Bonneville Salt Flats

Overview

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a bright white plain of salt about 12 miles long and 5 miles wide (over 30,000 acres of BLM land) near Wendover, on I-80, the remains of ancient Lake Bonneville, flat enough that people race cars on them. Geologist G. K. Gilbert named them for Captain Benjamin Bonneville. Motor racing has taken place here since 1914, and the Bonneville Speedway hosts land speed records. The flats are public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management as a Special Recreation Management Area and an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors come to walk on the salt, photograph the mirror-like horizon, and watch or take part in speed events.

Access

The flats lie in Tooele County, about 120 miles west of Salt Lake City and close to the Nevada border near Wendover. Take Exit 4 off I-80 and follow the signs to the Speedway, then turn onto Leppy Pass Road, which ends at a parking area at the edge of the salt. Day use is free. Vehicle access is limited by seasonal closures when the salt is wet, and closures are posted on signs. Do not drive onto the salt if you are not familiar with it, since the crust can be soft and vehicles can get stuck, and there are no services at the site, so bring water and sun protection.

Seasons

The flats are open all year, but conditions change with the weather. In winter and early spring, rain and snowmelt can leave a thin film of water on the salt, which creates dramatic reflections but limits vehicle access. Summers are hot, dry and glaring, and the white surface offers no shade, so mornings and evenings are the most comfortable times, and sunrise and sunset are especially photogenic. Several major land speed events take place between summer and early fall, including Speed Week in August, and general access may be temporarily closed during them. Check the BLM website for current closure dates and conditions.

Highlights

• Rest area: a free overlook off I-80 (exit 4) with a paved road out onto the salt (to a viewing area)
• Speed events: Speed Week in August, the Motorcycle Speed Trials in late August, World of Speed in September, and World Finals in October
• Safety: do not drive onto the flats if you don't know the area, since you can break through the crust and get stuck, and it is closed when wet
• Film: used in Independence Day, Knight Rider, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Visitor Centers

There is no visitor center at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Information is posted on signs at the parking area, and the BLM Salt Lake Field Office manages the site and can provide current conditions, event closures and permit information at (801) 320-8300. Permits are required for racing, filming, photography, archery and other organized events. The nearest visitor services are in Wendover, about 9 miles away.

Camping and Lodging

There is no developed camping at the salt flats, so contact the BLM Salt Lake Field Office for the current rules on camping on public lands in the area. The closest lodging is in Wendover, about 9 miles away on the Utah and Nevada border, which has hotels, casinos and restaurants. Salt Lake City, about two hours east, offers a full range of hotels and campgrounds. During speed events, rooms in Wendover can fill up months in advance, so book early if you plan to visit then.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article and official pages for Bonneville Salt Flats, Bonneville Speedway, released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from Bureau of Land Management.