Wendover

Wendover is a small community on the Utah/Nevada border. It is located along I-80, about 120 miles west of Salt Lake City. It offers casinos, gambling, shows, concerts and liquor. It attracts Salt Lake-area residents out for weekend trips, tourists seeking a taste of Las Vegas-style entertainment, and people driving I-80 who want a fun place to spend the night. The surrounding area offers great opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Knolls Recreation Area

The Knolls Recreation Area offers sand dunes and rolling hills where people can ride ATVs, dirt bikes and other off-road machines. The dunes are composed of clean white sand and make a fabulous play area. The area is reminiscence of the Little Sahara sand dunes, but on a smaller scale.

The recreation area is administered by BLM and a fee is required for access. BLM provides toilet facilities. Camping is allowed in the area.

The recreation area is located just south of I-80, about 80 miles west of Salt Lake City (40 miles east of Wendover).

Blue Lake

Blue Lake includes a series of ponds and marshland on the western edge of the Salt Flats. The area offers important habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife.

Blue Lake is mostly used as a spot for scuba lessons and recreational diving. The pools are filled with water from warm springs and so diving is possible year-round. The water is mostly clear - visibility is good compared with other diving spots in the Utah/Nevada area.

Warmwater fish thrive in the ponds and offer some sport fishing. Bass and bluegill are the most common sport fish caught.

Primitive camping is allowed in the area.

Other Activities

Hiking and mountain biking trails can be found in the desert and mountain areas around Wendover. There are also developed campgrounds and primitive camping areas.

Mule deer and elk offer big game hunting in mountain areas in western Utah and eastern Nevada. Pronghorn antelope provide some hunting opportunity in the desert. Rabbits, sage grouse and chukars are pursued by upland game hunters. Some people also hunt coyotes in this area.