Thunderstorm wind is the standout hazard at Golden Spike National Historical Park, with 23 recorded high-wind events striking Box Elder County's open desert terrain. These gusts can arrive with little warning across the treeless flats surrounding the historic rail site, and the same data period recorded 1 death and 2 injuries from weather incidents in the area.
When storms build on the horizon — and they can build fast here — get off the exposed locomotive display area and move to a hard-sided vehicle immediately; a rooftop tent or screen shelter offers almost no protection from sudden gusts. Stake your camp with heavy-duty anchors rated for 50+ mph winds rather than the standard stakes most families pack, and monitor the National Weather Service's Box Elder County alerts the morning of any planned outdoor activity so you can time your visit around afternoon storm windows.
Top recorded hazards in Box Elder County
County dataFrom NOAA Storm Events (2024). Counts of recorded incidents — not all occurred at this park.
- Thunderstorm Wind 23
- Lightning 1
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About 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.
Weather
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.