The national monument preserves a tiny part of Fossil Lake, the smallest of three huge lakes that once covered large parts of modern-day Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. In southeastern Wyoming, just over two hours northeast of Salt Lake City, Fossil Butte National Monument preserves a wealth of fossils from the Eocene Epoch (56 to 34 million years ago).Įxtraordinary in both diversity and quality, these fossil deposits contain several extremely delicate fossils that are rarely preserved in such an excellent condition. Salt Lake City to Fossil Butte National Monument: 145 miles (2 h 15 min) Credit: NPS Credit: NPS / Tyra Olstad This National Park Service site is only 90 miles north of the city, commemorating the site where the Union Pacific Railroad and Central Pacific Railroad were joined by the “golden spike”, effectively creating the very first transcontinental railroad. When driving north, on your way out of Salt Lake, I’d suggest swinging by the Golden Spike National Historical Park. A number of national monuments also make for great weekend trip destinations. In fact, some of the greatest American national parks are only half a day’s drive from Salt Lake City, including Grand Teton and Yellowstone. While many people set their sights on the Utah national parks south of Salt Lake City, it’s a perhaps-surprising fact that there are many parks to the city’s north as well. You can read more about our Terms of Use / Disclosure here.ĥ National Parks Less Than 5 Hours North of Salt Lake City

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So, pack your camping and hiking gear, rent a car and go for a once-in-a-lifetime national parks road trip from Salt Lake City! Salt Lake City National Parks and Monuments Mapįrom the five Utah national parks in the south to Rocky Mountain parks like Grand Teton and Yellowstone to the north, Salt Lake City is less than five hours from several epic parks.Dinosaur National Monument, Utah & Colorado.Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah.8 National Parks Less Than 5 Hours South of Salt Lake City.Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana & Idaho.Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho.Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming.5 National Parks Less Than 5 Hours North of Salt Lake City.Experience the Best of the West in 13 Epic National Parks Near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC/TN.

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