Park City Visitor Information Centre, 1826 Olympic Parkway (tel: (435) 658 9616; website: www.parkcityinfo.com) is open daily 0800-1800.
Utah Olympic Park: The 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic competition site lives on as home base for the US Ski Team and training destination for ski teams from around the world. It includes the world's highest altitude ski jumps, fastest bobsled, luge and skeleton track. National and international competitions and aspiring Olympic athletes in training may be seen here year round. Workshops and training camps in freestyle aerials, ski jumping, skeleton and luge are available for all ages and ability levels. Tour the site and interactive museum or experience an 128kph (80mph) bobsled ride or zipline flight, just 30 minutes' drive east of Salt Lake City. Utah Olympic Park, 3000 Bear Hollow Drive, Park City (tel: (435) 658 4200; www.olyparks.com).
Great Salt Lake: No visit to the region is complete without a glimpse of the Great Salt Lake (tel: (801) 250 1898) that gave this city its name. Several times saltier than the ocean, with a salinity as high as 27% at times, it is the largest lake west of the Mississippi River. In the late 19th century, it was lined with fashionable resorts. Today, only the shabby Salt Air Palace gives testimony to its former glory days. Floating in the lake and picnicking are popular activities. The Great Salt Lake is open to the public daily 0800-dusk and admission is free. The lake is located 27km (17 miles) west of Salt Lake City and is reached from exit 104 on I-80.
For a Whole Day
Dinosaur National Monument: Covering 842 sq km (325 sq miles) in Utah and Colorado, the Dinosaur National Monument (tel: (970) 374 3000; website: www.nps.gov/dino) contains the largest quarry of bones from the Jurassic Period ever found. The Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Centre is closed indefinitely, but a few fossils can be seen by hiking 0.8km (0.5 miles) from the temporary visitor centre. The dinosaur fossils lie on the Utah side of the park, east of Vernal and north of Jensen, about 296km (185 miles) from Salt Lake City via Highway 40. The temporary visitor centre is open daily 0830-1730 (summer) and Monday to Friday 0830-1630 (winter). The park itself is open from sunrise to sunset and there is an admission charge. The area is also popular for whitewater rafting on the Green and Yampa rivers, while the Colorado side has miles of hiking trails and scenic canyons.
Park City: Nestled in the western ranges of the Rockies, Utah's largest ski area and headquarters of the US ski team is just 51km (32 miles) east and a mere 30 minutes' drive from Salt Lake City via I-80. A former silver mining boom town in the late 19th century, the historic buildings of the central downtown area are a charming contrast to the modern condos of the surrounding ski resorts. This is Salt Lake City's year-round playground, a liveable town of summer concerts, farmers' markets, over two dozen art galleries, day spas and 300 days of sunshine. In summer visitors hike and bike 563km (350 miles) of scenic trails or go for an adrenaline rush on the Alpine Coaster and zipline. In winter, Park City is the major ski and snowboard hub, surrounded by Utah's famed powder snow ski resorts. Every January the town draws over 40,000 visitors/day to the Sundance Film Festival. Park City Visitor Information Centre, 1826 Olympic Parkway (tel: (435) 658 9616; website: www.parkcityinfo.com) is open daily 0800-1800.
Utah Olympic Park: The 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic competition site lives on as home base for the US Ski Team and training destination for ski teams from around the world. It includes the world's highest altitude ski jumps, fastest bobsled, luge and skeleton track. National and international competitions and aspiring Olympic athletes in training may be seen here year round. Workshops and training camps in freestyle aerials, ski jumping, skeleton and luge are available for all ages and ability levels. Tour the site and interactive museum or experience an 128kph (80mph) bobsled ride or zipline flight, just 30 minutes' drive east of Salt Lake City. Utah Olympic Park, 3000 Bear Hollow Drive, Park City (tel: (435) 658 4200; www.olyparks.com).
View Our Airport Guides for Salt Lake City:
Salt Lake City International Airport
