5 Scenic Places to Visit in Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City is home to some of the most spectacular views in the country, with climate zones ranging from alpine snowy mountains to low salt flats. For anyone who loves the outdoors, this area is paradise. The list below tells you the best nature sites to visit.

Antelope Island

For a great day trip in the area, try visiting Antelope Island State Park, located in the middle of the massive Great Salt Lake. You can enter this area from a simple isolated drive across a narrow land bridge connecting the island to the mainland. Antelope Island contains trails and campsites for visitors to use and is home to wild bison and pronghorn antelopes. The lake itself is so salty almost no life survives there, however, many freshwater springs on the island contain wildlife. Also if you visit, it’s worth bearing in mind that air can sometimes smell a little salty.

Fifth Water Hot Springs

This hiking trail takes you past and between hot spring pools and features a beautiful waterfall. Located in the Diamond Fork Canyon, this hike features amazing and vast scenic views of surrounding mountains along the trail. By the end of the hike, there are a few shallow pools perfect to soak in.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail

Despite its name, Boneville Shoreline Trail isn’t just one trail, but rather a mix of trails that are roughly 100 miles each. These trails follow the shoreline of the ancient Lake Bonneville, which used to span over 19,000 square miles - almost the size of Lake Michigan.

Lake Bonneville dried up over time and receded down into the Great Salt Lake’s current condition. But, the signs of its past existence can still be seen through brilliant geological features and salty soils.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

This canyon, also located in the Wasatch mountains, offers a wide variety of activities such as hiking, biking, rock climbing, and fishing. Many of the hiking trails here lead to beautiful mountain lakes such as Lake Blanche, though the hiking difficulty can range from moderate to hard at times.

This canyon is also home to a wide variety of rare and endemic plant species, featuring a breath-taking amount of biodiversity. Through the Utah Native Plant Society, you can tours of the many wildflower trail options available.

Alta Ski Area

The Alta Ski Area offers some of the best skiing in Utah, with runs meant for skiers of all experience levels. This ski area is actually one of only three left in the United States that do not allow snowboarders. Located in the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, these mountains also hold many beautiful hiking trails that can take you up and through the mountains with varying levels of difficulty.

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