State park
State park · Salt Lake County
Great Salt Lake State Park
The closest place to Salt Lake City to touch the lake, with a marina, sailboats, a beach and sunsets over the water.
Photo: Shaun Fisher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Great Salt Lake State Park sits on the lake’s south shore just off I-80, near the historic Saltair concert venue. The marina hosts sailboats and tour boats, and a visitor center explains the lake’s unusual ecology.
The lake is many times saltier than the ocean, and floating in it is a strange experience when water levels allow. The sunsets, with the mountains and islands on the horizon, are spectacular.
Don't miss
- MarinaSailboats, boat tours and sunset cruises.
- SunsetSome of the best sunsets in the Salt Lake area.
- Visitor centerExhibits on the lake’s history and ecology.
- SaltairThe concert hall next door, heir to a famous lakeside resort that opened in 1893.
Good to know
- Bring water to rinse off after floating; the salt dries on your skin.
- Bugs can be thick in late spring and summer; bring repellent.
- Check lake levels; the shoreline moves with the water.