Golden Spike National Historical Park
One of the greatest technological achievements of the 19th century is the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. Visitors to the park can see the location of the Last Spike Site, 1869 railroad construction features, walk or drive on the original railroad grade, and get an up close view of Victorian era replica locomotives.
About 1.5 hours from Salt Lake City by car.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleThe per vehicle fee covers all occupants in a single private vehicle. The fee will allow visitors access to all resources open to the public, including auto tours, walking trails, films, exhibit areas, ranger guided programs, and other seasonal activities. | $20 | |
| MotorcycleAdmits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. The fee will allow visitors access to all resources open to the public, including auto tours, walking trails, films, exhibit area, ranger guided programs, other seasonal activities. | $15 | |
| Per PersonAdmits one individual with no car. This pass is typically used for bicyclists, and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free. The fee will allow visitor access to all resources open to the public, including auto tours, walking trails, films, exhibit area, ranger guided programs, other seasonal activities. | $10 | |
| Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity | ||
| SedanCommercial Entrance-Sedan (1-6 persons vehicle capacity) | $20 | |
| VanCommercial Entrance - Van (7-15 persons vehicle capacity) | $40 | |
| Mini-busCommercial Entrance - Mini-bus (16-25 persons vehicle capacity) | $40 | |
| Motor CoachCommercial Entrance - Motor Coach (26+ person vehicle capacity) | $100 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkGolden Spike National Historical Park Annual Pass This annual pass covers entrance fees at Golden Spike National Historical Park for the pass holder and occupants within a single non-commercial vehicle or the pass holder and one passenger on a motorcycle. | $35 | |
All park visitors are required to pay an entrance fee or have a valid federal recreation pass to recreate at the park. Permits are good for seven consecutive days. Fees apply to those 16 years old and older. Entrance Fees are paid at the visitor center by credit card only.
Hours
| Summer and Winter Hours | Varies by day ▾
|
When to go
May draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Summer and Winter Seasons
The park visitor center features exhibits, a theater, bookstore, picnic areas, and a welcoming staff that will help visitors get the most out of their trip. During the summer, the visitor center is open daily, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM MDT.
Explore
Things to do
- Hike the Big Fill Loop Trail
1.5 mile hiking trail that showcases construction techniques for the transcontinental railroad.
Opens on the Park Service site - Western National Parks Store
Western National Parks (WNP) is a partner of the National Park Service. WNP supports the ongoing preservation and interpretation efforts at Golden Spike National Historical Park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Engine Hour Tours (winter)20-30 Minutes
Tour visitors meet at Visitor Center at times below to participate in the tour. Mid-October thru Late-April Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday - ONLY* 10:30 AM 1:00 PM 3:00 PM
Opens on the Park Service site - Locomotive Ranger Program20-45 Minutes
Experience the wonder of classic Victorian steam locomotives and be transported back in time to 1869 when America was newly united the world's first transcontinental railroad.
Opens on the Park Service site - East Auto Tour30-45 Minutes
The East Auto Tour is two miles long and follows the original Transcontinental railroad grade featuring views of the Wasatch mountains and provides up close examples of railroad construction methods such as earthen fills, railbed cuts, and rock…
Opens on the Park Service site - West Auto Tour60-90 Minutes
West Auto Tour
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 7Hide
- Jr Ranger Program
Golden Spike is proud to offer the Jr Ranger program for visitors wanting to explore the park and the many stories associated with the railroad.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- CLOSED-Thanksgiving11/2609:00 AM · freeVisitor Center and Engine House Closed
- CLOSED-Christmas12/2509:00 AM · runs through Dec 25 · freeVisitor Center
- CLOSED-New Year's Day01/0109:00 AM · runs through Jan 1 · freeVisitor center
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Utah's national parks
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthCoyote 2×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 96 birds, 34 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Barn Owl · Burrowing Owl · Ferruginous Hawk · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Long-eared Owl · Northern Harrier · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Rough-legged Hawk · Short-eared Owl · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture
Waterfowl & wadersCanada Goose · Great Blue Heron · Sandhill Crane · Snowy Egret
Shorebirds & seabirdsCalifornia Gull · Franklin's Gull · Killdeer · Long-billed Curlew · Red-necked Phalarope · Willet · Wilson's Snipe
Gamebirds & dovesCalifornia Quail · Greater Sage-Grouse · Mourning Dove · Ring-necked Pheasant · Rock Pigeon · Sharp-tailed Grouse
WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Northern Flicker
Hummingbirds & swiftsBlack-chinned Hummingbird · Broad-tailed Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Goldfinch · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Barn Swallow · Black-billed Magpie · Black-throated Sparrow · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Canyon Wren · Cassin's Finch · Chukar · Cliff Swallow · Common Grackle · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Raven · Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) · Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided) · Eastern Kingbird · European Starling · Grasshopper Sparrow · Gray Partridge · Green-tailed Towhee · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · Lapland Longspur · Lark Bunting · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Loggerhead Shrike · Mallard · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shrike · Orange-crowned Warbler · Pine Siskin · Red-winged Blackbird · Rock Wren · Sage Thrasher · Sagebrush Sparrow · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Song Sparrow · Spotted Towhee · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Tanager · White-crowned Sparrow · Wilson's Warbler · Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-headed Blackbird
Small mammalsBlack-tailed Jackrabbit · Bushy-tailed Woodrat · Common Muskrat · Deer Mouse · Desert Cottontail · Great Basin Ground Squirrel · Great Basin Pocket Mouse · Long-tailed Vole · Montane Vole · Mountain Cottontail · North American Porcupine · Northern Pocket Gopher · Ord's Kangaroo Rat · Sagebrush Vole · Western Harvest Mouse · White-tailed Jackrabbit · Yellow-bellied Marmot
PredatorsAmerican Badger · Bobcat · Coyote · Long-tailed Weasel · Mountain Lion · Northern Raccoon · Red Fox · Striped Skunk · Western Spotted Skunk
Hoofed mammalsMule Deer · Pronghorn
BatsBig Brown Bat · Fringed Myotis · Little Brown Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Western Pipistrelle · Western Small-footed Myotis
Activities
Activity guides for this park Hiking in the national parks
All 13 activitiesHide
Weather & climate
Golden Spike National Historical Park is located in a high desert environment in the Promontory Mountains near the north end of the Great Salt Lake. The temperatures can reach over 100 degrees in the summer and dip into single digits in the winter, with much of the park blanketed in snow. Visitors are recommended to check forecasts before coming to our site and come prepared for changing weather conditions.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Golden Spike?
Entrance is $20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, and $10 per person on foot or bike. The per vehicle fee covers all occupants in a single private vehicle.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Golden Spike?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Golden Spike-only annual pass is $35.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Golden Spike takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Golden Spike free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Golden Spike?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Golden Spike. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Golden Spike?
Hours differ by day of the week. The full schedule is under Hours on this page.
Source: National Park Service
How busy is Golden Spike?
53,696 recreation visits in 2025, number 258 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
What is the weather like at Golden Spike?
Golden Spike National Historical Park is located in a high desert environment in the Promontory Mountains near the north end of the Great Salt Lake. The temperatures can reach over 100 degrees in the summer and dip into single digits in the winter, with much of the park blanketed in snow.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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