Situated at the northwest corner of Utah, and the northern edge of the Great Salt Lake, Box Elder County is a popular holiday destination for residents and tourists, who marvel in the beautiful forest-covered mountains that break up the vast stretches of desert, as well as the abundance of recreational activities in Brigham City, the county seat.
The county offers a very casual lifestyle with a great mix of friendly people and wildness, history, birds, and art. These are the things that every couple is bound to remember after an eventful visit to Box Elder County. But where do you start?
1. Birding in Box Elder County
Birding activities in Box Elder are arguably the biggest attraction in the county, with the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge being the primary bird-watching destination. The Bird Refuge is best known for waterfowl hunting, especially in fall when the population peaks at over 263,000. The hunting season goes on till winter.
Established in 1927, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge contains nearly 80,000 acres of land, hosting over 250 species of birds. It hosts the world’s largest breeding colony of White-faced Ibis and is one of the 3 largest colonies of American White Pelicans in North America.
Bird lovers can also explore 29 species of ducks, swans, and geese, 30 species of shorebirds, and other bird varieties that include chipping sparrows, willow flycatchers, and the northern goshawk.
There is a visitor center off of I-15 with bird viewing spots and many informative exhibits. Alternatively, you can use a bike or vehicle to take the 12-mile loop within the Refuge for awesome viewing opportunities.
There are dozens of other equally beautiful nationally protected areas where you can enjoy high-quality birding, like the Golden Spike National Historic Site and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
The Willard Bay State Park is also a favorite for sportspeople looking to do a little more than hiking, bird watching, fishing, camping, and exploring horseback trails.
The bay features a 15-mile dike built on the Great Salt Lake flood plain that forms the boundary between the fresh waters that feed the bay and the salty waters of the Great Salt Lake, giving rise to the 10,000-acre impoundment offering swimming, boating, waterskiing, and windsurfing.
If your timing is right, you can join in waterfowl hunting too.
2. Crystal Hot Springs
Once home to generations of Native Americans boasts the highest mineral content found in any hot springs in the world. Of course, the mineral build-up gives the water a funky color.
The springs flow from fractured Paleozoic rocks at temperatures between 121 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit (49.5 – 57 degrees Celsius), into mineral pools and therapeutic hot tubs where you can detox and treat your cold, even in the dead of winter. The temperature of the soaking pool stays at 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (35 – 38 degrees Celsius), while the three hot tubs are kept at the same temperature range.
Some of the spring water is used to fill a 300,000 gallon (1.14 million liters) swimming pool whose temperatures range from 70 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (21 – 38 degrees Celsius). There are some low-flowing springs located about 600m from the mainspring in a small branch of the Salt Creek.
Without any doubt, this is one of the most romantic things to do in Box Elder County!
3. The Spiral Jetty and Sun Tunnels
These two world-renowned land art pieces were created by husband and wife artists Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt at different times.
Robert’s Spiral Jetty, located off Rozel Point in the Great Salt Lake, features 1,500 feet long and 15 feet wide mass of cement and rock shaped like a spiral resting at the center of some saltwater and rubbish. Before the year 2,000, the 1970 earthwork sculpture was only visible when the water level of the Lake was below 4,195 feet.
But since the drought struck at the turn of the millennium, it has been most visible, attracting people from across the world, including some who view it as a “Mecca” and toast its artistry, beauty, and importance. Indeed another highlight in this list of romantic things to do in Box Elder County.
The Sun Tunnels, on the other hand, comprises four concrete tunnels forming an open “X” configuration on the desert floor. The sculpture was completed by Nancy in 1976. It measures 86 feet diagonally. Each tunnel is 18 feet long with an exterior diameter of 9 feet, 2.5 inches, while the inside diameter is 8 feet.
On the days of the Solstice, June 21st and December 21st, the sun can be seen on the horizon centered through the tunnels.
4. The Fruit Way
Highway 89 in the communities of Willard and Perry were declared Utah’s Official Fruit Way by the Utah State Legislature. There are countless fruit stands along the highway between Brigham City and Willard during the peach season in late summer.
Although people love peaches because they are sweet and juicy, there is an assortment of other fruits and vegetables that you can purchase from the farm stands along Highway 89 or in Brigham City, where they’re grown.
5. The Golden Spike Historic Site
The Central Pacific railroad coming from the East Coast met the Union Pacific coming from the West Coast at this location on May 10, 1869.
To commemorate the meeting of these transcontinental railroads, four spikes (two made from gold) were driven alongside the finished rail. This event is marked as one of the greatest accomplishments in the 19th century.
Visitors at the Golden Spike National Historic Site can stand at the actual spot the Golden Spikes were driven and participate in a reenactment of the ceremony.
Visitors can view artifacts, pictures, and working replicas of the steam locomotives, 119 and Jupiter, and enjoy a self-guided 1.5-mile (or 9-mile) tour along a portion of the historic railroad grade.
