Downward Spiral


Rozel Point: in the wasteland of Northern Utah


Spiral Jetty is on the north side of the Great Salt Lake which means it's far away in a desert wasteland. I couldn't wait to see it.

Our journey started at the Golden Spike. That is where the pavement ends; so naturally that is where the adventure begins. The road to the Jetty is dirt for 12 miles or so. Have you noticed that when you are driving somewhere new, it feels like it is taking forever? This road was pretty bumpy and the kids were crammed in the back seat of the truck. Kids in the back seat can make a road feel like forever too. Finally we got there.


















The parking lot is a little bit elevated. You can see the Jetty near by and the edge of the Lake farther out. The Great Salt Lake is the end of the line for the nearby rivers, so the water level moves depending on how wet the state has been in recent years.














The Spiral Jetty was created by Robert Smithson in 1970.  It is 1500 feet of black basalt rock piled up to tumble out onto the white salt left behind when the Lake evaporates in the sun.  It is stark in its black on white contrast, and it has just a little magic around it.



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