DAY TRIPS FROM SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
Updated: Jan 10, 2022
We are in Salt Lake City Utah for 4 months on a travel nursing assignment. Here are some awesome day trips that you can take from Salt Lake City, Utah.
BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS
Just an hour and a half drive from Salt Lake City, the Bonneville Salt Flats are an amazing thing to see in Utah. These salt flats were left after the evaporation of what was called Bonneville lake. The flats are over 40 miles long and very impressive!
Entrance is free and there is a small parking lot and rest stop. You are allowed to drive on the salt flats as long as they are not wet! You will know if they are wet when the flats look like a big mirror. Driving on the flats while wet can mess them up! Please be respectful!
Fun fact, the Bonneville Salt Flats are known for having some of the fastest recorded speed times by any land vehicle. There is actually a designated race track and competition every year called Bonneville Speed Week. The salt helps with traction of tires, hence why vehicles can go so fast!
In total, we spent about 2 hours at the flats and that was mostly due to us filming. We totally wish that we had brought a picnic set up because that would be the most perfect spot for one.
BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON
Big Cottonwood Canyon is just 30 minutes outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. There are so many hiking trails, camp grounds, and other outdoor activities to do here. During the ski season, there are several resorts that open for skiing and snowboarding.
We visited two of these ski resorts, and think that they are both pretty awesome!
SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Solitude resort seemed to be the more local resort in comparison to its neighbor that we mention down below.
This resort is very fun. There is a village and accommodations as well. I really enjoyed the coziness of the restaurant Honeycomb Grill that they have there since I am not a big skier or snowboarder. There is a fireplace and numerous places to sit.
Sam really has enjoyed snowboarding here, as he has unlimited access with his ICON pass. There is a pretty decent bunny hill and several green runs. The resort is only partially open when this is written because we are early on into the season.
BRIGHTON RESORT
Brighton resort definitely seemed to attract more tourists. This could have been the time that we went though. It is apparent that they have many levels of skiing and snowboard training classes. There were many many families with small children here.
Sam only has limited access to this resort with his ICON pass, so he has only been twice in comparison to Solitude which he basically goes every other day. The green runs here seem to be much more difficult in comparison to Solitude.
The restaurant Alpine Rose was not as cozy as the Solitude restaurant, and there doesn't seem to be a village that is connected but several individual shops, restaurants, etc. There is of course lodging as well.
Both resorts offer rental gear and lessons. See their websites down below
https://www.solitudemountain.com/
FIFTH WATER HOT SPRINGS
The Fifth Water Hot Springs Trail is one of the most amazing things that we have done! It is an (almost) 5 mile out and back trail that leads you to the numerous hot springs at varying temperatures. You can find this spot very easily by typing it on your GPS app on your phone.
The hike is so gorgeous. You hike along the creek that leads you to the hot springs the entire way. You get the most amazing views of the canyon. It took us a little under an hour to reach the first hot spring. You definitely know when you are getting close when you see the creek turn a milky white color and you smell the sulfur.
There is a rule that nudity is allowed here, so I would not recommend this spot for families.
This trail and the road leading to the trailhead is closed during winter as it is not accessible to cars. So please do your research!
The hot springs are on a slope, so the higher the hot spring, the hotter it is. We ended up hanging out at one of the less hot pools mainly because it seemed to be more secluded and not right up on top of anyone else.
If you want to watch all of these adventures, check out our video!
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