Spiral Jetty

Spiral Jetty is an earth sculpture at Rozel Point on the Great Salt Lake in the United States, built from black basalt rock, mud, and salt. The work curves in a counterclockwise spiral extending roughly 460 meters from shore into shallow water.

Robert Smithson created the work in April 1970 and documented the construction in a film of the same name. The sculpture disappeared beneath rising lake levels for decades afterward, resurfacing in the late 1990s.

The name refers to the coiled shape that winds into the water, resembling whirlpools or shells. Visitors see how the work's color shifts with changing water levels and salt coating.

The route follows unpaved roads that can become impassable when wet. Visitors should bring plenty of water and sun protection, as the area is remote and offers no shade.

The pink water around the black rocks forms due to salt-loving bacteria thriving in the lake's extreme salinity. The sculpture changes appearance with the seasons, sometimes dry, sometimes partly submerged.

Location: Box Elder County

Inception: 1970

Creator: Robert Smithson

Official opening: 1971

Made from material: mud, table salt, rock, water, basalt

GPS coordinates: 41.43778,-112.66889

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:02