The Bonneville Salt Flats are a 30,000 acre expanse of hard, white salt crust
on the western edge of the Great Salt Lake basin in Utah
. The salt flats are about 12 miles long and 5 miles wide with total area coverage of just over 46 square miles.
Is Bonneville Salt Flats open to public?
The formation of the Salt Flats began at the end of the last Ice Age, when the waters of ancient Lake Bonneville began to recede. For more information on the history and formation, click here.
Entrance is free and open to the public most of the year.
What city is Bonneville Salt Flats?
Location. The Bonneville Salt Flats are found
west of the Great Salt Lake
, in western Utah. They cover a large area and have a very unique environment. The flats can easily be seen as you drive I-80 between Salt Lake City and Wendover, NV.
Can you drive anywhere on the salt flats?
Driving is permitted on the flats
, although there are sometimes seasonal closures when the salt is moist or there's standing water on the surface — signs will be posted. Visitors should only venture beyond the road when the flats are completely dry.
What is under the salt flats?
Natural salt pans or salt flats are flat expanses
of ground covered with salt and other minerals
, usually shining white under the sun. They are found in deserts and are natural formations (unlike salt evaporation ponds, which are artificial). A salt pan forms by evaporation of a water pool such as a lake or pond.
Is it illegal to drive on the Bonneville Salt Flats?
Do not venture onto the salt flats if you are unfamiliar with the area as you can break thru the salt crust and become stuck in deep mud if you unknowingly travel too close to the edge of the salt flats. No overnight camping on the salt flats.
No driving vehicles on salt flats when wet or flooded
.
Is there a speed limit on the Bonneville Salt Flats?
There is no speed limit on the flats
, no enforcement and — most importantly — virtually no likelihood of a collision. The flats hold no trees, rocks, animals or abrupt hills or valleys. You can see other vehicles coming over a mile away.
Can you walk on the Bonneville Salt Flats?
CAN YOU WALK ON THE SALT FLATS?
You can 100% walk on the salt flats
, even if there is water, which is an awesome opportunity for reflection photos. When we visited in June, there wasn't any water, but when I visited in March, there was. I would recommend wearing water shoes like, Chacos, Tevas, or even Crocs.
Can you eat the salt from salt flats?
Can You Eat the Salt?
Yes!
The salt was once mined for use in food. Be prepared for your taste buds to go into overdrive.
Are the Bonneville Salt Flats worth visiting?
We definitely recommend planning a trip to Bonneville Salt Flats, particularly if you're in SLC and are looking for the best Salt Lake City day trips, or randomly over in Ely, Nevada, or somewhere close by.
Can you drive as fast as you want on the Bonneville salt flats?
You can easily drive onto the Salt Flats with
just about any type of vehicle
. The salt is hard. As long as you stay out of other drivers' way, there is nothing to hit, and you can drive as fast and far as you dare.
What should I wear to the Bonneville salt flats?
Pants
are better than shorts while you're on the Salt Flats. Not only will pants protect from the sun, but also from blowing sand or salt. In three days I never saw anyone wearing a skirt or a dress. Jeans are the most common lower attire.
Are the Bonneville salt flats dry right now?
With the exception of large rainstorms,
the flats usually stay dry all summer
. You can always find sections of dry salt flats for photos (even when the main flats are wet). We pulled off along the Bonneville Speedway Road for some dry salt flat shots. At other times of the year, the flats can be wet.
Can you swim in salt flats?
They told 2News people assume the water comes from the Great Salt Lake, but it doesn't. It's a concentrated brine solution, and
it's not safe to swim in
. BLM stated the Utah Highway Patrol indicated that parking along Interstate 80 to access the canals “is illegal and extremely dangerous.”
What is the largest salt flat in the world?
Plan your trip with these tips.
Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni
is considered one of the most extreme and remarkable vistas in all of South America, if not Earth. Stretching more than 4,050 square miles of the Altiplano, it is the world's largest salt flat, left behind by prehistoric lakes evaporated long ago.
Can you have fires on the salt flats?
Food, fuel, lodging and other services are available at Exit 4 or in the nearby town of Wendover. and
fireworks are prohibited on the Salt Flats
to maintain public health and safety, and to protect natural resources. There are no developed campground facilities. Free camping is available on adjacent public lands.
