Wild Wasatch Front: Explore the Amazing Nature in and around Salt Lake City

by Natural History Museum of Utah, Lisa Thompson (Editor)

Explore the amazing nature along the Wasatch Front!

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

348 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a resident of the foothills of the Wasatch Front, there are times (particularly when the deer are munching on my tulips or a noisy fox squirrel — an interloper — is taunting my dogs), that I wish my surroundings were a little less wild. The Natural History Museum of Utah (nestled within the University of Utah campus and adjacent to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum) encourages us to explore the nature that thrives right under our noses.

This beautifully illustrated book is divided into a section for essays about “The Nature of Cities;” a field guide to “127 Wasatch Front Species to Know” (Street Trees, Wild Plants and Trees, Birds, Fungi, Insects, Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians); and a 21 local field trips that highlight where the field guide species are. I was especially taken with the description of Myrtle Spurge (a highly toxic plant outlawed in Utah, yet still used in landscapes in Salt Lake neighborhoods), and story of how the Fox squirrel (unknown in the valley in 2000) escaped as a pet near the Jordan River and is creeping further eastward to the foothills and Wasatch mountains.

The inclusion of a “Salt Lake City Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights” (see a starry sky; visit a mountaintop; identify a wild plant; see the Great Salt Lake) was terrific (you’d be amazed at how many of my neighbors have never visited the Great Salt Lake which they consider a smelly swampland).

This is a perfect book for residents and visitors — and a great gift for new out-of-state neighbors. And since Utah is currently one of the fastest growing states, it’s necessary that we keep our balance between the nature that’s just underfoot and our appreciation of small wonders around us. 5 stars!

Thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book and I enjoyed reading it. The focus was a little different than I expected. I was less interested in the essays discussing the urbanization of the Wasatch Front and the impact on nature. But they are thoughtful and well written. I enjoyed the sections with color photos of plants, birds and wildlife to be found along the Wasatch Front. I live near a greenbelt to the mountains and it is very common in my neighborhood to have deer eating at my apples trees or see hawks overhead. I’ve seen most of the wildlife shown in the photos in my years living in Utah. The last section is trails along the Wasatch Front and I have been on most of them. This is not a hiking guide and the trails are more improved walks along parks and foothills. It does not include going into the Wasatch Front canyons for more series hikes or climbs. I can easily see this useful for locals, especially those that want to support the Natural History Museum. And although I like the cover it doesn’t do justice to the photography inside the book.

[Olivia Ellenbecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and so much good information about the Wasatch Front.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing is right!!! This book has it all, if you find yourself in Northern Utah - which I do often, as I have family that lives from Ogden in the North through to American Fork environs in the South - and I was schooled there, so this is part of the world I claim; for these reasons, I'm owning these 5 stars! I recognize the Wonder in this power-packed guide to how anyone can find that same Wonder if they will simply step into their shoes, grab a hat and sunglasses, throwing on sturdy weather-awareness dress in-between.

Divided into three sections -

◼ The Nature of Cities
Interesting essays and articles on the key elements in the region known as the Wasatch Front - basically that beautiful landscape of climbable crags, rocks, cliff shelves which at the bottom form a snug, lush open valley that in its farthest reaches slowly unfolds into the Great Salt Lake.

◼ 127 Wasatch Front Species to Know
A thorough and delightful romp through the birds, fungi and a lichen (uno), bugs, mammals, and reptiles and amphibians that call the Wasatch Front their home. The photographs and drawings throughout capture the feel and wild side of the cities that nest against the WF.

◼ Nearby Nature Field Trips
This is my favorite: assigned as homework are 21 Trips, mapped out and highlights noted, along with accessibility scale, and amenities showing. Trip 1 starts in the north, with the Ogden River Parkway, a place I know well, but haven't ever done all 4.4 miles of it - but will be on my next trip! Trip 21 is to the south in Provo's Bicentennial Park. . another place that has part of my heart from another life. All the other "trips" are between those two points, each laid out just as thoroughly.

This is a perfect resource for those wanting to explore a place they've just moved to, are visiting, or maybe have lived in all their lives!

5 Wonder-Packed stars from this reader who knows what she knows.

*A sincere thank you to the Natural History Museum of Utah and Lisa Thompson, Timber Press and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #WildWasatchFront #NetGalley

[petalpineink · Rating 2 out of 5]

A comprehensive guide to local Salt Lake species with insight into natural history and current local environment needs.

To start, I’m not going to lie, I picked up an ARC of this read based on the cover thinking it was going to be a children’s encyclopedia of the local environment. Despite the misleading choice in cover art, it is not. It’s much more a textbook style compendium of species info. And I take most of the fault for this for not looking too in depth at the description.

That aside, I certainly found this helpful for myself as a guide to the surrounding environment. It certainly helped me identify many species I see all the time but wasn’t sure what they were. I like the inclusion of the first portion that outlined natural history and current environmental issues and needs, however it felt disjointed from the main section of the book. I would have liked to see a more in depth connection to this info through the book - like ways to protect each species or mentions on which of the listed species are great for the backyard habitats it mentions we should build, etc.

I especially loved the back section that suggested locations to visit with blurbs on the area and simple maps!

Overall, it was not what I expected it to be, but I found this guide to be useful.

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. What I found is a book with essays in the front discussing aspects of the Wasatch Front's nature and where urban mixes with nature. The next section includes descriptions and pictures of native flora, fauna, and fungi. The last section covers a few different trails along the Wasatch front. I was most looking forward to the trials section as I live in the foothills of the Wasatch front, but the ones around me were all ones I know about and have done. The photos in the book were in color and the descriptions were helpful. I was surprised at how much of the wildlife I have encountered in my 30 years living in the area. This book is a good reference guide that I can see being sold at the Natural History Museum, Red Butte Garden, and other local stores.

[Paul Norwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very friendly, approachable book that helps and encourages people to explore nature in Salt Lake City, and also covers a few spots just outside the city. The introductory essays are nice. The species accounts are interesting and very easy to read. The suggested spots are well presented. They are mostly parks and similar green spaces with paved paths. It would be nice to have a bit more of an introduction to the Wasatch Front in its regional context. I'm a visitor to the area and had to look it up. I enjoyed that the authors encourage readers to make observations on iNaturalist. The authors also have a refreshingly open-minded attitude to established species, acknowledging the negative impacts, but also being realistic about what controls can and should achieve.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing resource! I am jealous that there isn't anything this comprehensive for my area.
The area around Salt Lake City is gorgeous, and this book gives you the information you need to understand the environment and identify individual plants and animals. More importantly, there are explanations on how important it is to have access to nature even if you live in the city, and other information about why trees and water are so important.
At the end, there are several guides to specific walks you can take with what to look out for. If I lived there, I would buy this book and take every one of those walks.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

[Bibliohiker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was an in-depth and interesting read. I loved that the pictures were very in depth. The various articles in the front of the book is a nice touch as well. If you’re a nature lover; you’ll enjoy this book.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that made me travel to new places and discover new type of environments. Informative, easy to follow, full of lovely pictures.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected. Too much justifying invasive plants and not enough time spent on native flora and fauna. Also felt the section on the local trails failed to include the many great foothills trails and ignored places like Antelope Island. Just generally unbalanced.

[Kerrific Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you live in the Salt Lake City area this is a really neat book about how nature can be found in the city and why it is important. Lots of great explanations and incredible pictures.