Utah is home to a wide range of landscapes from the red rocks in southern Utah to the incredible mountains up north. There is also the impressive Colorado Plateau and the remarkable Great Salt Lake. However, you can’t forget about the Great Basin Desert, which is actually more than 190,000 square miles and is located in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. And, tucked away in this desert and within Utah’s state lines is something unusual, unexpected, and quirky — the Sun Tunnels.

The Sun Tunnels are located in the middle of nowhere. You will find them more than 200 miles west of Salt Lake City and near the Utah and Nevada state line. They are nestled in Utah’s Great Basin Desert.
Google Maps
The Sun Tunnels are actually the creation of artist Nancy Holt. This masterpiece was created in 1976 by Holt who was considered one of the most incredible land artists of her time.
Jacob Barlow/Google
Fun fact: Holt was married to artist Robert Smithson. You may know one of his most famous works – the Spiral Jetty on the Great Salt Lake.
This large art installation features four large concrete cylinders. These cylinders are 18 feet long and 9 feet wide, large enough that you can easily walk inside and through each tunnel.
Calvin Chu/Flickr
And not only are four large cylinders in the middle of the desert a bit bizarre, but the way they are placed is very, very specific.
Retis/Flickr
These tunnels are arranged on the desert floor in a cross pattern. They align perfectly with the sunrise and sunset on both the summer and winter solstices.

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But that’s not all. These cylinders also feature numerous small holes which represent four constellations: Draco, Perseus, Columba, and Capricorn.
Jacob Barlow/Google
Today, you are welcome to explore, walkthrough, and photograph this unusual and quirky artwork.
Joanne West/Google
Depending on the time of day and the weather conditions, these tunnels can create quite a remarkable sight and a photograph that is certainly a conversation starter.
Retis/Flickr
However, be aware that the drive out to the sun tunnels can be quite difficult during the winter months. You must drive on an unpaved road to reach this massive art installation.
The Sun Tunnels may seem a little unexpected and quite bizarre, but they are the definition of a true hidden gem in the desert.
John Clarke/Google

If you plan to visit the Sun Tunnels, please respect the area around the installation and leave no trace of your visit. Have you been to the Sun Tunnels? What did you think of this art installation? Let us know in the comments.

Did you know the Sun Tunnels aren’t the only unusual artwork in the desert? There’s a massive tree sculpture located along I-80 West toward Wendover and you need to check it out.

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Sun Tunnels, Utah 84083, USA