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SALT LAKE VALLEY — There's not a lot of things in nature more awe-inspiring than the sight of the sun meeting the horizon.
At noon, the sun's rays have only about 10 miles of atmosphere to penetrate before reaching our eyes, but as the sunset looms closer, the light has hundreds of miles of atmospheric particles to pass through. This scatters the blue light we see at other times in the day, leaving the redder hues, which travel farther.
Add in the scenic mountain views and beautiful desert landscapes we enjoy in Utah, and you've got a recipe that can't be beat. Though you can arguably see something spectacular anywhere you have an unobstructed view of the sun, we've compiled five great places throughout the Salt Lake Valley where the sunset and sunrise watching is particularly spectacular.
State Capitol Building ======================
The hill where the seat of Utah government resides offers impressive views of the valley most days. But come evening time, the capitol building lights up with all the colors of the sky. Enjoy the sunset over the Great Salt Lake to the west with the city skyline to the south, all bathed in red-orange light.
Directions: From I-15, take Exit 309 and head east on 600 North. Turn right at 300 West and head south. Turn left at North Temple and head east for .6 miles before turning left again at State Street. The capitol building will be straight ahead. Public parking is available in the east and northeast parking lots, as well as at the White Memorial Chapel at the corner of 300 North and East Capitol Street.
Situated on the northwest tip of the Great Salt Lake's Antelope Island, Buffalo Point offers a wide open view of the horizon, unobstructed by mountains where you can watch reds and orange reflections dancing across the water. Remote and beautiful, this sunset watching spot makes for a great date night.
Directions: Get off I-15 via Exit 332 and head west on Antelope Drive. Continue west as the road changes to W. 1700 South and then to Antelope Island Road. Follow Antelope Island Road across the bridge and go straight until the road becomes Buffalo Point Road. Continue straight all the way to Buffalo Point.
If you're looking for a suburban destination, look no further than South Jordan's Daybreak neighborhood. Take in the view across the community lake, nestled amidst the quaint and charming suburbia.
Directions: From Bangerter Highway, head west on 11400 South. At the roundabout, take the first exit and park along the road by the lake.
In 1847, when Brigham Young and a small band of Mormon pioneers entered the valley, they climbed this prominent hill and named it Ensign Peak. A brief half-mile hike will bring you to an excellent vantage point to see the entire valley.
Directions: Heading north on State Street in Salt Lake City, take the right fork past the capitol building. Head northeast until the road becomes East Capitol Boulevard. Turn left onto Edgecomb Drive and head North until it becomes Ensign Vista Drive. Parking is on the road near the trailhead sign and Ensign Peak Nature Park.
Along the freeway at the Point of the Mountain, commuters are often treated to the sight of paragliders floating gracefully from the top of the hill. Whether or not you take to the air yourself, the view is spectacular and stretches out for miles into both the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys.
Directions: Get off I-15 via Exit 284 and head east, immediately turning left at the frontage road (North Digital Drive.) Travel North Digital Drive for about 2 miles before turning right onto Flight Park Road. Take Flight Park Road up the mountain and to the parking area.
What are your favorite spots for watching sunsets in the area? Let us know in the comments.
Sean Stoker is a journalism student at UVU interning for KSL.com. He runs a YouTube channel called QuestSeans. Follow him on Twitter @theroyalthey
