We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

Also known as:  America's Dead Sea

Sometimes called “America’s Dead Sea,” the Great Salt Lake occupies approximately 1,700 square miles of Utah’s real estate. It is the second largest lake (by surface area) that is wholly contained within the USA; only Lake Michigan is larger. Great Salt Lake boasts the USA’s longest lake shoreline – about 10,000 miles. Great Salt Lake is the largest remnant of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville, and has a…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Great Salt Lake! Article topics include:

Looking for Great Salt Lake cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure.

Explore Area Hotels

Nearby offer more hotel accommodations:

  • Check TripAdvisor
  • Check Expedia
  • Check Hotels.com
  • Check Booking.com

    • All About Great Salt Lake, UT

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Utah - Great Salt Lake Country, UT - Ogden & Northwest Region, UT -

    Sometimes called “America’s Dead Sea,” the Great Salt Lake occupies approximately 1,700 square miles of Utah’s real estate. It is the second largest lake (by surface area) that is wholly contained within the USA; only Lake Michigan is larger. Great Salt Lake boasts the USA’s longest lake shoreline – about 10,000 miles.

    Great Salt Lake is the largest remnant of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville, and has a salinity much higher (saltier) than ocean water. Despite its nickname, however, the lake is home to many species of flora, fauna and lake life, and welcomes many tourists to its shores every year.

    The ancient Lake Bonneville was a huge mass of water, about as large as Lake Michigan and much deeper at about 1,000 feet. During the climate change after the Great Ice Age, the lake began to dry up and create smaller lakes, including today’s Great Salt Lake, which today averages a maximum depth of about 33 feet.

    The lake is fed by three major rivers — Bear River, Weber River and the Jordan River — but has no outlet except evaporation. This great aquatic wonder has long been a major feature of the region, and lent its name to what is now known as Salt Lake City.

    Explore Accommodations
    Great Salt Lake Vacation Rentals

    There are so many amazing choices when it comes to vacation rentals near the Great Salt Lake in Utah, as well as nearby Salt Lake City and Provo. Check out options for homes, condos and other properties for rent!

    Great Salt Lake Vacation Rentals
    SEARCH NOW
    If you purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
    Lasso Brag

    Water levels in the Great Salt Lake vary by the amount of rainfall and the rate of evaporation, reaching a high depth of 45 feet in 1987 and a low depth of 24 feet in 2021.

    Many islands dot the lake, although the exact number depends on the water level. According to the Utah Geological Survey, there are 11 islands with 7 in the southern part of the lake and 4 in the northwestern portion.

    The whole of Gunnison Island is the Gunnison Island State Wildlife Management Area. Public access is prohibited because the island is an important rookery for the American White Pelican. Antelope Island, the largest, is home to Antelope Island State Park, which is accessible by a causeway. Pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, American bison, and waterfowl make their home on Antelope Island.

    The Lucin Cutoff is a 30-mile railroad causeway operated by the Union Pacific Railroad that crosses the center of the Great Salt Lake, connecting Ogden and Lucin. The high water levels during the 1980s threatened the causeway, highways, and sewage treatment plants around the lake. The State of Utah built the West Desert Pumping Project to drain excess water into the Great Salt Lake Desert to the west, creating the Newfoundland Evaporation Basin. Although the pumps are not currently in operation, the state maintains them for future use.

    One of the lake’s greatest attractions is its wildlife, which is varied and vast. Though the lake itself cannot support many species due to its high salinity, it is home to brine shrimp, brine flies, and several forms of algae.

    Off-water, freshwater and saltwater wetlands offer refuge to millions of migratory shorebirds and waterfowl each year, including phalarope, avocet, stilt, gulls, falcon, bald eagles, swans, pelicans, and many more.

    Bird watchers will enjoy the lake’s offerings, scouting out familiar species and those unknown to their eyes. In fact, there are numerous private duck clubs, several state waterbird management areas and a federal bird refuge at the Great Salt Lake, allowing for hunting as well as waterfowl protection.

    When at the Great Salt Lake, you owe to yourself to go for a swim. Since the water averages about 12% saline, floating is easier than almost anywhere else on earth, and entire afternoons can be spent watching fluffy clouds pass by.

    White-sand beaches sprinkle the lake’s shores, and families, sunbathers, and picnickers often flock to these beautiful spots for a bit of sun and refreshing swimming.

    Antelope Island State Park offers a great starting point, with a beautiful beach and access to the sparkling lake waters. Head out sailing from Antelope Island Marina or Great Salt Lake Marina, taking advantage of healthy winds and nearly perfect days. Investigate Antelope Island’s diverse wildlife, and enjoy excellent bird watching and island’s colorful indigenous flora.

    Boating on the lake is another favorite pastime, and during the summer months, the lake’s blue acres are populated by speed boats, pontoon boats, sailboats, kayaks, and canoes, all sharing in a bit of Great Salt Lake fun. In addition, wakeboarders, water skiers, kneeboarders, and tubers all trail behind motorboats.

    Summer at the lake is filled with hiking, mountain biking, sightseeing, golf, and any activity you can dream up. During winter, the lake’s focus shifts to downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling, and old-fashioned snowman construction.

    Year-round, the area offers delicious cuisine, several museums, art galleries, luxurious spas, and wonderful shopping, all promising to fill your time here with many amusements.

    The Great Salt Lake is a beautiful blue jewel cut into the Utah landscape, offering visitors and residents miles of coastline to explore and a beautiful landscape ripe with quiet spots for enjoyment and award-winning photo ops. A visit here will enliven your senses and relax your mind, making you wish you could stay forever.

    Things to Do at Great Salt Lake

    These are some activities in the Great Salt Lake, UT area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Water Skiing
    • Wakeboarding
    • Parasailing
    • Golf
    • Hiking
    • Ice Skating
    • Biking
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • Museum
    • Shopping
    divider

    Find Places to Stay at Great Salt Lake

    If you’re considering a Great Salt Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Great Salt Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Great Salt Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

    Check TripAdvisor
    Check Expedia
    Find a Campspot
    All Travel Resources

    Great Salt Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

    divider

    Lake Type: Natural Saltwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Water Level Control: State of Utah

    Surface Area: 1,088,000 acres

    Shoreline Length: 10,000 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 4,200 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 4,185 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 4,212 feet

    Average Depth: 14 feet

    Maximum Depth: 33 feet

    Water Volume: 28,000,000 acre-feet

    Drainage Area: 21,500 sq. miles

    Great Salt Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

    We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

    Shop Great Salt Lake Gifts

    Custom Lake Tumblers

    Captain / First Mate Custom 20 oz Tumbler

    SHOP NOW
    Custom Lake T Shirt

    Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

    SHOP NOW
    Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

    On Lake Time Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

    SHOP NOW
    VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

    More Great Salt Lake news from LakeLubbers.com

    • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
    • The Great Salt Lake forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
    • New Great Salt Lake photos coming soon!
    • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
    • Share this Great Salt Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers: