Swimming in the Great Salt Lake isn’t at all like swimming anywhere else.
What makes the Great Salt Lake Unique?
The lake is formed by collecting water from several rivers and streams, but it has no outlets. The lake is typically less than 15 feet deep, so it quickly evaporates the water and collects and saves all the salt. The density of the Great Salt Lake is 23% more than the density of the ocean. There is 4.5 billion tons of salt in the lake. Find more info here.
There are only a few truly ‘dead’ lakes in the world – seven to be exact. The Great Salt Lake is the largest Salt Lake in the Western Hemisphere.
- What makes the Great Salt Lake Unique?
- Can we go Swimming in the Great Salt Lake?
- Why Don’t People Swim in the Great Salt Lake?
- Is Swimming in the Great Salt Lake Smelly?
- What about Bugs in the Great Salt Lake?
- How Bad is the Salty when swimming in the Geat Salt Lake?
- Is Swimming in the Great Salt Lake is a Hassle?
- How do I get to a swimming spot in the Great Salt Lake?
- Can I float in the Great Salt Lake?
- How can Swimming in the Great Salt Lake be a fun experience?
- 1. Wear old swimsuits
- 2. Bring a set of extra clothes for everyone.
- 3. Bring Towels, lots of Fresh Water and Lotion
- 5.Wear Shoes on the Shore
- 4. Let the Kids Know what to Expect
- Why we loved Swimming in the Great Salt Lake
- The water of the Great Salt Lake is warm!
- The Great Salt Lake is shallow and still
- Skipping Rocks in the Great Salt Lake is Epic
- Swimming in the Great Salt Lake is a One-of-a-Kind Experience
- You can float!
- Playing on the Salt Flats is so fun
Can we go Swimming in the Great Salt Lake?
Yes! Swiming is allowed from any accessible point. However, it isn’t done much. Why?
First off, most people who live in Utah have never been swimming in the Great Salt Lake. I grew up 20 minutes away from Saltair and the southern side of the Great Salt Lake, and we only dipped our toes in once in my entire 30 years in Utah.
Since my family doesn’t currently live in Utah, I thought it appropriate that we check swimming in the Great Salt Lake off our bucket list. It’s been over 20 years since I experienced it and I was willing to give it a go again.
Why Don’t People Swim in the Great Salt Lake?
The major drawbacks for swimming in the Great Salt Lake are the smell, bugs, salt and hassle.
I think a dip in the Salt Lake is worth your time, so I will address our experience with each of these negatives. I will give you some tips to make it enjoyable and tell you why I think you should give it a try.
Is Swimming in the Great Salt Lake Smelly?
I grew up in Tooele, Utah and we had many days where living downwind from the Great Salt Lake was like living in the armpit of Utah. A dead sea does collect and stagnate water, which does produce a smell.
However, if you go to the Northern side of the Great Salt Lake, you won’t experience the smell as strongly. Since the fresh water flows in from here, the smells stay fresh. We didn’t smell much at all on the Great Salt Lake near spiral jetty.
There is still a smell of salt and dead water, but it really isn’t as bad as Yellowstone or other similar geographies. After a moment of “What’s that smell?” we told the kids it was salt. We easily swam without distraction from the smell.
What about Bugs in the Great Salt Lake?
The only creatures that live in the Great Salt Lake are brine shrimp and brine flies. While we saw a few flies, mostly right where the water meets the land. We could quickly take a few steps into the shallow water and pass all the brine flies. Grab some bug spray to repel the little guys.
I’ve heard there are more flies on the southern side. Some people say they bite, but we didn’t get any bites when we went in June of 2020.
The water in the Great Salt Lake was crystal clear and we could easily see our toes as we walked through the water. The brine shrimp are small are harmless, so we didn’t even notice them.
There are no other fish in the Great Salt Lake (i.e. no sharks, jellyfish, loch ness monsters, etc) so you don’t have to be worried about any interaction with little critters. This was a relief for some of my cautious kids.
There is also no plant life anywhere near the Great Salt Lake. Nothing can grow in or around the dense salt. The upside, no seaweed wrapping around your legs, and crystal clear water. The downside? There is no shade. With the higher elevation in Utah, you will need even more protection from the sun. Don’t forget sunscreen and maybe a hat.
How Bad is the Salty when swimming in the Geat Salt Lake?
What makes the Great Salt Lake earn its name is the fact that it only has rivers run into the lake, and no rivers running out. This means it collects salt and is very dense.
