Balanced Rock Arches National Park

Balanced Rock - Arches National Park Utah

Arches National Park, one of Utah's most popular park lands, Hoodoos - Arches National Park, Moab, Utah is made up of a fascinating collection of rock art, acres upon acres of slick rock and the world's largest concentration of natural arches. Created by various forms of weathering and erosion, these natural arches draw visitors from around the globe. But it's not just arches that create the park's intrigue, as seen here in this gravity defying roadside feature.

Balanced Rock is one of the most popular features of Arches National Park, situated in Grand County, Utah, United States. Balanced Rock is located next to the park's main road, at about 9.2 miles (14.8 km) from the park entrance. It is one of only a few prominent features clearly visible from the road. There is also a short loop trail leading around the base of the rock.

The total height of Balanced Rock is 128 feet (39 m), with the balancing rock rising 55 feet (16.75 m) above the base. This rock is the largest of its kind in the park, weighing approximately the same as an icebreaker ship or 27 blue whales. Balanced Rock had a smaller sibling named “Chip-Off-the-Old-Block” that collapsed in the winter of 1975-1976, the eventual fate of this feature as well. Balanced Rock, a natural wonder perched on a slanted pedestal, takes up as much space as three school buses.

Balanced Rock defies gravity but this won’t always be the case. Eventually, the 3,600 ton (over 4 million kg) boulder will come tumbling down as the erosional process continues to shape the landscape.

Balanced Rock Hiking Trail : Although parking is limited, many visitors stop to complete the short and easy hike (0.3mi / 0.5km roundtrip) around the rock’s base for unusual and up-close perspectives.

How to Reach: Arches National Park is located five miles north of Moab, Utah, along US-191. Upon entering the park, rangers will give you a map. Follow the park road Arches Scenic Dr 9.2 miles where you will see signs for Balanced Rock. Chances are that you will see Balanced Rock before you see the sign. Turn right in the parking area.

The Great Salt Lake Utah

Great Salt Lake Utah - largest salt water lake in West US

The Great Salt Lake, lake in northern Utah, U.S., the largest inland body of salt water in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most saline inland bodies of water in the world. The lake is fed by the Bear, Weber, and Jordan rivers and has no outlet. The lake has fluctuated greatly in size, depending on the rates of evaporation and the flow of the rivers that feed it.

The Great Salt Lake is one of the most asked-about tourist destinations in Utah. A remnant of the massive ancient Lake Bonneville, the lake is now landlocked and its waters are salty. It is the largest lake between the Great Lakes and the Pacific Ocean, and is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.

Fun Facts about Great Salt Lake :

Ø  It is the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere, and the eighth-largest terminal lake in the world.

Ø  In an average year the lake covers an area of around 1,700 square miles (4,400 km2), but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its shallowness.

Ø  At the current level the Great Salt Lake is approximately 75 miles long and about 35 miles wide.

Ø  Great Salt Lake is the remnant of Lake Bonneville; a great ice age lake that rose dramatically from a small saline lake 30,000 years ago.

Ø  The Great Salt Lake, Sometimes referred to as America’s Dead Sea.

Ø  Bridger Bay Beach on the north end of Antelope Island is perhaps the nicest beach on the entire lake.

Ø  The lake provides habitat for millions of native birds, brine shrimp, shorebirds, and waterfowl, including the largest staging population of Wilson's phalarope in the world.

Ø  According to Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program, more than 7.5 million birds in 257 species either stop at Great Salt Lake on their migrations of live at it, including one-third of the world’s population of phalaropes (500,000 birds).

Ø  Sailing is very popular on the lake and full-service marinas are available at Antelope Island and Great Salt Lake State Marina on the south shore.

There are two Utah State Parks on the Great Salt Lake: Antelope Island State Park and Great Salt Lake State Park. Antelope Island offers clean beaches, a visitor center, marina, historic ranch house, bison and camping. The Great Salt Lake Park offers a marina, with boat launching facilities.

How To Reach : The Great Salt Lake is located north and west of Salt Lake City. To reach Antelope Island, drive north on I-15 to Syracuse, then west on U-127, following the signs. A causeway has been built to allow automobile access to the island. Great Salt Lake State Park is located at the south end of the lake and about 16 miles west of Salt Lake City, along I-80.

Utah Lake State Park Provo

Utah Lake - Provo near Salt Lake City

Utah Lake is unique in that it is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the West and yet it lies in an arid area that receives only about 15 inches of rainfall a year. The mouth of the Provo River, where it empties into Utah Lake, was undoubtedly a very popular camping place for the early inhabitants of Utah Valley.

Utah Lake State Park : Utah Lake State Park is a state park in west Provo, Utah, United States. The park is located at the west end of Provo Center Street on the east shore of Utah Lake (the largest fresh water lake in the state) immediately northwest of the Provo Municipal Airport.  It is Opened to the public as a state park in 1967.

Utah Lake is a large freshwater lake at roughly 148 sq. miles that is popular for boating, water sports and fishing. Canoeing is popular on the lower Provo River, where it enters the lake. The park here offers very nice campsites and picnic areas. The RV campground consists of 31 sites, complete with water and power hookups.

Utah Lake State Park offers fishing access for channel catfish, walleye, white bass, black bass, and several species of pan fish. With an average water temperature of 75 degrees, Utah Lake provides an excellent outlet for swimming, boating, and paddle boarding. 

Amenities :

Ø  Lakeshore Campground

Ø  Boat Ramp

Ø  Parking Lot

Ø  Restrooms with Showers

Recreation Activities :

Ø  Boating

Ø  Canoeing

Ø  Sailing

Ø  Water sports

Ø  Fishing

Ø  Ice fishing

Ø  Camping

Ø  Picnicking

Ø  Wildlife watching

The park is adjacent to Provo City and very close to Salt Lake City, It is an ideal place for an afternoon getaway or overnight escape.

How to Reach : Approximately 48 miles south of Salt Lake City. Three miles straight west of I-15, from exit 265 (city of Provo, Center Street exit)

Address:  Utah Lake State Park, 4400 W. Center Street, Provo, UT 84601.