Box Elder County is a truly special place. From the birding activities in Box Elder to the abundant selections of fruit and vegetables, this trip is certainly worth taking.
Brought to you by boxelder.org.
Utah is such a beautiful place I have ever seen.
Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth. You are so right, Utah is stunning.
Crystal Hot Springs would definitely be a place I would like to go and be apart of! Thanks for sharing this list because I would not have known otherwise about it!
First of all, I love how you took the photos of the town, it looks like it’s been just taken out of a computer game. It’s so cute! I would love to go birding there, I have never done it before. Also, visiting the hot springs is definitely a must and it sounds very romantic as well, if you visit with your loved one.
Being an outdoor person, all the activities have caught my attention. Specially the crystal spring. The photos look absolutely stunning.
I haven’t heard about this particular town in Utah! This is so interesting and your first couple of photos were enough to convince me to go. You’ve also listed a variety of attractions, which is always a nice idea when you want to try different things!
Your pictures are amazing! Those hot springs look so good! Your bird pictures look like paintings! I’d never heard of this place before, so it’s nice to read about somewhere new.
I really need to make a trip out to Utah. I haven’t been in such a long time and I know they have some amazing places there. I really would love trying out the hot springs.
The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge sounds amazing, just the sort of place I’d visit! And it’s bloody massive with over 80,000 acres of land – so much space for all those species of birds x
I’m OBSESSED with birds and would love to do birding activities! I didn’t even know that was a thing :O Crystal Springs also sounds like a beautiful place.
I have been wanting to go to Utah for years and it has now moved further up my list next time that I am in the USA. I would definitely check out that crystal hot springs it sounds amazing and I never knew that boasts the highest mineral content found in any hot springs in the world. That is such a cool fact to know.
I did not know about these beautiful places either. Really beautiful place to visit, thanks for sharing. I like the fruit way very much.
Best part of the blogging is that it explore so many beautiful places which lots of people are unaware with it. This place really worth a visit.
You got me a hot springs.. The picture seems very inciting. Adding this to the points to visit, and the list is getting larger, so many interesting things to see. Thanks for the post!
I have never visited Utah, and is always in my wishlist. I would love to get soaked into therapeutic hot tubs or natural hot springs of this place. Birds of different species must be lovely to watch for and this place looks so photogenic. Thanks for sharing!
I live in Salt Lake, just about an hour-ish south of Brigham City. It’s such a cool and relatively unknown place to visit. Another fun thing to do is visit during the fall for Peach Days. There are SO many peach trees around Fruit Row and they make the air smell so sweet!
I’m completely new to Box Elder County, but it really looks great. Those crystal springs seem wonderful, I would head there first. Not a real fan of bird watching, but would give it a try here after you said it’s a must!
I hadn’t heard of Box Elder before but it sounds an amazing place to visit. I can see why it’s so popular. I would love to visit the hot springs, they sound amazing!
Ooh I love this post! I never really knew much about Utah, but now I want to visit it one day 🙂
Box Elder County sounds like a very unique US destination. It’s packed with so much to do, including those sun tunnels (which I only learned about recently). As an avid birder, I would love to see those white ibises because we have scarlet ibises in Trinidad and Tobago (it’s our national bird). I would also like to take a dip in the hot springs!
Ah! I visited Utah last autumn and missed Box Elder. My bad. But the good news is that there’s always a next time 🙂 Some great clicks here!
I love watching birds and shooting them with my camera. Utah definitely seems my kind of place. pinning your post for my travel reference in the future
This is my first time hearing of Utah’s Box Elder county. Who knew there were so many great things to do?! If my husband and I are ever lucky enough to visit, you can bet we’ll be visiting the hot spring (for her) and the Golden Spike National Historic Site (for him). x
Your pictures capture the light very nicely! They are great! I want to visit Utah for a while now! hopefully soon!
Indeed its a no miss.. I love watching Birds so much and Hot springs my second favourite. Must plan soon 🙂
I had never thought of putting Utah on my list before but I really love the sound of the crystal springs, especially since it still stays warm in winter that is pretty impressive x
UTAAAH how I miss UTAAAH! Just talked about our road trip in US with my husband and our favorite is Utah so far. All the national parks! However I have never been to these places! But dont worry, we will be back for sure! Is a year enought to discover US???
Always wanted to visit Utah as I follow a blogger based there. Looks beautiful no matter which season we are in. your photos are brillant but im sure they dont do pkace justice as somewhere is always better viewed with eyes. great post. tempted me to look at booking up…
I’ve never been there but now I want to go! Great post 🙂 I love your photography!
Let us know how it goes when you go! 🙂
Beautiful images and the springs look & sound amazing! It’s great to read coming from the perspective of someone that is unable to travel due to being housebound! Thanks so much for sharing. 😀
Hope that changes soon. Meanwhile, thanks for stopping by!
Bountiful Utah is on my list of places to visit! I’d absolutely love the springs. Fab post love this! Thanks for sharing
Thank you for stopping by! And glad you liked it