Candice Brown is an Ogden native who writes about travel and more for From the Community. When she’s not adventuring with her kids, she can be found watching VHS movies, hitting up local thrift stores, crocheting or reading a book. 

There has been a lot of buzz this last week about a little piece of land out in the Box Elder desert. I’ve had numerous friends tag me in posts and message me links to a story because I’ve been talking about this place for months now.

In fact, it was one of the highlights of my summer. In early June my two older children and I, along with few of our friends, snuck across the border. And I wrote an article about it. 

Approximately two and a half hours northwest of Ogden, the uninhabited and desolate land of Zaqistan lies in the dry belly of Utah’s Great Basin Region.

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Artist Zaq Landsberg purchased the deed to the land in 1995 and declared it the Republic of Zaqistan later that year. Since then, he and other citizens of Zaqistan have made a number of expeditions to the site and erected landmarks, including the quirky robot sentinels that stand guard at the border.

Photo supplied/Candice Brown

These landmarks and the gorgeous, inhospitable desert are really all there is to see out there. More of an art project making a statement about what makes a nation a nation, Zaqistan isn’t recognized by any other countries as a legitimate nation.

When my friends and I decided to make our journey there, we couldn’t find it on any map. Directions and GPS coordinates are closely guarded by the few adventurers who’ve made the voyage and crossed the borders, making it nearly impossible to find.

Embarking on the mysterious trek to the 2-square-acre micro-nation takes great patience, a hunger for adventure and careful planning. Luckily, I have friends that possess all of these skills in abundance.

Our adventure took us down every dirt road east of Terrace Mountain and Terrace Ghost Town, Zaqistan’s nearest neighboring points-of-interest. Following vague directions and clues from previous visitors, scanning the horizon dozens of times, we nearly missed it.

We began discussing our failure and the reality of planning a second trek. Two members of our party had to head back to Ogden early and empty-handed. The gas gauges on our cars began to dip. The thermostat hit a sweltering 104 degrees. There was very limited cell phone service, and our hearts started to sink as defeat sank in.

“I think I saw one more road that may not have even been a road. It’s worth a try,” one friend said.

“One more road,” we replied half-heartedly. This would be our very last road, our final attempt.

Nine hours and nearly 300 miles later, we entered the Republic of Zaqistan. Hot, dirty and exhausted, we relished the victory. Fifteen minutes and a few photographs later, we headed home as the sun began to set behind us. So many hours and so much effort for only a few minutes inside the borders of Zaqistan. We all agreed it was completely worth the work and would gladly do it again.

Photo supplied/Candice Brown

My visit to Zaqistan was the first time I had been to the west side of the Great Salt Lake. Since June I have now taken five more road trips to this often-overlooked corner of the state. A friend recently took a trek out there and when he returned, made the comment that there isn’t anything to do or see in that area. I couldn’t disagree more. There is so much to discover — forgotten ghost towns, springs teeming with wildlife, hills with hidden caves to explore and hundreds of miles of dirt roads to get lost on.

If you are serious about wanting to visit, I suggest visiting Zaqistan’s temporary tourism office and consulate in the Central Utah Art Center in Salt Lake City. They will be there for the next month. You can try reaching out to Landsberg via his website (although I’ve heard it can take quite a while to receive a response). You are also free to reach out to me with any questions on Instagram at @trelys or via email at candicemariabrown@gmail.com.

If you do decide to adventure out there, here a few very useful suggestions and tips:

• Take plenty of gas. Although only 50 miles from the nearest gas station, you do not want to risk getting stranded.
• Take food and water. There is zero shade and zero water sources out there. It’s hot, and you could very quickly get into a dangerous situation if you are not prepared.
• Caravan. We took three cars, and I’m so glad we did. There are some rough roads, and you do not want to have to hike out if you get in trouble.
• Take a four-wheel drive, high-profile vehicle. Again, these roads are rough. They are also steep and not maintained.
• As with any adventure, let someone know where you are going and when to expect you back.
• Respect the land and the land owners. Zaqistan is on private land, and you have to pass through private land to reach it. Please be respectful and don’t be that guy that ruins awesome things for everyone else.

In all, I’d say visiting Zaqistan is for only the most responsible and serious adventurers. There really isn’t much to see out there. You have to exert a lot of energy and practice a ton of patience, and the payoff isn’t what most people would consider very rewarding.

However, if you enjoy a good scavenger hunt and don’t mind getting lost in the middle of nowhere, it’s really a pretty amazing experience.

Happy adventuring!

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