Locomotive Demonstrations
Replica engines run in season.
Golden Spike
Where the transcontinental railroad was joined in 1869, a remote spot in the Utah desert with working replica locomotives.
At Promontory Summit, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific joined on May 10, 1869, tying the country together. Replicas of the two steam engines run here in season. A great many of the workers were Chinese immigrants, a story that the park tells too. Nearby is Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty, a giant earthwork in the Great Salt Lake.
- Best Time
- May–October
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- About 2.5 hours by car northwest of Salt Lake City.
What to See
1 of 3 are freeBig Fill Trail
An easy walk along the old grade.
Spiral Jetty
A 1,500-foot spiral of rock in the lake, 15 miles down gravel.
Know Before You Go
- It's remote. Bring water. Check engine schedules.
Where to Stay
A day trip from Salt Lake City.
Where to Eat
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Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Southwest list.