Beaches, Lakes and Reservoirs in Utah

1. Great Salt Lake

The largest remaining piece of prehistoric Lake Bonneville, Great Salt Lake covers 1,700 square miles and is the largest lake in the USA outside the Great Lakes region. Its shoreline is 10,000 miles long and the lake’s high salinity gave it the name "America's Dead Sea." Regardless of the high salinity, the lake is rich in many species of animal and plant life and is a popular recreational destination. The high salinity is caused by the fact that the lake is fed by three rivers – the Weber River, the Bear River, and the Jordan River – but it has no outlet, only evaporation.

There are 11 islands on the lake, with Gunnison Island being protected as the main rookery for a number of endangered birds. The whole lake is a heaven for birdwatchers because the surrounding wetlands offer a home and sanctuary for many migratory birds. Around the lake, visitors come for great hiking, biking, sightseeing, and golf, and in the winter there is skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Map

2. Lake Powell

Located in Arizona's Navajo Nation Reservation, Lake Powell is surrounded by southern Utah's picturesque red rock desert and is one of the American most scenic reservoirs. The lake has 1,900 miles of shoreline and covers 160,800 acres in the heart of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It is also a major recreational destination for boating, fishing, water-skiing, diving, hiking, and camping.

Lake Powell is the result of the 1963 construction of Glen Canyon Dam, which impounded the Colorado River. Lake Powell primarily serves as a reservoir for the Upper Colorado Basin, and Glen Canyon Dam generates hydropower. There are several marinas around the lake used by boats of all sizes, including popular houseboats. Anglers come for striped and smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, sunfish, channel catfish, and crappie. There are campgrounds all around the lake. Map, Video

3. Utah Lake

Utah Lake is a 100,000-acre natural freshwater lake located in the Mountainland Region of north-central Utah. Cities of Provo and Orem are located on the lake’s eastern shore. Snuggled between the Lake Mountains to the west and the Wasatch Mountains to the east, Utah Lake is incredibly scenic and a popular destination for year-round recreation. Utah Lake is one of the last remnants of prehistoric Lake Bonneville, which covered most of Utah in prehistoric times. Utah Lake's water sources are the Provo River, the American Fork River, Hobble Creek, and the Spanish Fork River, and its only outlet is the Jordan River. The lake is located within Utah Lake State Park, which provides a visitor center, camping, boat rentals, picnicking, boat slips, and swimming. The water level in the lake fluctuates severely, by as much as 9 feet, mostly because the water is diverted for irrigation. The lake is well-stocked with carp. Map

4. Bear Lake, Utah

A beautiful natural 70,000-acre freshwater lake on the borders between Utah and Idaho, Bear Lake is not only a popular tourist destination but is also used for irrigation, the generation of hydropower, and flood control. The incredible turquoise color of the water is due to suspended limestone deposits. There are three popular scenic drives around the lake: Laketown Scenic Byway, Bear Lake Scenic Byway, and Logan Canyon Scenic Byway. Of the many hiking and biking trails, some of the most popular are the 11-mile Swan Flat/Red Sink Loop and the 10-mile Steam Mill Lake Trail through fir forests, ending at a 500-year-old, 25-foot-wide limber pine tree. Visitors can rent a jet ski or powerboat or hop on the guided pontoon boat tour. The lake is part of three Utah state parks and two Idaho state parks, which offer beaches, small boat rentals, boat ramps, and camping facilities. Bear Lake is also popular for trout fishing. Map

5. Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a 42,000-acre manmade lake on the border between Wyoming and Utah in the heart of the Ashley National Forest and is part of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. The lake was created with the construction of the Flaming Gorge Dam in Red Canyon, Utah, by impounding the Green River. There are several boat ramps, fishing docks, and marinas with boat slips around the lake. A network of hiking trails, several camping sites, and picnic sites make the lake a popular recreation destination. The reservoir is very popular with fishermen for its lake trout, but besides rainbow and brown trout, the lake is also stocked with smallmouth bass and kokanee salmon. The lake’s incredible clarity attracts underwater enthusiasts for scuba diving and spear fishing. Map

