It measures 1,500-feet long by 15-feet wide and is considered the most famous large-scale earthwork of the period. Overnight temperatures in winter drop below freezing, but the state park visitor centers are open year-round. We reached out to cycling experts and enthusiasts in some cases to people who literally wrote the book on cycling in Utah to get a feel for some of Utah's best road cycling routes. Learn everything you need to know for a cheap luxury ski trip. Everything in the state parks is protected by law. The Great Salt Lake is one of the most asked-about tourist destinations in Utah. There were three major bands of Northwestern Shoshone when the first Mormon pioneers began settling in Northern Utah. Swimming and sunbathing are popular on the clean, white sand beaches at Antelope Island State Park. Nestled near the top of one of Utah's best canyons, Alta is a storied paradise for skiers. Many people also kayak on the lake. The present lake is about 75 miles long and 35 miles wide, with a maximum depth of 33 feet. Here are a few of Utah's Davis Countys best hiking trails and eateries to check out during your next visit. For 30 years, filmmakers and audiences have been traveling to Utah to see some of the most innovative storytelling. Winter in Salt Lake City means heavy coats, twinkling lights and crisp, snowy mornings. Located at the very top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton averages over 500 inches of snow a winter. Find fun family activities in Salt Lake City with this guide from the Utah Office of Tourism. In fact, Temple Square attracts approximately two times more visitors than Utah's most popular national park. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something, Ill receive a small commission at no cost to you. Shop for ski gear like a local. Another great thing about skiing in Salt Lake City-if you dont feel like driving the hills and canyons to any of the resorts, many of them are accessible through the public transportation system. Next Group. Since then, the annualSundance Film Festivalbrings Hollywood glamor to Salt Lake City. This has caused multiple resorts to close when water levels dropped. Visit Utah. The lake's turquoise waters attract sailors, its white sand beaches are popular with swimmers and sunbathers, and craggy outcroppings on Antelope Island and some shoreline areas draw hikers and mountain bikers. Can it be saved? Antelope Island's annual bison round-up (October 28, 2017) takes place in relative obscurity, on a stunning landscape from another geologic era, making this event a wonderful opportunity to view bison close-up. Smells like this are common around wetlands, beaches, and swamps, so dont worry too much about it. However, most travel times are out of our control, so know that you can still visit. See American white pelicans closer than you've ever seen them before, and learn about how the waters of the Great Salt Lake are critical for protecting their nesting habitat on Gunnison Island. There are more than 11 feet of salt on the bottom of the lake in some places. There are hundreds of different types of birds that live in the area surrounding the lake, which includes seagulls. Lakes & Reservoirs The Great Salt Lake is located north and west of Salt Lake City. Taking I-80 from downtown, we exit at Saltair, the site of the amusement-packed bathing resort-turned-concert venue, and follow the road left to the state park entrance. Park City is the epicenter, but Sundance venues can also be found all around Salt Lake City. Come in from the cold and heat up at the thermal hot springs located atHomestead Craterin Midway. Great Salt Lake State Park sits on the south shore. A winter road trip through Utah - National Geographic In Utah, the race is on to change the lake's fate. How to best enjoy the Great Falls Balloon Festival on the ground Pack lunch, water, and make sure you have enough gasoline to visit this remote location. While they're here, they feed on the lake's plentiful brine . From roller coasters to ski slopes, SLC has it all. Great Salt Lake (Salt Lake City) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Brilliant colors setting over the water make the Great Salt Lake one of the valleys sunset secrets. Visiting the Great Salt Lake is a right of passage for tourists in Utah looking to float in the saltiest lake in the Western Hemisphere. Rustic, elegant and handmade are some of the words that capture the feeling of Sundance Mountain Resort. Can You Swim in the Great Salt Lake? - Tips For Family Trips And visitors like you can help keep the lake Forever Mighty. 