The Bonneville Salt Flats. “Surviving” Guide.
The sunset at The Bonneville Salt Flats, October, 2022
There aren't many places in the planet like it. The Bonneville Salt Flats are one of the most impressive salt flats in the world and largest in North America and let me tell you, this magical place did not disappoint!
You can easily drive onto this eerie otherworldly landscape with white salt bordered with red mountains with just about any type of vehicle. As long as you stay out of other drivers' way, there is nothing to hit.
How fast can you go? One really interesting thing to know about the Bonneville Salt Flats is that the speed limit is 1,000 mph, essentially meaning that there isn’t one! So the answer is as fast as your vehicle can take you on the flat dry terrain. There have been numerous land speed records broken here some of which include vehicles traveling over 450 mph (724 km/h).
Here is the thing though, just because you can drive on this brittle alien like crust, doesn’t always mean you should:
Do not drive on the salt flats when they are wet or flooded from precipitation. You can easily damage the salt crust and/or become stuck in the underlying mud (towing services costs thousands there).
Don't walk or drive onto the salt flats unless you are willing to do some clean-up later.
There is zero shade on the flats, and the bright sunlight reflecting off the white salt can be harsh on the eyes and skin. So come prepared:
Sunglasses, Hat (maybe), Sunscreen, Wet wipes
It can be extremely hot on the salt flats, so be sure to bring lots of water with you (food, if you need to). More water.
For The Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway parking area you may want to pack an extra bottle or two of water to wash salt off your hand and feet. There are no facilities.
The rest stop located on I80 Westbound gives you easy access to the flats, there are restrooms, and even a foot wash station. It is vital that you do not miss this the first time you pass. The next legal turn around is multiple miles away. Then you got into the East Bound on I80, and it’s 85 miles of detour.
If you’re bringing a dog – be sure to bring some water to wash their paws off with after (they may be compelled to eat at them otherwise, making them very ill).
Don’t let any of that salt water near your gear. Salt water is extremely corrosive and the enemy of all camera gear/electronics/metal.
Wash your car immediately afterwards, due to the inevitable thick layer of salt caked up into the undercarriage and wheels, which could potentially do a lot of damage to the vehicle you are in.
Do not swim, access, float, kayak, canoe, or do anything else on the canals! According to the Bureau of Land Management in the US, these canals are from potash production and are just east of the Bonneville Salt Flats. They are for potash mining activities and are NOT safe for public use.
Leave what you find.
Minimize human impacts.
Pick up your garbage.
The famous salt flats stretch for over 30,000 acres and are found just west of Great Salt Lake. They are right off of Interstate-80 when you drive between SLC and Wendover.
Historically speaking, the Bonneville Salt Flats were formed when the lake of the same name dried up. The lake was massive and took up a large chunk of the Great Basin, the huge salt deposits were left after the water evaporated.
However, in other parts of the Bonneville Salt Flats, you will easily find vegetation and plants and animals. With that being said, the salt flats are a sensitive ecosystem and should be treated and respected as such.
Walking out on the salt flats is an experience like none other but you will get absolutely caked in salt. Bring “water” shoes. Also, expect to throwing away those or in need of a good power wash.
It might look it, but the salt is not soft like sand. It’s hard crystals of salt and relatively sharp for bare feet. I would not recommend walking on it without shoes. I was stupid enough wading around for the photography purposes in barefoot and yelling loudly about how painful it was. It felt like I was walking on shards of glass. Even standing still on it was painful. The other thing to mention is that the water can get extremely cold, in my experience it was bearable but painfully cold in the beginning of October.
I don’t recommend shaving your legs or having any uncovered cuts on your skin ether, if you’re going to walk/play on salt flats. Just something to think about! Salt will definitely make your cuts/blisters burn.
The best time to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats is in summer and early fall. But, please be aware that salt flats get extremely hot during July and August, on the other safety hand they will be dry.
The Bonneville Salt Flats actually can become salt ponds during most of the year and winter and spring are known for having lousy weather and it can be wet and soggy at the flats. If the salt flats have water on them, it can become a bit dangerous to drive on. It can even cause you to hydroplane and slide around if there is too much rainwater on them!