Spiral Jetty Day Trip

Saturday we joined up with Brett, Maya and Molly for a day trip out to the Spiral Jetty. Although the forecast during the week kept going back and forth on rain and even snow it turned out to be a really nice day. We met up at Golden Spike Monument where the kids got a short history lesson before getting to see the trains.

The daily reenactments haven't started up yet, but there was lots of activity getting them ready for the summer.

Engineers and volunteers were polishing all the brass and prepping the trains each and every piece.















It's been a few years since I've been to the Jetty and they've made some big changes. The road is a lot nicer now and theres a huge parking area at the Jetty as well as all the old scrap being removed from the area.



















This is a glimpse of what is no longer at the Jetty





On the way back home we decided to visit the ATK Rocket Display. Great place to take the kids, lots to keep them interested and its free.







Can't wait for the next trip. If you like unique art such as this check out this link, it includes descriptions and GPS locations to some very unique spots.

http://www.daringdesigns.com/earthworks.htm#DBLNEG

Nice pics! Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. I've tried to make it out there once (years ago), but got lost. How did you find your way out there?

Yeah, it use to be kind of vague getting out there. It seems in the last few years that has been improved. The road is now graded, hell it's better than some of our highways. And the signage, well there's actually signage. And of course I let Brett lead the way

I tried to start this thread 3 times over the weekend.

I took pitifully few pictures. (I never feel like I take enough, but this time was obscenely limited)


That was the best day I've had in a long time. I'm so sick of winter and rain...

Weather was very pleasant, the company was even more so.

John (like most people on here) is the kind of guy you hope shows up for the trail runs, and his (girlfriend's) family was super fun too.

Thanks Brett, already itching to get out on the trails.

The Jetty is really a surreal place. The rock fields that slope up from the water is like a mars landscape. Then down on the flats you definitely feel like you are in another world.

Here's one good shot from the day:






John: Thanks for the link. The art piece I was thinking about is The Roden Crater. I met James Turrel when he was speaking at Weber State. (he's weird like artists are

Here is a picture of the steam engine boiler that's off the side of the trail in Ouray. Looks just like the guts of the trains we saw.

Great shots Brett Love the image of the FJ's, reminds me of the filming technique used in Three Kings.

Sounds like a great time - your post and pics inspired me. I think we'll take a ride out there this Saturday. (Usually we're busy with soccer on Saturdays, but no games this weekend for Easter.)

Looks like you guys had a fun time. I wish I was up to driving up there. Hopefully we can get together for an offroad trip ASAP. I usually do better if they are somewhere in Utah County because of my stupid spine. The thing is literally held together with screws, rods, and pulverized bone fragments.

I had never heard of this place until I came across this thread. I accidentally ended up there yesterday... We were sick of all the snow in our yard and decided to take our son to see the trains at Golden Spike, we'd never been there before either. Our son was napping when we got to GS and I just kept driving, saw the signs to Spiral Jetty and kept going. What a fun day...GS, SJ & ATK....I didn't realize it was all so close together. Never been on that side of the lake either.

Does the "ghost rail trail" go anywhere near these sites?

Keep in mind I've never actually made it to a ghost rail trail (3 years in a row now) run.

I believe the trail is the one that goes right at the fork you went left, to get to the spiral jetty.

That's right Brett, you swing right instead of left. If you have enough time you can fit in any stops you want.