10 million migratory shorebirds and waterfowl, At 50, the Spiral Jetty Keeps Drawing a Crowd, A Biologist Explains the Lakes Mysteries, Nourished By the Land: A Shoshone Perspective, Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. One option is to stop at the Great Salt Lake State Park, which is arguably the closest option to Salt Lake City. Without the Refuge's freshwater wetlands, bird species like American white pelicans and grebes would lose a critical food source. After a series of wet years, the lake's surface area may be much larger but it will be only a little bit deeper. Stop here for a great experience floating in the Great Salt Lake! In addition to building appreciation for birds that call the Great Salt Lake home, Tracy Aviary donates a portion of each admission and membership to conservation projects. Caused by decaying biomass, like algae and brine fly pupae casings, and organic reactions within the saline waters, the smell is common in many swampy, wetland areas. A Guide to Utah's Pink Lake at Stansbury Island - Simply Wander Plan your trip now! Watch your step and keep dogs on leash.). Request a free copy or view the latest guide online. Distance from Salt Lake City: 124 miles (1 hour 50 minutes) Bonneville Salt Flats - Best day trips from Salt Lake City West of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, you will find the otherworldly Bonneville Salt Flats. Great Salt Lake is not a "dead sea." It is an ecosystem teeming with life, and there's always something interesting going on. See how Utah women artists are creatively interpreting a dramatic landscape into art. They offer private and group tours, as well as 20-30 minute float breaks for anyone who'd like to take a dip in the Western Hemisphere's saltiest body of water. Don't smoke. Visiting the Great Salt Lake's Spiral Jetty in Winter Posted Thursday July 12, 2018. With multiple world-class ski resorts only 45-minutes from downtown, is a popular winter basecamp. But when the bathing boom went bust, the resorts closed, and the glory days ended for good when the Great Saltair closed in 1958. Spring and fall are incredibly pleasant times to visit. 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. If you're ready to elevate your drinking chocolate experience, here are four Capital City cups that raise the bar: Hatch Family Chocolates Thanks to national exposure on TLC's "Little Chocolatiers," the secret is out. Antelope Island State Park exists to provide recreation and education to visitors at this one-of-a-kind natural wonder. The island hosts free-range bison, antelopes, bighorn sheep and mule deer. The market is a great place for shopping for those holiday gifts, plus vendors serve up tasty food, while festive holiday entertainment takes place the entire time. Situated along the Great Salt Lakes eastern shore and operated by The Nature Conservancy, the preserve spans more than 4,500 acres of wetlands and uplands critical to migratory birds and waterfowl. Follow a Germany-based film enthusiast on an extended road trip to discover the rich history of Utah cinematography. Shaw is the Park Manager at this destination, and his love for it is evident. Utah is the mecca of snow in the United States, where the Great Salt Lake Effect delivers piles of the fluffy snow. The three audio stops in the Great Salt Lake exhibit feature experts from Westminster Colleges Great Salt Lake Institute sharing the inside scoop on the past and future of the lake. This log cabin-esque skiing resort that Robert Redford built is only an hour from Salt Lake International Airport. Its also a valuable site for Westminster Colleges Great Salt Lake Institute, where scientists and students are studying the extreme halophiles the microorganisms in the colorful waters around the Jetty (Read: A Biologist Explains the Lakes Mysteries). Salt Lake offers the best of both nightlife and outdoor recreation. The Great Salt Lake | Salt Lake Tourist and Visitor Center | 2022 Trip Water levels in the lake are far from constant. Great Salt Lake State Park is located at the south end of the lake and about 16 miles west of Salt Lake City, along I-80. Utahs Piute County, Want a big adventure to Park City without a big environmental footprint? FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake offer a variety of educational resources for learning more about the Great Salt Lake's unique ecology. Always maintain a respectful distance, approaching any animal can be dangerous to you and stressful to the animal. One thing most Utah locals will say when you mention your plans to the Great Salt Lake is how the lake smells. From the education center you can get an amazing view of about 24 great blue heron stick nests, called a Heron Rookery. Whatever you decide, beautiful views of Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park and Black Rock are a guarantee. There are two Utah State Parks on the Great Salt Lake: Antelope Island State Park and Great Salt Lake State Park. In the winter months, locals and tourists love to ice skate, go fat tire snow biking, and the adventurous even go bobsledding atOlympic Park. A tradition rooted and refined in many a European resort chateaux, this is the after ski enjoyment of good food and drink. The lake is indeed large, it stretches all the way to the horizon. Read on to discover the reasons to visit Salt Lake City this winter. Visit the lake in the winter and go ice fishing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. Freshwater showers are available to rinse off after swimming. A causeway has been built to allow automobile access to the island. They say Solitude isn't just a name, it's a promise. Watching an authentic roundup is like being on the set of an old west movie or transported to a distant era yet its only 25 miles northwest of Salt Lake City International Airport. Just because the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games are in the past doesnt mean that the Utah Olympic spirit is has been snuffed out. The Great Salt Lake we know today emerged about 