Interstate 80 West - Wyoming to Echo

Welcome to Utah sign posted along Interstate 80 west & U.S. 189 south as the routes leave Wyoming and Uinta County and enter Utah and Summit County just west of Evanston.

08/25/14

The first westbound confirming marker for I-80 in the Beehive State. U.S. 189 is considered a discontinuous route by UDOT between the Wyoming line and Heber City. Interstate 80 replaced the alignment of both U.S. 189 and U.S. 30S from the state line to the Interstate 84 split at Echo.

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This distance sign provides the distance to Echo (junction with I-84), Coalville and Salt Lake City. U.S. 189 shares an implied overlap with Interstate 80 to Exit 148 with U.S. 40 east at Silver Creek Junction.

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Interstate 80 curves southward and remains parallel to both a Union Pacific Railroad line and Wahsatch Frontage Road (old U.S. 30S & 189) to Echo Canyon. The elevation peaks at 6,860 feet above sea level on this stretch.

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The freeway kinks southwestward away from the adjacent Rich County line between mileposts 193 and 192. I-80 never formally enters Rich County otherwise.

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The first Utah exit joins Interstate 80 with the Union Pacific Railroad siding of Wahsatch in one half mile.

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No services sign posted on Interstate 80 west for the diamond interchange (Exit 191) at Wasatch. These types of signs are commonly used throughout the west when no services (gas, food, lodging) are found within a reasonable driving distance of the exit in question.

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Wahsatch Road stems east from Interstate 80 to Yellow Creek Road (CR 151) in Uinta County, Wyoming. A number of unnamed ranch roads fan out to the west and north from Exit 191 to the west as well.

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The distant Wasatch Range appears to the southwest as Interstate 80 lowers into Echo Canyon.

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The roadways of Interstate 80 diverge around an area of wetlands along Echo Creek between mileposts 191 and 190. The parallel Union Pacific Railroad loops westward away from the freeway to Castle Rock.

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07/11/15

Continuing southwestward along I-80 on the approach to Exit 187, which one of many ranch exits found along rural segments of western Interstates.

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Ranch Exits provide access to areas otherwise not served by the local area road network. They also do not provide motorists services.

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Entering the diamond interchange (Exit 187) with an unnamed road leading east to Ball and Moore Reservoir and Cache Cave.

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Westbound reassurance shield posted after Exit 187. UDOT recorded 14,665 vehicles per day (vpd) on this segment of I-80 in 2014.

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Despite the lack of population and oncoming traffic from Exit 187, a distance sign lists the distances to Echo, Coalville and Salt Lake City.

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Interstate 80 lowers further through Echo Canyon as it runs alongside Echo Creek.

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Drivers along I-80 west next approach a diamond interchange (Exit 185) for the UP Railroad siding of Castle Rock.

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Pony Express Trail connects I-80 at Exit 185 with adjacent Castle Rock Road to the south and Castle Rock to the north.

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A rock outcrop separating Echo Canyon from Tristram Creek on the north side of I-80. The UP Railroad emerges from the adjacent valley to again parallel Interstate 80 westward.

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Interstate 80 overlays the California Trail, Mormon Pioneer and Pony Express National Historic Trails through northeastern Utah. A historic trail crossing is located at Castle Rock.

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Exit 185 departs from Interstate 80 west for Pony Express Trail. Unnamed ranch roads tie into Castle Rock from the Lewis Canyon area to the north.

07/11/15

A pair of Union Pacific Railroad lines travel alongside I-80 to the north from Castle Rock southwest to their merge point near Exit 178.

08/25/14

Continuing southwest along Interstate 80 through Echo Canyon. The speed limit is posted at 80 miles per hour throughout this stretch.

07/11/15

Next in line for westbound travelers is the port of entry for truckers. These are referred to as weigh stations in most states.

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All commercial trucks not pre-passed via weigh in motion must enter the port of entry during periods of operation. This includes buses, unlicensed vehicles, dealers and vehicles with livestock.

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The port of entry lies just south of milepost 181. A northbound facility is located at the Wyoming state line.

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Former U.S. 30S/189 emerge from Interstate 80 to follow Echo Canyon Road at forthcoming Exit 178.

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A wye interchange separates Echo Canyon Road from Interstate 80 west at Exit 178. Old U.S. 30S & 189 run alongside the freeway for 10.7 miles through the railroad siding of Emory to Echo Junction.

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Echo Canyon becomes more steep from Emory southwest to Echo. Interstate 80 passes just north of Stag Canyon by milepost 178.

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Interstate 80, Echo Creek, the Union Pacific Railroad and Echo Canyon Road come into view as the freeway bends westward by Emory and Lord Canyon.

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Waters from Heiners Creek combine with Echo Creek from an adjacent valley to the west of these hills rising alongside I-80 at milepost 175.

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Union Pacific Trains travel alongside Interstate 80 through Echo Canyon.

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07/11/15

Echo Canyon widens by Thirtyfive Canyon. Echo Canyon Road (old U.S. 30S/189) travels at the best of the adjacent mountains.

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An S-curve winds Interstate 80 between Sawmill and Little Sawmill Canyons ahead of milepost 174.

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Pronounced rock facades rise along the north side of I-80 from Bull Hollow, Pine Canyon and Bear Hollow.

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An interchange sequence sign outlines the three Echo Junction off-ramps departing from Interstate 80 over the next 3.5 miles.

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Utah generally signs its rest areas with exit numbers like standard interchanges. As such, the Utah tourist information center and rest area at Echo is assigned Exit 170.

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The mountains to the immediate north make up southern reaches of Windy Knoll, a 8,087 foot peak.

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A half mile ahead of the Echo Canyon Welcome Center on Interstate 80 west.

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Westbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 170 for the tourist information center and rest area at Echo Junction. Visitors can pick up a free Utah state map, gain local area information, and learn about the Oregon Trail and the Mormon Pioneer Trail at the facility.

07/11/15

A second Welcome to Utah sign along I-80 west resides at the Echo Information Center. Welcome signs posted at rest areas provide safe photo opportunities for travelers who might otherwise have stopped at the state line signage on the side of the freeway.

07/11/15

Peering at Echo Canyon from a knoll adjacent cent to the Echo Canyon Welcome Center at Exit 170. The Union Pacific Railroad and Echo Canyon Road remain along the base of the northern canyon wall. To the west is the Interstate 84 eastern terminal interchange.

09/08/05

The Echo Canyon Welcome Center accommodates up to 68 cars and 23 trucks or recreational vehicles.

09/08/05