Pogwatigue Perambulations: Spiral Jetty

Years ago, I read about Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty in an article in theWall Street Journal and thought to myself, "that's something I have to go see someday." In due course, I forgot all about it. After I purchased a flight to Salt Lake City for my final trip this year, I considered nearby Golden Spike National Historic Site a must for the itinerary. Fortunately, their website mentions Spiral Jetty as a nearby attraction. As soon as I saw that recommendation, I recalled the article and added it as a stop, the first as it turns out, for this trip.

Full Screen Version

The sculpture, built by Smithson in 1970, lies along the northeastern shore of Great Salt Lake. Golden Spike NHS is itself remote, but Spiral Jetty is sits fifteen miles down a progressively unfriendly dirt road. Once unable to tolerate the unforgiving road and sufficiently close to walk, I parked the car and started climbing the nearest hill, which mercifully was the correct one, Rozel Point, where I got my first view of the artwork.

Hiking along the edge of Rozel point for about a mile, I took pictures of the jetty from various angles. Once I couldn't see it from the ridge any more, I descended the hill to get a closer inspection. The water level was so low that the lake didn't even lap against the edge of the jetty. I walked to the very end and back, about a half a mile it total. At the very end some one had arranged pebbles to spell out "you matter," a nice sentiment.

Before returning to the car, I explored a nearby, functional jetty and walked to the the very edge of the Salt Lake. I tasted the red, brackish water (salinity 27%), but reflexively spat it out without drinking. The salt beach had a slight give in it, and salt crystals chimed, as I walked back to the solid jetty.

For more information, click here to read the Wikipedia article on Spiral Jetty

Elevation Profile