For information about the Silver Island Mountains and the
Bonneville Salt Flats:
BLM - Salt Lake Field office - 801-977-4300
These mountains are seen almost daily on one commercial or
another. The Bonneville Salt Flats are the flattest place
in the U.S.A. This, coupled with the snow white reflective
salt, makes for a very photogenic environment. You usually
see this area in fast car commercials.
To get there from Salt Lake City:
Take I-80 going west for about 100 miles turn right at the
Bonneville Speedway about 5-10 miles before Wendover. Follow
the signs to the Silver Mountains.
After passing Volcano Peak 6,011', Rishel Peak 6,212', and
Tetzlaff Peak 6,267 on the left, you get to a large opening
(Silver Island Pass). After passing Flatface Rock, look for
the large opening, follow the road that goes left into this
clearing. This will take you to Cave Canyon.
We went up Silver Canyon, and tried to climb Graham Peak,
the highest in the Silver Island Mountains, but didn't find
it in time to summit before sunset. We were about half an
hour away when the sun went down.
All I had was a satellite image of the area.
I thought the most impressive thing about this hike would
be the white salt flats below, but it was actually the abundance
of marine fossils that blew me away. I think these fossils
were also partly to blame for us not reaching the top, we
kept stopping to look at them. There were quarries of mollusks,
coral, and algae fossils embedded in black and gray limestone
everywhere.
Later that night, we stopped into Bendover to eat. I felt
lucky, so I fed the slots all my loose change.
The Silver Island Mountains
Lamus Peak 6,284', Jenkins Peak 7,268', Campbell Peak 7,272', Graham
Peak 7,563', Cobb Peak 7,021'
In the distance on the left: Pilot Peak 10,716 (Nevada)
Graham Peak, the highest point in the Silver Island Mountains.
On the left is Cave Canyon and on the right is Silver Canyon.
You can see the Sleeping Dragon in the middle.
Another, slightly different view of Graham Peak looking up Cave Canyon.
To get to the cave near the peak, follow the left fork towards the
summit.
We were trying to find this canyon, but I passed it, we went up Silver
Canyon instead.
Looking northwest from Silver Island Pass, over the Silver Island
Mountain Range.
The Silver Island Mountains comprise of this small range and a smaller
range behind (to the northwest)
called Crater Island 5,743' (not visible)
I think the peaks are: Campbell Peak, Jenkins Peak and Lamus Peak
6,284'
The Donner Party passed between the Silver Island and Crater Island.
I would call this a geological Disneyland.
I should have brought some gloves and a backpack.
The plants are mostly of the tough stabby variety,
so a levi jacket wouldn't hurt either.
Flatface Rock. Should be some good rock climbing on this face.
After passing this limestone face, the Cave Canyon area will open
up on your left.
Buddha Knob, Schleppy Hill, and the Sleeping Dragon.
Subpeaks at the foot of the ridge below Graham Peak.
To go to Cave Canyon, you would turn left around this area (before
passing these subpeaks).
A close up of the Sleeping Dragon below Graham Peak.
I'd be very surprised if there weren't at least a few good climbs
on this limestone.
Buddha Knob below Graham Peak.
They say the fastest way to heaven is to try to free climb Buddha
Knob.
Behind the ridge on the foreground right is Cobb Mountain.
Looking west to Floating Island 5,109'
Coral fossils were everywhere along the route we took.
Looking west over the Cedar Mountains toward Deseret Peak 11,031'
Looking down over Buddha Knob over the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Looking west over Cobb Peak 7,021' towards the Newfoundland Mountains
with
Desert Peak 7,005' at its northern end.
Looking north toward the Crater Islands. The ground isn't water or
snow, it's salt.
The Donner Party passed between these two mountains.
If you haven't heard, they were a group of about 87 people who traveled
from
Independence, Missouri to Sacramento, California.
They were caught in the Sierra Nevada mountains when winter hit,
and had to resort to cannabalism. 44 people survived.
Here's an exerpt from their journal as the passed the Silver Island
Mountains: September,
1846
A minor ridge, we decided to stop there, as the sun was setting.
The Floating Island is visible in the Salt Flats.
Below is Silver Canyon.
