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Salt Lake County has many gorgeous locales, and a race Memorial Day weekend will highlight several of them, while also fighting childhood cancer.
The Inquirian Race starts Friday night with an online clue and runs until there is a winner, as teams (or individuals) visit spots throughout Salt Lake and compete for the $2,500 grand prize.
The clues are top secret so, in preparation for the places you will encounter, here are stunning locations that may be similar to the ones you’ll find in the race.
City Creek Canyon
When settlers reached Salt Lake Valley in 1847, City Creek was their first water source, according to Salt Lake City government. Now a protected watershed and nature preserve, the creek runs through a canyon with only one road and little development.
“The first 3.6 miles run alongside a beautiful mountain stream, and the final 2 miles take explorers to Rotary Park,” Utah.com says.
There is also a wooded trail next to the road, with trees and scenery along the way to enjoy on foot, by bike or in a car, depending on the day.
Great Saltair
Today, a concert and events venue, the Great Saltair opened in 1893, “one of the most unique lake resorts of all time,” according to its website. It sits on the shore of the Great Salt Lake, and its unique design looks like something out of a storybook.
“From the beginning, the lake retreat was intended to be a counterpart to Coney Island,” thesaltair.com says. “Its pylon bridge led thousands of patrons through its gigantic doors to countless days of lounging and swimming and countless nights of dancing and romance.”
Since then, it has seen fires, floods and multiple renovations to restore its grandeur, and many of the 2,000 pylons used to support the building can still be seen. On the inside, the enormous building has a grand hall and a capacity for 4,600 people.
Murray Park
This is not your standard city park, with green space galore and plenty of entertainment options, including a swimming pool and amphitheater.
For a truly impressive experience, though, the arboretum in the park offers “an extraordinary setting in which to enjoy the beauty and diversity of plants from around the world,” Murray City says. Officially established on Arbor Day in 1961, the arboretum’s offerings have grown since then.
With displays changing every season, visitors can see “a cacti garden, hybrid iris bed, water ponds, shrubbery beds, seasonal flower plantings and many varieties of trees with unusual foliage and flowers,” according to murraytrees.org.
University of Utah
As the U puts it, “our educational habitat is breathtakingly beautiful.” Both campus and the surrounding area have lovely outdoor space as well as historic and modern buildings with interesting architectural details.
“Situated at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains in the state's capital city, campus benefits from and contributes to the rich cultural history and sophisticated metropolis allure of Salt Lake City,” utah.edu says.
You can see some of the sights from the comfort of your couch, with an online photo gallery. Even better, visit the university and take walking tours of Presidents Circle or Fort Douglas, with the latter offering a museum of its history.
For a view of campus and the Salt Lake Valley around it, the U on the mountain is 5,300 feet above sea level and lights up for athletic events, according to Utah Outdoor Activities.
Cottonwood canyons
Big and Little Cottonwood canyons are home to mountain resorts for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking, and other activities in the summer. They are a “magnificent ecosystem” and provide most of the drinking water for Salt Lake City, according to Cottonwood Canyons Foundation.
Big Cottonwood Canyon is an ancient canyon with erosion from both glaciers and streams. It has “legendary rock climbing routes, epic backcountry skiing access, hiking and mountain biking trails, and picnic areas straight out of an outdoor magazine,” Utah.com says.
You can enjoy many of the same activities in Little Cottonwood Canyon, along with the state’s only aerial tramway, which “carries visitors to the roof of the Rockies for a panoramic view from 11,000-foot Hidden Peak,” Utah.com says.
Explore Salt Lake
Take advantage of the opportunity to explore Salt Lake County by registering for the Inquirian Race at theinquirianrace.com. Join the race this Memorial Day and support the research and treatment of childhood cancer.
