Description - The Great Salt Lake Country encompasses the land south of Interstate 80 from the western border of Utah to the capitol, Salt Lake City. The portion of the Wasatch Range immediately east of Salt Lake City is included within this travel region. West of Salt Lake City is the Basin and Range Province of Utah. This area stretches southward to Cedar City. Elevations along the western state boundary range from 4,200 feet to 7,800 feet. Moving eastward the mountains rise out of this basin to heights of 11,000 feet. Mountains on the west and east bind Salt Lake City with the Great Salt Lake to the north and Utah Lake to the south. These natural features form a large basin and intriguing natural landscape.
Attractions
- The western portion of this travel region consists mainly of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Moving eastward toward Salt Lake City visitors will find several high mountain ranges within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The Deseret Peak Wilderness Area lies in the Stansbury Mountains, which begin immediately south of Interstate 80. On the eastern side of Salt Lake City is the Wasatch Mountain Range. This range lies within the Uinta National Forest. Four Wilderness Areas, three large ski areas and one National Monument lie within the boundaries of the Uinta National Forest in the Great Salt Lake Country.
Recreation - Recreation opportunities abound in this area of Utah. World-class skiing, ice-skating, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are popular pursuits during the winter. In summer the mountains provide opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, camping, picnicking, scenic driving and spelunking. Off-road vehicle use and four-wheel driving opportunities are open in the western portion of this region. Climate - This portion of Utah contains mountain and desert climates. Temperatures vary with the season and elevation. Expect hot summer days at lower elevations, reaching temperatures of 95 degrees F. Summer in the higher elevations is mild with high temperatures reaching 85 degrees F. Winter can be very cold, especially at higher elevations. Visitors to the mountains can expect temperatures between 35 to 50 degrees F during the day and below 30 degrees F at night. Temperatures at lower elevations are milder than in the mountains. The lack of moisture in the air makes low temperatures much more bearable. Utah is an arid state with much of its precipitation reaching the ground in the form of winter snow and summer thunderstorms. Location -
Interstate 80 forms the northern boundary of the Great Salt Lake Country Travel Region. The area extends eastward from the western state boundary to the Wasatch Mountains. It includes portions of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest as well as many square miles of Bureau of Land Management Lands along the western side of the state.
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