Welcome back to UTA's Fun in Transit series of self-guided tours! These tours (or crawls, as we've nicknamed them) are designed to help riders connect with their community, explore fun local spots, and get more familiar with UTA's transit system.
This time, we're taking a bookish jaunt through downtown Salt Lake City.
Each number on the map corresponds with a location along the crawl: transit stations, bus stops, bookstores, and a spot to sit and enjoy your book.
And here's something cool: All the transit portions of this book crawl fall within the downtown Free Fare Zone. As long as you board and exit within the zone, your ride is free.
So grab your best bookmark, your favorite set of highlighters, and your sturdiest tote, and hop on board to check out 5 local bookstores and visit the public library with UTA!
Salt Lake Central Station to Under the Umbrella Bookstore
Your journey starts at Salt Lake Central Station (1).
Board the TRAX Blue Line and ride to Old Greektown Station (2).
Exit the train and walk toward 500 West. Turn right onto 500 West, then right onto 200 South.
The entrance to Under the Umbrella Bookstore & Cafe (3) is at the corner of 200 South and 500 West (watch out for construction and obey all posted signs).
Under the Umbrella to the Nerd Store
Next, it’s about a 6-minute walk to The Nerd Store (4).
Head north along 500 West — at the fork, take the slight right to stay on the east side of 500 West.
Turn right when you get to 100 South, then take the first left onto Rio Grande Street and into the Gateway. The Nerd Store will be on your right.
The Nerd Store to Deseret Book
When you leave The Nerd Store, go back the way you came, south on Rio Grande Street to 100 South.
Turn left, then take your first right onto 400 West. Wait at Planetarium Station (5) for the TRAX Blue Line toward Draper.
Ride the TRAX Blue Line for 2 stops. Exit at Temple Square Station (6).
From Temple Square Station, cross the street toward Abravanel Hall and head east on South Temple. Deseret Book (7) is about halfway up the next block in the City Creek mall (a 4-minute walk from the station).
Deseret Book to Books & Supply
Leave Deseret Book and head west on South Temple. Turn left onto West Temple and wait for the bus at the West Temple/South Temple (SB) bus stop (8). Board Route 1 toward University Hospital.
Ride the bus for 3 stops and exit at the 200 E / 150 S (NB) stop (9). Go north on 200 East and turn right on 100 South.
Books & Supply (10) will be about halfway up the block (a 4-minute walk).
Book & Supply to the Salt Lake City Public Library
When you step out of Books & Supply, turn left to head west on 100 South. Take another left onto 200 East, then turn right onto 200 South (a 5-minute walk).
The 200 S / 200 E (EB) bus stop (11) is across the street in front of the Block Barbershop.
Board Route 4 toward Olympus Cove P+R. Ride for 2 stops and exit at the 400 S / 200 E bus stop (12).
And look at that! You've arrived at the Salt Lake City Public Library (13).
Library to Ken Sanders Rare Books
The final shop on the book crawl, Ken Sanders Rare Books (14), is just down the block from the library in the former Leonardo building.
Walk south on 200 East for about 2 minutes — and remember the wise words of Treebeard from The Lord of the Rings: "I always like going south; somehow, it feels like going downhill."
Ken Sanders Rare Books to Washington Square
Wrap up your book crawl with some relaxing reading time at Washington Square (15), across the street from Ken Sanders Rare Books.
Enjoy some fresh air, take in the antics of the resident squirrels, and sink into your new books!
When you're ready to head home, use the Transit app to plan your return journey.
We hope you enjoyed your bookish quest through the heart of Salt Lake City and gained a little more appreciation for transit along the way. See you next time!
Disclaimer: The downtown Salt Lake City Book Crawl is limited to the area between 600 West, 300 East, North Temple, and 500 South. To maintain a walkable and connected route, each participating destination must be located within 0.5 miles walking distance of the preceding destination (transit stops and businesses). Bookstores that fall outside these geographic or distance parameters have not been included in the crawl.