Sun Tunnels
Where the Desert Keeps Time
Four massive concrete tunnels sit alone on the floor of the Great Basin Desert in far western Box Elder County. Artist Nancy Holt built Sun Tunnels between 1973 and 1976, aligning them so the sun rises and sets perfectly framed through the tunnels on the summer and winter solstices. It’s one of the most important works of Land art in the world, and it’s free to visit any day of the year.
Holt said she wanted the tunnels to “bring the vast space of the desert back to human scale.” Stand inside one and you’ll see what she meant: the endless horizon becomes a series of framed views, and small holes in the concrete scatter points of sunlight across the walls.
Owned and cared for by Dia Art Foundation. Get visitor information and directions.
Quick Facts
Location
Near the ghost town of Lucin, Great Basin Desert
Road
Gravel and dirt; best when dry
Fee
Free
Artist
Nancy Holt, 1973–76
Best time
Sunrise or sunset
Drive time
3.5–4 hours from Salt Lake City
Out Where the Pavement Ends
Sun Tunnels sits near the ghost town of Lucin, close to the Nevada state line in the far northwest corner of Utah. The four tunnels are 18 feet long and 9 feet across, arranged in an open X on 40 acres that Holt purchased specifically for the work. There’s nothing else out here but sagebrush, salt flats, and mountains on every horizon, and that’s exactly the point.
Most visitors spend an hour or two at the site, but the drive is part of the experience: about three hours from Brigham City, with the final stretch on gravel roads. Plan for a full day, bring everything you’ll need, and time your visit for sunrise or sunset if you can.
Things to do at Sun Tunnels
Walk Through the Tunnels
Year-round · Free · Open all day
Each tunnel is tall enough to stand in. Walk through all four, look out each end, and notice how every opening frames a different piece of the desert. The sound inside changes too, so take a minute to listen.
Find the Constellations
Year-round · Best on sunny days · Look up inside
Holt drilled holes in the top of each tunnel to match four constellations: Draco, Perseus, Columba, and Capricorn. On a bright day, sunlight pours through as moving spots of light that trace the earth’s rotation across the tunnel floor.
Catch a Solstice Sunrise or Sunset
Around June 21 & December 21 · Arrive early · Bring layers
This is what the tunnels were built for. On the solstices, the sun rises and sets centered in the tunnels’ openings. The days around each solstice give a very similar view if you can’t make the exact date.
Solstice Alignments
Around June 21
SUMMER SOLSTICE
The sun rises and sets through the tunnels. The most popular day of the year, so expect company and arrive early.
Around December 21
WINTER SOLSTICE
The sun frames the tunnels again on the shortest day. Fewer crowds and cold temps, so check road conditions first.
Make a Day of It
Complete the Land Art Trail at Spiral Jetty
Nancy Holt was married to Robert Smithson, creator of Spiral Jetty on the north shore of the Great Salt Lake. Both works are now cared for by Dia Art Foundation, and seeing them together tells the story of one of the most important movements in American art.
The two sites are a long drive apart, so plan to split them across two days or start very early. Spiral Jetty is about 16 miles past Golden Spike on gravel road, making it an easy add-on on your way out or back.
Stargaze Over the Great Basin
Sun Tunnels is one of the darkest places you can drive to in Utah. Stay after sunset to see the Milky Way, planets, and meteor showers, and bring a red flashlight so your eyes stay adjusted.
Brigham City
Fuel up, stock up on food and water, and find lodging in Brigham City before heading west. It’s your last full-service stop on the Utah side.
Before You Go
Fuel Up First
There’s no fuel, water, food, or restrooms at Sun Tunnels. The closest services are in Montello, Nevada, about 45 minutes away. Start with a full tank and pack plenty of water and snacks.
FREE & ALWAYS OPEN
There’s no entrance fee and no hours. Please leave no trace: pack out all trash, don’t build fire pits, and never climb on, mark, or alter the artwork.
ROADS & WEATHER
The last stretch is gravel and dirt, fine for most cars when dry but impassable after rain or snow. Check conditions before you go.
Cell Service
Coverage is unreliable or nonexistent. Download offline maps and directions before you leave, and tell someone your plans.