Bonneville Salt Flats
World record land speed sign. Presented by Goodyear.
Salt Flats or Bust
The Bonneville Salt Flats is something that I had never heard of until our recent trip to Utah. My sister was the one that actually wanted to make the stop here as we headed toward Wyoming for Yellowstone, of course.
As we started heading to Utah my sister showed me pictures of people standing on a mirror like ground. When I saw the pictures I was so excited to go! To get to the flats you can take Exit 4 on Highway 80.
We drove through the night racing to make it to Utah in order to be there at sunrise because we assumed that the sunrise is what created the mirror like appearance in the photos. MAN, they sure fooled us. It actually has to have rained within the past few days in order to get the mirror like appearance in photos. Make sure you check the weather before heading down so that you dont make the same mistake we did. Instead of the mirror we got something that looked like this. It was not bad by any means. Just not what we expected you know?
Bonneville Salt Flat
The Taste
Well, after we finished gawking at the miles of salt, we looked down at the flats under us. We both kneeled down and scraped a small piece off the ground. You can probably already assume what happens next… yeah. We licked it. For it to be called a salt flat wouldn’t you want to see if it was actually salt… It taste just like highly concentrated salt. Similar to how they say you should make your pasta cooking water - like the ocean that is.
The World Record
The Bonneville Salt Flats are also home to some other activities other than the occasional salt tasting. It is home to Utah’s very own Race Week and is home to the Land Speed world record runs. The Salt Flats is also the home to the highest land speed record by Sir Malcolm Campbell, who reached a top speed of more than 300 MP in one mile. He averaged 301 mph in 2 passes down the raceway on Sept 3, 1935. The records don’t stop there! A new record was later set by Craig Breedlove in November 1965. He was the first person to reach a land speed of more than 400 MPH - it was 601 MPH!! The record setting doesn’t stop there though. In October 1970 Gary Gabelich set a new record of 622 MPH on the flats. Granted these were all rocket powered jet engines. But could you imagine going more than 300MPH on land? That truly gives a new meaning to feeling the wind in your face. Breedlove actually had specially devoloped inflatable tires that could handle speeds up to 800 MPH.
After reading about the flats we were also able to see a few people riding ATV’s and even driving their cars drifting on the flat. There’s also a little Lochness Monster and Shark art instalation that are just peaking above the flats. It’s something fun for the kids to climb on and discourage them from eating the salt. :)
The not so safe salt flats
Story Time
There are many Salt Flats althroughout Utah, but I’d advise against visiting them. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK if you are not going to Bonneville. I wish my sister and I had this advice before visting. After we left Bonnevile we saw another Salt Flat off Highway 80. The flat looked slightly wet and it had that mirror like effect that we were looking for to get the perfect Instagram picture. We pull over to the side of the road and start walking out to the flats. Three steps in and I feel my feet sinking from beneath me. I turn back, but not before my foot is soaked in mud and water sloshing around inside. I tripped over my sister that had already fallen because she sunk her foot in the salt also. We soon after realized that the salt flat was slightly wet because it did not completely solidify. (See the death trap pictured above).
Salt flats are similar to ice that freezes over a lake for ice skating. When it gets hot enough the water evaporates and the salt is left behind and solidifies. I couldn’t help but think “It’s a good thing I was in my hiking boots and not any other shoes.” (I brought a pair of Nike Dunks because they’re pretty comfortable considering I had a 6 hour drive ahead of me).
Mortons Salt Factory
Down the road along Highway 80 you can see that famous image of the girl with the umbrella in the rain. As we drive by we both look back and say “thats the Morton Salt Factory!” You can see the heaps of Salt waiting to be treated. There’s also conveyors, trucks and cylos filled with salt that you can see from the highway.
There isn’t much to do at the Salt Flats, but it does have some pretty high speed history. If you can get your hands on a jet powered engine and tires for a car that that reach more than 600 mph, then it’s the perfect place to give Gabelich some competition.
The salt flats are basically a 24hr destination because it is technically at a rest stop on Highway 80. You can stop on either side going westbound or eastbound. There are two rows of parking in either side of the highway with covered picnic tables and a men’s and women’s restroom. You get the bare minimum when it comes to rest stops out here.
