Spiral Jetty and the Pink Lake

Spiral Jetty is the most famous work of land art in America and one of the most remote. Created in 1970 by the artist Robert Smithson, it is a coil of black basalt rock and earth, about 1,500 feet long and 15 feet wide, that curls into the red-tinged water of the Great Salt Lake from the shore of Rozel Point. It sits some 100 miles northwest of Salt Lake City, at the end of a long drive and a stretch of gravel road, and it is the sort of place visitors remember for years: a spiral of stones in an enormous quiet landscape, with the lake shining pink and the mountains hazy beyond. The private tour to Spiral Jetty and the pink lake handles the long drive and the rough road, offers commentary on the art, the lake and the region, and allows time at the jetty and the surrounding shore. The pink color comes from salt-loving microorganisms that thrive in the lake's north arm, where salinity is much higher than in the south because a railroad causeway restricts water flow between the two halves. The effect, strongest in warm, dry months, can turn the water vivid shades of pink and red.

The story of the piece is unusual. Smithson built the jetty over several days in 1970, using trucks, tractors and local labor to move more than 6,000 tons of rock and earth. The lake level was low at the time, but within a few years it rose and the jetty was submerged, hidden from view for decades. As water levels fell again in the early 2000s, the spiral reappeared, encrusted with white salt crystals against the black basalt, and it has become a pilgrimage site for art lovers and photographers.

Smithson died in a plane crash in 1973 while surveying another project, and the Jetty has taken on an almost mythic quality. It is now cared for by an arts foundation, in partnership with the state.

Visibility depends on the lake. When water is low, as it has been in recent years, the spiral stands clear of the lake and can be walked, although its geometry is best appreciated from the hillside above. When water is high, it may be partly or wholly submerged.

Salt crust, mud and glare are all part of the experience, and the light at dawn and dusk is spectacular. There is not much shade or shelter at the site, and the surrounding area is quiet and open, with a short hike up the nearby hill for the best aerial-style view.

Combine the trip with the Bonneville Salt Flats or the Great Salt Lake for a long western day, or choose a sunrise or sunset departure for the best color. It is among the most rewarding trips from the city for anyone who loves art, photography or empty landscapes, and a good counterpoint to the skiing and city sights of a typical visit.