The Great Salt Lake Desert

Great Salt Lake Desert, Juab County, Utah.

The Great Salt Lake Desert is part of the larger Great Basin Desert. It is approximately 250 miles long starting in the northwestern corner of Utah and extending down to Juab County. It is approximately 120 wide about 40 miles west of the Wasatch Range on the east and extending to the Nevada State Line on the west. The Topaz Mountain area is one location where Japanese Americans were interred during World War II.

Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah. The Newfoundland Mountains are in the background.


The Bonneville Salt Flats is home to the world's fastest land speed records and  is so flat in spots you can see the curvature of the earth. The salt flat areas of the desert are also home to a number of salt mining operations such as Morton Salt Company.

Aragonite Area, Tooele County, Utah.

Portions of the Great Salt Lake Desert feature a more distinct  basin and range  pattern typical of the Great Basin.  Salt flat areas are much more wide and mountain ranges are farther apart. The Great Salt Lake Desert is used by the US Military for a variety of reasons from Air Force Testing to the closely guarded secrets of Dugway Proving Grounds.

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah

The Bonneville Salt Flats are located in western, Utah near Wendover.  The Salt Flats are left over from ancient Lake Bonneville which covered much of the eastern Great Basin.  As Lake Bonneville receded the minerals, such as salt settled to the bottom.  This area is one such deposits.  The Salt Flats are so compact that they can be driven on.

The Bonneville Salt Flats are home to some of the world's great land speed records. Every year many speed enthusiasts gather to drive their high octane vehicles on this wonder of nature.  Speeds of over 400 MPH have been done here.

I enjoy taking my old Honda out on the flats.  I have buried the needle at 110 and maxed it out. Breaking was relatively easy due to the texture of the land.  Truly a desert wonder if you get a chance take your own car, truck or whatever out on the flats.  It is well worth the memories.