Spiral Jetty

I don't remember when it was that I first heard about the Spiral Jetty. But since that time, it's been on my bucket list. It's a bit of a drive to get there...in terms of time spent and rocky back roads. And it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Tips for visiting include making sure you have plenty of gas and water and whatever snacks you might want or need, because there are no facilities anywhere around.

This piece of land art is located on the northeast shore of the Great Salt Lake. Straight shot up the freeway just past Brigham City, then west to the Promontory Point (Golden Spike National site). This is where the pavement ends. Then you are off roading it, winding around admittedly very pretty scenery, on gravel trails continuing west until you finally (FINALLY) make it to the lake.

A little history: the Spiral Jetty was created in 1970 by Robert Smithson with 6,000 tons of black basalt rock. in 1972, only two years later, the Great Salt Lake rose and the whole was submerged by water for the next 30 years. In 2002 after a few years of drought, the lake receded and the Spiral Jetty has been visible ever since. Depending on the year or season, sometimes the Jetty is covered thinly with water, other times the Jetty is dry as can be and the shore of the lake is quite a ways out.

This last scenario is what we found when we decided to make the drive out over fall break. It was amazing to be able to walk out on the Jetty and around it. It was almost otherworldly. And yet, I'd love to go out again some day when the water line is closer, or actually covering slightly. The salt in the water colors the rocks and the earth interestingly, from what I've seen in pictures. Maybe some day I'll head out in spring after a wet winter and see how the two experiences differ.

We found an abandoned chair out in the lake bed, to the side of the Jetty. Seemed like as good of time as any for a photo op?