Wild Wasatch Front

A vibrant, informative guide to the unexpected nature in Salt Lake City and the surrounding area.

Set out on a field trip with the experts from the Natural History Museum of Utah. In this book, you’ll learn about over 100 local species, both plants and animals. Be on the lookout for painted turtles in Ogden, spot pelicans soaring over Provo, and identify pavement mushrooms in Salt Lake City. Equal parts field guide and trip planner, Wild Wasatch Front reveals the unexpected nature thriving in parks, beside urban streams, along local trails… and maybe even in your own backyard.

The Natural History Museum of Utah is one of the leading scientific research and cultural institutions in the country. Established in 1963, the museum’s ten permanent exhibitions are anchored by its state-of-the-art collections and research facilities containing more than 1.6 million objects. These collections are used in studies on geological, biological, and cultural diversity, and the histories of living systems and human cultures within the Utah region. The museum hosts approximately 300,000 general visitors a year and broadens the reach of its mission through a variety of science-based outreach programs to communities and schools throughout Utah. 

Lisa Thompson is an exhibit developer and interpretive planner at the Natural History Museum of Utah, where she developed the “Nature All Around Us” exhibit. She is fascinated by how culture shapes the way we define nature and passionate about helping people connect to nature in their everyday lives.