Because of the density of the water, it is so warm. Most of the lakes and rivers in Utah are formed from snow runoff, which makes it very chilly and icy. Swimming in the Great Salt Lake is a very different experience. Even in the early summer, we found the water to be warm and pleasant.
Even though the salt warms the water up, there are other drawbacks to salty water. Any cut, scrape or injury (even if you didn’t know you had it) will sting in the salt water. While salt water is ultimately supposed to be good for skin conditions, it will sting any skin abrasions.
Salt also stings in the body crevices. Getting the water in your eyes, nose, and mouth will show you just how much salt it holds. I dare you to lick it.
Is Swimming in the Great Salt Lake is a Hassle?
After your swim in the Great Salt Lake you will have a bit of clean up to do.
Once the water dries, everything the saltwater touched will be covered in salt. My toddler ran through in her panties and they were stiff and hard by the time she got back to the car. Our bodies and hands and legs were caked in salt.
Remember when you feel salty after being in the ocean? Multiply that by 10 in the Great Salt Lake. You will need fresh water to rinse off and fresh clothing that isn’t stiff and starched.
Due to the remote location of the Great Salt Lake, there are no easily accessible showers or foot baths, so bring your own water. Consider a portable shower for easy rinsing. The salt easily washes off and leaves no lasting effects. you don’t need soap to rinse the salt off, but it can make the process a bit faster.
How do I get to a swimming spot in the Great Salt Lake?
While most places have cities and the richest area of the town built right around lakes, Salt Lake is the opposite. Due to the smell and the lack of life-giving water, most of the cities are quite a drive from the shore of the Great Salt Lake. You will get awesome views of the lake from the Airport, as it is right next to the lake.
You can swim near Saltair which is only a few miles from the SLC airport. This would be a short 10-minute drive from the airport. It may be a long walk out to the water, depending on how full the lake is at the time of your visit.
When we took our kids to swim in the Great Salt Lake, we opted to drive to Spiral Jetty Art installation See our full-day Northern Utah itinerary here.
The spiral jetty is reached by driving 30 miles east from 1I5 to Golden Spike National Monument. Then drive 15 miles on a bumpy gravel road and under 30 MPH. Most every car can make it on this road, we did it in a minivan without issue.
But it isn’t a quick drive. It takes at least 30 minutes to get to the Great Salt Lake from the Golden Spike. This is a long drive and makes it a bit of a hassle.
The water level of the Great Salt Lake is currently low so you walk about 1/4 -1/2 mile before you even start to get wet. Once you reach the water, you will be able to walk another 1/2 mile before the water gets deep enough to see if you can float.
You can also get in the water from Antelope Island State Park for a small fee.
Can I float in the Great Salt Lake?
Short Answer? YES! The salt level in the Great Salt Lake is high enough to make a body float.
However, to get out to where the water is deep enough to see if you can float will take time. The water is only ankle deep for 1/4-1/2 mile. Depending on if you want to get all the way covered with salty water, you may not attempt to float.
How can Swimming in the Great Salt Lake be a fun experience?
While swimming in the Great Salt Lake can present challenges, these difficulties are easily be navigated. You can create a memorable adventure for your family by making small efforts that increase enjoyment while you swim in the Great Salt Lake.
1. Wear old swimsuits
The Salt Water can be harsh and invasive to clothing. Although it will wash off completely, you might be happier not using a brand new suit.
2. Bring a set of extra clothes for everyone.
Having a fresh set of clothing will help the kids and you not feel stiff and starched. However, there are no bathroom or changing facilities at the Spiral Jetty. There are no bathrooms, trees or any places to change clothes.
Turn your car into a changing room, or hold up towels or beach blankets for each other. Or just quickly strip down… this is a pretty remote area. When we went there were only 2 families there and they were down by the lake (1/2 mile away) when we got to our car.
3. Bring Towels, lots of Fresh Water and Lotion
After enjoying your time swimming in the Great Salt Lake, wait until after the water dries from your body -which is pretty quick in Utah-especially if it is hot. Use towels to brush off most of the salt. Then use fresh water to rinse off.
You may feel dried out even after you get the salt off the body, so have some lotion to hydrate.
If you need more water to rinse off, you can drive 30 mins back to Golden Spike National Monument. Outside the Visitors Center is a freshwater hose available to rinse your feet. Its cold!
