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The Bonneville Salt Flats are 30,000 acres of flat land with a view that’s only broken by the mountains to the north and west.
Introduction to the Bonneville Salt Flats
If you’re driving along I-80 in western Utah, you’re not surrounded by snow — it’s salt! The Bonneville Salt Flats are a remnant of Lake Bonneville, the largest lake in western North America during the Ice Age. It once covered ⅓ of Utah, eventually dying up, leaving us with a salty wonderland.
Estimated to hold roughly 147 million tons of salt, the flats are 2 miles (19 kilometers) long and 5 miles (8 kilometers) wide, with a crust nearly 5 feet (1.5 meters) thick at the center, narrowing to less than an inch (2.5 centimeters) towards the edges.
Geologist Grove Karl Gilbert (1843–1918) named the area after explorer Benjamin Bonneville (1796–1878), and the first permanent crossing was a railway line completed in 1910. Teddy Tetzlaff (1883–1929) set the first land speed record there on August 12, 1914. He ran a 300-horsepower Benz with a speed of 142.85 mph (229.89 km/h). Since then, several land speed records have been broken there, and five major land speed events take place annually. Scenes from many movies and television shows have also been shot there.
Where Can I Experience the Salt Flats?
You’ll find rest areas on both eastbound and westbound I-80 — they’re about 10 miles from the Nevada border. Take a moment to step out onto the flats and maybe brush up on your trick photography skills. Just be careful — walking on the salt with bare feet or flip-flops can hurt! When you’re finished, a washing station allows you to clean all the salt off your shoes.
A “welcome” sign at the westbound rest area commemorates the several land speed records broken at the Bonneville Speedway, which sits about seven miles beyond the sign. It was erected in June 1972 by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
Can I Drive on the Flats?
For those of you who want to test your car’s speed, the flats are open to the public most of the year. An access road four miles east of the state line, off I-80, takes you to an area generally safe for driving. A few notes:
- You’re only allowed to drive in designated areas and off-roading is strictly prohibited.
- It’s only safe to drive when the flats are completely dry.
- When finished, you’ll want to wash your car thoroughly to get all the salt off — you don’t want a permanent reminder of your adventures.
- No camping or overnight stays are allowed on the salt flats — there are plenty of other options in the area.
