Things to do in Delta and Utah's West Desert

Things to do Near Delta Utah
Things to do Near Delta Utah

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Utah's West Desert is huge! If you're looking to get away from it all, and we mean ALL, Utah's West Desert is the perfect place to go. Even though it's remote, dry, and unpopulated, there are plenty of amazing things to see and do.

Delta, Utah

Delta is a small town but has everything you need to plan a great adventure.  From natural beauty, good food, and accommodations, Delta is a great home base for exploring the west desert.

Delta is home to two amazing museums - the Topaz Museum, and the Great Basin Museum. They are located right next to each other, so you can stop and see both at the same time.

Also located within a few miles of Delta are the Topaz Internment Camp site, and Baker Hot Springs. These two spots are fairly close to each other, so you can visit both on the same drive.

When you're hungry, don't miss Ashton's Burger Barn for the best burgers in town. It's connected to the local butcher shop!

Geology & Paleontology

If you're into geology or paleontology, Delta and the surrounding area do not disappoint.  Check out the Bug House, a rock and fossil shop run by locals that offers amazing rock specimens, as well as great rockhounding advice.

Just south of Delta you can visit The Lace Curtain - an amazing lava flow frozen in time.

If you want to dig up your own fossils or gemstones, check out U-Dig, the Dugway Geode Beds, and Topaz Mountain.

Going WAY out West

If you're up for a beautiful but LONG drive, the West Desert has even more to see. These are some of the gems that few people visit, and you'll likely have these places all to yourself. You probably won't have phone reception, so make sure to save your maps before you go. Also, there's nowhere to get gas out in the desert, so fuel up and make sure you aren't going to get stranded :).

Hermit's Cabin is located at the end of Marjum Pass, an old desert highway. The pass offers some great canyon driving and unique geology.

If you make it all the way out to Gandy, UT you can hit up Gandy Warm Springs and Devil's Gate Slot Canyon. They are only 3 miles apart from each other, so you'll want to see both.

While you're out in the middle of nowhere, you might as well swing by Great Basin National Park, too!

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