10,000 years ago. First opened to the public in 1978, Great Salt Lake State Park is located on the lakes southern side and is best known for its marina. AndShesDopeToo is a worldwide adventure community of women run by Jennifer and Taylor Killian from Ogden, Utah. In addition to the slopes, there is so much winter fun available in and around Salt Lake City. Locales that swarm with visitors in summer are now free of crowds, offering opportunities to lay down the first ski, snowboard, or . You can combine your visit to Salt Lake City with a visit to one of these spectacular national parks. Operated by Utah State Parks, the mission of this park is to enhance the quality of life of Utahns and visitors by preserving and providing natural, cultural and recreational resources for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations. Arts, History and Heritage, Ski and Snowboard, Urban Experiences. (Read: Great Salt Lake Needs Your Visit). Although it may be cold outside, thenightlifein Salt Lake City is hot and happening. As I mentioned earlier, water levels in the Great Salt Lake fluctuate. No matter your level of adventure, you will find good reason to save some time for a day away from the resort. Antelope Island also offers excellent facilities for picnicking and camping. Not only will you find the best toilets on the island, but you'll get a great overview of the Great Salt Lake and the animals that call Antelope Island home. From another direction, it's a 1930s-era lakeside Taj Mahal. You can combine your visit to Salt Lake City with a visit to one of these spectacular national parks. Learn more and start planning the ultimate nature getaway! After our first swim in 2012, I recently returned with my husband's family - 18 adults and kids - on a hot summer day. Park City Mountain is one of Utahs world-class ski resorts, with more than 7,300 acres of winter fun and countless things to do off the slopes. Once upon a time 30,000 years ago during the Ice Age to be exact a freshwater Lake Bonneville inhabited much of Northern Utah. When I was in the Great Salt Lake, my body was in a V shape and I was still floating! GSLI runs community field trips and offers high school and college curricula and resources, as well as undergraduate research programs. A shared dump station is available for use. delivers sensations and smells that you'll never forget. The pumps were shut down in 1989. Great Salt Lake State Park - Visitor Information | Utah.com As with many outdoor activities, traveling to the Great Salt Lake may leave you with bug bites. Visit this preserve, and get involved with TNC by donating, volunteering and more. Here are the tips you need to know for your first visit to the Great Salt Lake: This post is NOT sponsored. Learn more at westminstercollege.edu. Learn more about One World today. Winters in Utah may be known for having The Greatest Snow on Earth, but there is so much more to explore off the slopes. The islands are now just hills in the desert. Drive a vehicle as public transport does not visit the lake. Here's a list of the best trails for horseback riding within an hour of Salt Lake City, Utah. They don't bite but often swarm around humans. Copyright 2023 Utah Office of Tourism. There are 338 species of birds that visit the lake. Salt Lake City is located over 4,000 feet above sea level, so it's prone to more shifts in temperature throughout the seasons! Great Salt Lake Throughout the Year - University of Utah There are primitive beach tent only sites, no hookups or vehicle access on the beach. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a026d324a74c7411f3bfd531b125d696" );document.getElementById("c1392f07e2").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Bay Rosemary is dedicated towards inspiring women to get off the couch and travel. The most popular resorts in Salt Lake City includeSnowbird Ski & Summer Resort, Park City, andDeer Valley. Bags of Mezzo can be found at local grocery stores like Harmons and Tony Caputo's Market and Deli, or by the cup at Frida Bistro. The Spiral Jetty is not only important for art lovers. Great Salt Lake | Visit Utah The Jetty is owned by Dia Art Foundation. (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. In fact, this is the main reason that there are so many visitors in the wintertime. It's no secret Salt Lake City is a basketball town, but the game is just the beginning. Up Next: First-Timers Guide to Salt Lake City >, End of March or late summer to avoid biting gnats. Bonneville Salt Flats Photography Locations Did you know that the Great Salt Lake is part of a network of irreplaceable wetland habitats connecting migratory birds to the places they need throughout the entire western hemisphere? This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com, CDC Says Its OK For Vaccinated People To Travel This Holiday Season. The Great Salt Lake is only 15 miles west of Salt Lake City and is accessible by I-80. Because yes, Salt Lake City (and Utah as a whole) is known for amazing snow, numerous ski resorts, and the BEST winter activities around. I floated without even trying, just like a buoy! The Great Salt Lake is actually the remainder of prehistoric Lake Bonneville, which covered some 20,000 square miles of land in what is now Utah, Nevada and Idaho some 10,000 to 30,000 years ago.