Great Salt Lake, Utah - Boating & Sailing

"The Great Salt Lake is both famous and infamous."

It's famous for the salt content in a body of water far from the ocean.

It is rumored that you can easily float in the lake. But it's not a rumor - it's true. I've done it many times. You just lay on your back and . . . float.

 

 

 

 

I'm sure many of you have heard of the Bonneville Salt Flats where many kinds of racing records have been broken. All kinds of vehicles, from motorcycles, antique cars, to modern uber-expensive race cars are tested and raced - usually against the last recored time rather than against other vehicles. It's a race surface like no other! If you like speed, it's exciting to watch any race.

This huge Lake has 11 fascinating islands. Antelope Island is the lake's largest island. A causeway to the island makes it easy to just drive there. It is also a designated state park.

The island is home to one of the biggest publicly owned herds of buffalo in the U.S. Antelope, big horn sheep, mule deer, and coyotes also make their home on Antelope Island.

The Historic Fielding Garr Ranch offers educational programs on 19th century western life.

Other islands include Dolphin, Badger, Carrington, Hat, Egg, Gunnison, Fremont, Bird and Stansbury. Some you can visit and some you can't.

Several of the islands boast a bird population second to none. In the spring, between 10,000 and 15,000 American white pelicans nest on Gunnison along with 30,000 gulls.

Lack of predators and isolation from humans make Gunnison an ideal nesting colony. The wetlands around Great Salt Lake provide a habitat for more than 250 different species of birds.

Near Great Salt Lake is Lagoon, an immense amusement park that the whole family is sure to enjoy. Lagoon has 35 rides, live entertainment, and a water park. (Lagoon is a fun place, but it is definitely not crowd-free!)

What about boating and sailing at the Great Salt Lake?

Well, trailer up your sail boat, motor boat, or kayak, because there is plenty of space for everyone and you can still get that crowd-free feeling out on the lake.

There is a state marina located on the south shore, 16 miles west of Salt Lake City along Interstate 80. It has 300 slips and is available for year-round boating on the lake that never freezes. There is also a marina on Antelope Island.

The park is open year around. There are facilities for picnicking, a group pavilion, drinking water, modern restrooms, swimming, and plenty of wildlife to watch. The entrance fee is $2.00.

Willard Bay State Park is on the northern end of the Great Salt Lake. With 9,900 acres of fresh water for boating, water skiing and year-round fishing, it's a popular boating destination.

There are two state-owned facilities. The north marina is 15 miles north of Ogden, just off Interstate 15. The park has 62 campsites, modern restrooms, hot showers, sewage disposal station, seasonal/transient boat slip rentals and sandy beaches.

The south marina is eight miles north of Ogden. It is open April through October and provides 30 campsites with modern restrooms.

And the infamous?

Have you heard of the brine flies? Also called shore flies, are usually only on the sandy beaches of the lake. You probably won't find them out on the water.

Lake stink is another common complaint, but this is one of the greatest misconceptions about the Great Salt Lake. People think the whole thing is stinky. The smell comes from the shore and has a slight sulfur odor, and it rarely smells like that on the water.

Plenty of natural and artificial lakes across Utah offer boating opportunities, but none has the sailing history of Great Salt Lake. This lake is a sailor's heaven as there are mostly sail boats on this lake.

More things to do at the lake:

How about a dinner cruise? Gary Hamblin operates dinner cruises on the lake on Friday and Saturday nights. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 888-878-8002. Cost is $55 per person plus tax and optional gratuity. The cruise begins on Antelope Island. Take the Antelope Drive exit off I-15 and follow the signs driving west to Antelope Island. The marina is on the far north end of the island

A less expensive alternative. A lunch cruise is also available. It leaves at 2 p.m. from the marina on Friday and Saturday. Cost is $35.23 with lunch and $25 without. Kids 12 and younger get discounts on both.

If you own a sail boat, the Great Salt Lake is the place to sail. If you want to water ski behind your motor boat, head to the north end of the Lake to Willard Bay.