6. Strawberry Reservoir

Strawberry Reservoir is located 65 miles from the Wasatch Front and the cities of Provo, Salt Lake, and Orem. Known as the most popular fishing spot in Utah, the 17,164-acre Strawberry Reservoir is part of the 1922 Strawberry Valley Project and was formed as the result of the construction of Strawberry Dam on the Strawberry River. The reservoir was enlarged in 1973 to hold 1,106,500 acre-feet of water. Surrounded by the scenic Wasatch Mountains, Strawberry Reservoir is a popular recreation destination, especially for fishing. There are four public ramps for easy boat access, and the Strawberry Bay Marina is located at Strawberry Bay. There is also Renegade Point at the southwestern side of Meadows Basin, Soldier Creek Marina on the northern shore, and Aspen Grove at southern shore of the Soldier Creek Basin. Parts of the lake lie within Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, offering solitude and spectacular hikes through the wilderness. There are 1,524 miles of hiking and biking trails and 245 miles of trails for motorized vehicles. Map

7. Sevier Bridge Reservoir

Sevier Bridge Reservoir , or Yuba Lake, is one of several reservoirs built along the Sevier River for the irrigation of local farms. The reservoir was created in 1914 in the deep canyon between the Valley Mountains and the San Pitch Mountains. In extremely hot summers, water levels in the lake drop so much that the muddy bottom of the lake appears. Fishing depends on the level of water in the lake, but perch, walleye, northern and rainbow trout, carp, and tiger trout are thriving. There are several free public launches around the lake. Two parks around the lake – Painted Rocks State Access and Yuba Lake State Park – have campsites, picnicking areas, and boat launches. Swimming is not allowed because of the high level of chemicals in the water, but boating is popular and fun. Map

8. Jordanelle Reservoir

Located between Heber City and Park City, Jordanelle Reservoir was built in 1992 as result of the construction of Jordanelle Dam on the Provo River. The towns of Hailstone and Keetley, Utah, were completely submerged as a consequence. The reservoir was built for irrigation, flood control, public recreation, and fish and wildlife conservation. Jordanelle State Park was created in 1995 to provide access to the reservoir and offer opportunities for recreation. The lake is full of rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, and cutthroat trout, to the delight of local fishermen. The lake is also great for water-skiing, boating, sailing, and swimming. The Hailstone Recreation Site has a nice beach for swimming, and there is also a playground, boat launches, and a marina. Map

9. Deer Creek Reservoir

Deer Creek Reservoir is located near Heber, Utah, and was created in 1941 with the construction of a dam on the Provo River. It is mostly used for irrigation and recreation. The lake is stocked with perch, walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and carp. The lake is warm, allowing fishing all year round. Visitors also enjoy swimming, boating, sailing, water-skiing, and windsurfing. The snow-covered peaks of Mount Timpanogos reflect in the clear water of the lake, creating spectacular views from the aspen-covered lake banks. There are two campgrounds in Deer Creek State Park, which also has a nice beach, picnic tables, a fish cleaning station, and restrooms. Map

10. Fishlake

Fishlake is a 2,500-acre body of water in the heart of the Fishlake National Forest. Surrounded by the jagged peaks of the Mytoges Mountains, this clear lake is the largest natural mountain lake in Utah. The lake is deep, reaching 170 feet in some spots. Water comes to Fishlake from Doctor, Jorgenson, Twin, and Bowery Creeks, and it exits through Lake Creek on the way to the Fremont River. All types of water activities are possible on Fish Lake, from boating, water-skiing, and jet-skiing to swimming, fishing, and scuba diving. The Fishlake National Forest around the lake is a heaven for hiking, camping, biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. For the fishermen, there are mackinaw trout, splake, rainbow trout, brown trout, and yellow perch. Map