Visit Salt Lake City

A city laid out on a precise grid by Mormon pioneers, ski slopes less than an hour from downtown, a lake so salty you float and a white desert stretching to the horizon: Salt Lake City surprises with the variety it puts within driving distance.

Why go to Salt Lake City?

Founded in 1847 by Mormon pioneers, Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah and the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its airport sits about forty minutes from several major ski resorts, making it one of the most convenient cities in the western United States for combining city and mountains.

Salt Lake City's must-sees

Mormon heritage, museums, viewpoints and vast salt landscapes, all within two and a half hours.

Temple Square

A ten-acre complex in the heart of the city, with the granite temple, the acoustically famous Tabernacle and its gardens. The outdoor grounds are open to all.

Utah State Capitol

Neoclassical granite building topped by a dome, open free to visitors on weekdays. Its hill offers a view over the whole Salt Lake Valley.

Antelope Island

State park on the largest island of the Great Salt Lake, reached by a causeway. Bison, pronghorn and beaches where you float effortlessly in very salty water.

Bonneville Salt Flats

Vast white salt plain along Interstate 80, famous for its land speed records. Spectacular at sunset when the surface is dry.

Spiral Jetty

Basalt spiral nearly 460 m long created by Robert Smithson in 1970 on the lake's north shore. How much you see depends on the water level.

Natural History Museum of Utah

Natural history museum set on the foothills, with an impressive hall of dinosaurs unearthed in Utah and a panoramic terrace over the valley.

Ensign Peak

Small summit above the Capitol, climbed by the pioneers right after their arrival in 1847. A short, steep trail leads to a full view of the city.

What to see in and around Salt Lake City?

Downtown and Brigham Young's street grid

The whole city starts from a zero point at the corner of Temple Square: addresses like 400 South or 700 East give the distance from that intersection, which makes finding your way very simple. Downtown streets are exceptionally wide, about 40 m, and blocks are long, so expect more walking than the map suggests. Half a day covers Temple Square, the Conference Center and its rooftop garden. The TRAX light rail is free within the downtown zone.

Capitol Hill and the Avenues

North of downtown, the Utah State Capitol overlooks the valley from its hill, about a 15 minute walk from Temple Square up a steady climb. Just behind it, the short Ensign Peak trail, about twenty minutes uphill, gives the best view of the city at sunset. To the east, the Avenues neighborhood lines up Victorian houses on a tighter grid, pleasant to explore on foot for an hour or two late in the day.

The university East Bench and Sugar House

On the eastern foothills around the University of Utah, the natural history museum and Red Butte Garden fit into the same half day, 15 minutes by car from downtown. Further south, Sugar House and the 9th and 9th intersection gather cafes, bookstores and independent restaurants, far from downtown's administrative feel. The large Sugar House Park is where locals meet on weekends to run or picnic with mountain views.

The Wasatch canyons

Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon open about 30 minutes from downtown and hold four resorts: Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude. The season usually runs from late November to April, sometimes later at Snowbird. On powder days, the Little Cottonwood road jams from 7 am: leave early or ride the UTA ski buses. Park City, about 45 minutes away on Interstate 80, rounds out the options. In summer, the same canyons are for hiking, with wildflowers in July and August.

The Great Salt Lake and the western desert

The lake that named the city is best seen from Antelope Island, about an hour north along a causeway of roughly ten kilometers, where bison roam free. To the west, Interstate 80 crosses the desert to the Bonneville Salt Flats, nearly 2 hours away, a crust of white salt where land speed records are set. For the Spiral Jetty land art piece, allow 2.5 hours north, including a dirt road.

Frequently asked questions about Salt Lake City

Can you go inside the Salt Lake Temple?
No, temple interiors are reserved for church members holding a recommend. The gardens, the Tabernacle, the Conference Center and the visitor centers are open to everyone and free. The temple has also been undergoing a long renovation that began at the end of 2019.
How can I attend a Tabernacle Choir rehearsal?
Thursday evening rehearsals and the live Sunday morning broadcast are free and open to the public when the choir is in Salt Lake City. They take place in the Tabernacle or the Conference Center depending on the season: check the calendar on the choir's website.
Can you swim in the Great Salt Lake?
Yes, notably at Bridger Bay on Antelope Island. The water is so salty you float effortlessly, but it stings eyes and scrapes. Plan to use the showers on site, and bring repellent in spring, when the lake's tiny gnats are out in force.
When are the Bonneville Salt Flats dry?
The surface is usually dry from late summer to early fall. In winter and spring a thin layer of water covers it and creates reflections, but driving on the salt is then prohibited and risky: stay on the designated areas.
Can I ski Alta and Snowbird without a car?
Yes, UTA ski buses serve Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon from park-and-ride lots in the valley during the season. On powder days they are often faster than driving. Note that Alta is a skiers-only resort: snowboarding is not allowed.
Is it easy to get a drink in Salt Lake City?
Yes. Bars, breweries and restaurants serve beer, wine and cocktails, with stricter service rules than elsewhere, such as having to order food in some restaurants. To buy a bottle of wine, you need a state liquor store, closed on Sundays.

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