The Wasatch Front is a region of north central Utah, generally defined by the cities along the western side of the Wasatch Mountains, most of which are bordered to the west by either the Great Salt Lake or Utah Lake. At the center of the Wasatch Front is Salt Lake City, the state's largest city and capital. The majority of the state's population live in this region, with a total population of more than 2,000,000.
The region stretches from Brigham City to Santaquin and includes the counties of Wasatch, Salt Lake, Utah, Morgan, Cache, Davis, Weber, Rich, and the western half of Summit County. Not everyone agrees on the strict limits of the Wasatch Front, however; some people argue that Logan and Cache Valley are part of the Wasatch Front or that the region goes as far south as Nephi.
(Listed in geographical order from north to south.)
- Brigham City - generally considered the northernmost city of the Wasatch Front; population 20,000
- Ogden - center of the northern Wasatch Front; old industrial city; population 80,000
- Clearfield - home to Hill Airforce Base; population 30,000
- Layton - rapidly-growing bedroom community south of Ogden, with a growing commercial center; population 70,000
- Bountiful - suburb north of Salt Lake City; population 45,000
Salt Lake Valley
- Salt Lake City - capital of the state, center of the LDS church and home of Temple Square, site of Salt Lake City International Airport; population about 185,000
- West Valley City - large mixed-use suburb southwest of Salt Lake City; population 130,000
- Taylorsville - mixed-use suburb just west of center in the Salt Lake Valley; population 60,000
- Murray - mixed-use suburb near the center of the valley; population 45,000
- West Jordan - rapidly-growing mixed-use suburb west of Sandy; population 105,000
- Sandy - mostly bedroom community in the southern portion of Salt Lake Valley, with a distinct commercial region; population 90,000
- Draper - bedroom community at the southern end of Salt Lake Valley, population 40,000
- Lehi - home to Thanksgiving Point; population 50,000
- American Fork - population 25,000
- Pleasant Grove - home to the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center; population 35,000
- Orem - mixed-use suburb alongside Provo in the southern Wasatch Front; population 90,000
- Provo - central city of the southern Wasatch Front and home to BYU; population 115,000
- Springville - bedroom community just south of Provo, home to the Springville Museum of Art; population 30,000
- Spanish Fork - home to the valley's main fairground; population 30,000
- Payson - home to Peteetneet Academty; population 12,000
- Santaquin - generally considered the southernmost town along the Wasatch Front; population 8,500
- Alta - Ski resort.
- Sundance - Ski resort.
- Great Salt Lake - Large saltwater lake.
- Antelope Island - An island in the Great Salt LAke.
- Utah Lake - Freshwater lake in Utah Valley.
The normal entry point to the Wasatch Front by air is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
I-15 runs the entire length of the Wasatch Front.
The availability of public transportation varies throughout the region, ranging from good (Salt Lake City) to sparse (southern Utah Valley). Car is the most common method of transport.
- Mount Ogden Via Ferrata (www.mountogdenviaferrata.com), 2900 Buchanan Avenue, Ogden, UT 84403 (Take the 31st Street Exit off of Interstate 15 in Ogden, proceed to the parking lot at the east end of 29th street at the base of the mountain), ☎ (801) 550-1761, . by reservation. http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/travel/escapes/15ferrata.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0 If you can climb a ladder, you can climb the Mount Ogden Via Ferrata! You're always attached to the safety cable. No ropes or knots required. Via Ferrata (Italian for "iron road") is a mountain-climbing method that lets less experienced climbers enjoy views and adrenaline rushes usually reserved for elite climbers. Conceived during World War I, via ferrata allowed Italian soldiers from the flatlands to move quickly through the mountains as they fought the Austrians for higher ground. Today there are over 500 via ferrata climbing routes in Europe, enjoyed by locals and tourists alike, ages 8 to 80. The "iron road" is now available in Utah with the Mount Ogden Via Ferrata. (+41.211779,-111.931874)
- Utah Watercraft Rentals and Tours, 888-205-7119.  Many lakes and reservoirs in the Wasatch front to enjoy luxury vacation rentals and guided watercraft tours including; boats, jet skis, waverunners, houseboats, stand up paddle boards, wakeboards, water skis, other water toys, water sport lessons, and private tours.
Roosters Brew Pub on Historic 25th Street in Ogden. Be sure to read the Historical Register signs on the buildings on 25th Street. About 80% of the structures served as houses of Prostitution at one time or another. Ah...the joys of being a rough and tumble railroad town. Now most of those former whore houses are posh restaurants or art galleries.