Day: August 27, 2015

Day Seven: Salty Desert

Idaho Falls, ID to Winnemucca, NV
Idaho Falls, ID to Winnemucca, NV

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Day Seven (of eight!) took us from the manure-scented air of Idaho Falls, ID to Winnemucca, NV, a smallish town I like to describe as Las Vegas’ northern runt sibling. Utah (new state count: 8). It was our first long-distance stretch in a few days, and we found several cool spots to check out along the way:

  1. Hell’s Half Acre Lava Field (ID) – Shortly after leaving Idaho Falls, the roadside turned black and we realized we were driving through a lava field.

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    Hanging out in the sagebrush that grows all over the lava.
  2. The Great Salt Lake (UT) – After a delicious lunch in Salt Lake City, we drove down to the shore of the Great Salt Lake.
    The lake ranges from 5 to 27% salinity! The highest salinity areas are only inhabitable for a handful of species like brine shrimp and some algae species.
    The lake ranges from 5 to 27% salinity! The highest salinity areas are only inhabitable for a handful of species like brine shrimp and some algae species.

    Mother/daughter selfie on the lake!
    Mother/daughter selfie on the lake!
  3. Bonneville Salt Flats (UT) – The area pictured below looks snowy, but I assure you, it was approximately 100º F outside! The white stuff is salt, and it goes for miles and miles!
    A remnant of an ancient lake, this is the largest of several salt flats west of the Great Salt Lake.
    A remnant of an ancient lake, this is the largest of several salt flats west of the Great Salt Lake.
    We stopped to play on the flats for a few minutes!
    We stopped to play on the flats for a few minutes!

    After long day of driving and interesting stops, we settled in Winnemucca, NV for the night. Stay tuned for the final leg of our journey 🙂