5.Wear Shoes on the Shore
The salt can form crystals on the shore which can be sharp and spikey as you are walking to and from the water. This walk can be quite far when the water is low (and it’s been low for 20 years).
In the water of the Great Salt Lake, there is nothing growing or living. The water is clear and beautiful and the sand is soft.
Take your shoes off and enjoy the soft, critter free sand of the Salt Lake. I loved the feel of the sand under my bare feet as we walked through the water.
But when you get out of the water, slip shoes with a sole on to walk on the hard and crusty land.
4. Let the Kids Know what to Expect
I told my kids that any cuts they had would hurt. Just knowing that it is a possibility helped my kids be brave. In fact, they were bragging about their cuts not stinging.
I explained how cleaning up the salt would be a hassle. They handled it well. My toddler didn’t complain at all during hours of wearing stiff and salty undies the rest of the day (I was under prepared!).
I let my kids know that if the salt got in their mouth, eyes or nose they wouldn’t love it. They were up for the challenge.
Just knowing that this isn’t like normal lake swimming, makes this adventure a unique and fun experience. The memories we made were worth it!
Why we loved Swimming in the Great Salt Lake
The water of the Great Salt Lake is warm!
The density of the Great Salt Lake is 10 times that of the ocean. With the shallowness and the stillness, it quickly heats the water in the sun.
The Great Salt Lake is shallow and still
The shallow access is so fun for toddlers and kids. While we love the beach and the sound of waves, I liked that this lake was still and predictable, no large waves to take down the unsuspecting beach walker. In fact, there are no waves at all.
Skipping Rocks in the Great Salt Lake is Epic
There are plenty of flat rocks and stones to skip through the water. Due to the salt in the water, all of our kids were able to get their stones to skip even without the best of throws. Our family stone-skipping champion (Dad) skipped one rock over 30 times!
Swimming in the Great Salt Lake is a One-of-a-Kind Experience
We loved the unique experience of swimming in the biggest body of water west of the Mississippi. There are so few Salt Lakes in the world, so its unique to say you have swam in a salt lake.
The Great Salt Lake in Utah is the 4th biggest salt lake in the world! It is worth exploring such an unusual body of water
You can float!
Yes! You can float! If you walk out far enough to get your whole body into the water, the water will hold you up. This does put you at risk of getting water in your facial cavities, so be careful. But yes, your body can be held up by the salty water.
Playing on the Salt Flats is so fun
We loved to take perspective photos using the vastly flat salty shore before entering the lake.
We liked the photos that looked like we were walking on the water in places were it was very shallow.
On the shore, there were crystallized salt pools. The pools turned a beautiful shade of pink. The day we were there the pools of saltwater were hot! Like over 105 degrees hot! We couldn’t even tough some of the small, hot ponds. While you won’t find cool creatures like in tide pools, you will find cool geological features.
Right where the water hits the shore, you’ll find gorgeous yellow patterned sand. It is mesmerizing. The salt makes the experience of this lake different than any other.
We loved swimming in the Great Salt Lake! With these tips, we hope you’ll give it a try and create a beautiful memory, too.
If you are traveling in Utah, make sure to take a trip to Moab and do a Hummer tour!
It can be! The stagnant water and salt density can build up and cause a smell. Especially on the southern side of the Lake
Only brine flies and brine shrimp can live in the harsh salty environment.
Yes! Find an entry point and read these tips for a memorable and unique experience
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6 Comments
Hi Jamie, great blog, I read it before swimming in Great Salt Lake a week ago. In your blog you say there’s only a few truly ‘dead’ lakes in the world – seven to be exact. The Great Salt Lake is the largest Salt Lake in the Western Hemisphere. I’m assuming the Dead Sea in Israel / Jordan and the Salton Sea in California are on this list. What are the others?
The Spiral Jetty is not a “rock formation.” It’s a piece of land art created by aRobert Smithson.
If there is more than one salt lake in the world that people can swim in, then swimming in one is not a unique experience. It may be rare or special or uncommon or extraordinary, but it’s not unique.
yes, I can see how that word can mean the definition you described. But based on the minimal number of salt lakes anywhere in the surrounding areas I would say it is a unique experience available to most of my readers.
While scrolling and looking through articles about swimming in the GSL yours uniquely stood out. Semantics aside …. It certainly saved my curiosity
Thanks Jamie & Family
This is incredibly comprehensive and helpful. Thanks to you this 100% going on our family road trip bucket list. Thank you!