Cobb Peak 7,021'
Below is Silver Canyon Flat. You can drive all the way around Cobb
Peak.
Looking up to the slope up to Graham Peak from where we stopped.
Looking southwest over ridges leading to Graham Peak,
and the Bonneville Speedway. In the distance sit the Schell Mountains.
You can clearly see Flatface Rock.
Looking south toward the Deep Creek Range.
Haystack Peak 12,020', Ibapah 12,087', and Red Mountain 11,588'.
On the it's west side lies the Goshute Indian Reservation.
For some pictures of the "Tree of Utah" and the Bonneville
Salt Flats: Bonneville Salt Flats
I currently live here and love the salt flats. Thank you for posting these wonderful pictures.
James Roe
Monmouth,Illi nois
2007-04-11
Our sons just relocated for employment in the Ogden area,so we travel to visit them whenever possible. unfortunitly we don't have enough time to see many attracions. thank you so much for posting them for us to enjoy.
bubba
Ottawa , Canada
2007-03-18
Fantastic pics , I'm heading to these Utah mountains this June, Not to climb, just to stand there and take it in. Thanks for letting me see you're beautiful shots.
Robert Graziani
Salt Lake City, UTAH
2007-01-28
This past Saturday we drove out to West Wendover, Nevada and passed the Tree of Utah sculpture. It is quite impressive. I thought at first it was microwave tower until we got close to it. Your photos are fabulous. Thanks.
Peter
Salt Lake City
2007-01-23
This is spectacular country--worthy of protecting. While wilderness might not be the best designation, certainly people like Alex (above) shouldn't be able to drive their 4x4's and ATV's all over it. It's not just SUWA that wants to preserve this kind of scenery.
Neville
England
2006-12-21
Found this on google earth looking for the Salt flats after seeing the film, The Worlds Fastest Indian.
Fantastic.
Will visit, one day, with a world class bike.
Dave Beedon
Renton, Washington
2005-09-12
Finally posted some of my own photos of the Silver Island Mtns. (and Floating island): http://www.pbase.com/listorama/2004ut_floating . Cheers.
Jeff Bertch
Bodega Bay CA
2005-08-07
Spent some time in Deep Creek Range, haven't been to the top yet. Great fishing in Red Cedar creek. South a bit in the House Range trilobites as big as your fist.
Alex
Kaysville, Utah
2005-05-29
Just returned from Camping at Crater Island, I love that place, however there are signs begining to pop up all over stating "NO VEHICLES BEYOND THIS POINT" "Limited use area, stay on improved roads" "250$ fine for leaving roads" etc etc. Suwa is at it again, we can NOT let them turn crater island and silver island into a wilderness area, and they will. It will deem this area in-excessible, it would be horrible.
Dave Beedon
Renton, Washington
2005-05-11
Nice shots of a fascinating area, one I first got a taste of in 2002 when visiting the Bonneville Speedway. Too bad you didn't have time to reach the summit of Graham. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Barrie Strachan
San Diego, CA
2005-02-06
Great pictures. I grew up in Wendover and spent a lot of time out on Silver Island. Takes me way back.
Patricia
Cudahy, WI
2005-01-13
Lovely, lovely photos of one of my favorite parts of the country. Helps firm up my resolve to get out West this summer.
bob
livonia, mi.
2004-06-01
Found this site while looking for a place to camp during my visit to the salt flats. Absolutely stunning photos. I now plan to spend more time in the area checking it out.
Aaron
Pullman, WA
2004-05-18
As far as I know, this is the first image of the Deep Creeks on your site (which is excellent). You (and everyone reading this) should try to get out there and climb Ibapah peak. I would pay good money for quality pictures of the hike. The drive alone, on the Pony Express road to Callao, is worth it. We saw wild horses near Simpson Springs, if that helps to motivate you.
mandy
dallas, tx
2004-03-22
browsing the net for some pics to use in a school project, to actually make into a fantasy landscape using photoshop.... hope you don't mind if i use just for school's sake... & your pics are beautiful along w/your web site... did you do all this?
Tera Waclawski
Poughkeepsie, NY
2004-03-22
Excellent pictures, love the colors.
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