Great Salt Lake

Antelope Island State Park | Nicole Morgenthau

Weather: Haze, 31F

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and the eighth largest in the world. Sure, it’s a geographical masterpiece, but for locals, the capital city’s namesake inspiration is most noted for bison-spotting, bird-watching, Instagram-worthy photo backdrops and the boost it sometimes offers snowstorms called the “lake effect.”

Lake visitors revel in its diverse ecosystem and abundance of wild animals. Home to both the Great Salt Lake State Park and Antelope Island State Park, Great Salt Lake is a popular destination for boating, swimming, hiking, camping and wildlife viewing. Brine shrimp inhabit the saltwater, bison roam the lake’s Antelope Island and millions of migratory shorebirds and waterfowl take refuge in the 400,000 acres of surrounding wetlands.

When to Visit

Northern Utah experiences dry, sunny summers typically peaking around 90 degrees Fahrenheit in July or August. Spring and fall are incredibly pleasant times to visit. Overnight temperatures in winter drop below freezing, but the state park visitor centers are open year-round. During the warmer months, insects are present on Antelope Island. Insect repellent is not effective on biting gnats, and visitors should be prepared with fine mesh head nets. Call the visitor center for current conditions. (Read: A Year-Round Guide to Great Salt Lake State Park)

Utah Weather

Where to Stay

The Great Salt Lake State Park Campground is open year-round and offers RV sites that can accommodate up to a 40′ RV. Campsites have water and electricity. Advance camping reservations are recommended. There are primitive beach tent only sites, no hookups or vehicle access on the beach.

At Antelope Island State Park, Bridger Bay Campground and White Rock Bay Campground are also open year-round. Advance camping reservations are recommended. There are no individual hookups, but throughout the warmer months, you'll find shower facilities, drinking water and concessions, including Buffalo Grill.

Find a campsite

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Antelope Island State Park

Explorers of Antelope Island State Park can hike, bike, picnic, camp, ride horseback or float in the salty sea. The island hosts free-range bison, antelopes, bighorn sheep and mule deer. It’s also designated as an International Dark Sky Park (Bronze Tier) by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). Be sure to stop by the visitor center to learn more about the 42-square-mile island.
Boating

Ahoy, matey! Lake visitors launch sailboats, motorboats, kayaks and paddleboats from marinas in Antelope Island State Park and Great Salt Lake State Park. Great Salt Lake State Park, in particular, houses a search and rescue operations center, provides long-term boat slip rentals and is home to the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club.
Bonneville Salt Flats

Not your typical white sandy beach, Bonneville Salt Flats is made of a layer of salt so dry, thick and hard that certain portions are inhospitable to life. What the flats lack in ecological liveability, they make up for in out-of-this-world landscapes for sensational photos, especially at sunset or sunrise. The salt flats also entertain motorsport racing — along with several land-speed records — at the Bonneville Speedway.
Cycling

Cycling — via mountain, road or e-bike – is a thrilling way to explore Great Salt Lake. Mountain bikers frequent the easy flats and moderate hills on Antelope Island. Antelope E-Bike Company provides guided tours of the island on custom electric bikes. Although Antelope Island reigns supreme for Great Salt Lake cyclists, road cyclists can choose from routes on the island or any roads leading to and from the lake.
The Spiral Jetty

Artists, historians and naturalists alike will appreciate the sensational sight of the Spiral Jetty. American sculptor Robert Smithson constructed this extraordinary coil-shaped earth sculpture in 1970 using 6,500 tons of black basalt rocks, limestone and mud. It measures 1,500-feet long by 15-feet wide and is considered the most famous large-scale earthwork of the period. Visitors should be mindful that low water levels at the Great Salt Lake have increased the natural presence of tar around the Spiral Jetty shoreline. Watch your step and keep dogs on leash.

Antelope Island State Park

Photo: Nicole Morgenthau

The Great Salt Lake never freezes over.

Photo: Wei

Getting There

The best access points to Great Salt Lake are via Antelope Island State Park or Great Salt Lake State Park.

Antelope Island State Park rests on the lake’s east side and is the most popular place to experience the lake, due to its easy-to-spot wildlife and variety of activities. Visitors can hike, bike, camp or ride horseback to explore the island’s habitat and wildlife.

Great Salt Lake State Park sits on the south shore. Here, you can visit a small visitor’s center, book a boat tour or stroll along the marina dock. Whatever you decide, beautiful views of Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park and Black Rock are a guarantee.

Willard Bay State Park is another option for access, though it’s the least traveled for guests of Great Salt Lake. Willard Bay is a freshwater reservoir on the flood plains of the lake. Both its north marina and south marina are popular for boating, waterskiing and year-round fishing for crappie, walleye, wiper and catfish.

There is a day-use fee per vehicle at all Utah State Parks, check with the park for current pricing. The Annual Utah State Park Pass is accepted.

Great Salt Lake History

Once upon a time — 30,000 years ago during the Ice Age to be exact — a freshwater Lake Bonneville inhabited much of Northern Utah. Over time, increased evaporation and a warming climate caused the lake’s water levels to rise and fall dramatically.

The Great Salt Lake we know today emerged about 10,000 years ago. Local Native American tribes knew about Great Salt Lake, and records from the U.S. Geological Society show that explorer Jim Bridger became the first non-native person to see the lake in 1824. Another explorer, John C. Fremont, explored the island further in 1843. Then in 1847, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in the area and used the islands for grazing cattle and recreating in the lake.

Facts About Great Salt Lake

Great Salt Lake is not just salty — lake waters range from freshwater to supersaturated with salt. It’s one of the most diverse places on earth in terms of salinity (how much salt is in the water), which creates different habitats and supports biodiversity.
There are more than 11 feet of salt on the bottom of the lake in some places.
The lake is separated by a railroad causeway that has created two separate ecosystems.
There are 338 species of birds that visit the lake.
The lake is thalassohaline, which means its origin is from the sea and it has the same ratios of salts that the ocean has, just in much higher concentrations.

Learn more about Great Salt Lake Ecosystem

Help Keep Great Salt Lake Forever Mighty

The Great Salt Lake is essential to Utah’s environment and ecology – 10 million birds visit the lake annually as an essential stopover and breeding ground. But the lake has lost half its water due to human usage. According to the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council, 871 billion gallons of water is diverted annually before it enters the lake and anticipated water demand could lower the lake another 10 feet. Discover simple ways you can conserve water from the Utah Governor’s Water Conservation Team – visit slowtheflow.org.

Be Prepared

The Great Salt Lake is the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere. Always check the weather before heading out on the water – storms can be rough and waves can reach 8 to 10 feet.
Be sure to check the latest fire restrictions before lighting a campfire, and always know the fire safety rules.
Metal detecting is by permit only at Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island state parks. Drones are prohibited at Antelope Island State Park from March-November, and by recreational permit only on weekdays December-February. Drone use at Great Salt Lake State Park is year-round by permit only.
Everything in the state parks is protected by law. Removal of any natural or cultural resource is prohibited.
Respect the health and safety of wildlife. Always maintain a respectful distance, approaching any animal can be dangerous to you and stressful to the animal.
Swimming or floating in the lake is allowed. The best place to experience the lake’s highly saline waters is Bridger Bay Beach.
Great Salt Lake supports several types of bacteria whose byproduct is rotten-egg-smelling hydrogen sulfide. The smell is noticeable along the Davis County Causeway, but resolves once you reach Antelope Island.