the national parks annual pass is not accepted). The Great Salt Lake is split in two by a railroad causeway and the south half is about 16 percent salt, Shearer said. Camping fees: Reservations are recommended. If you look around the Salt Lake Valley, you can see remnants of the shoreline of Lake Bonneville as terraces on the mountainsides. There is a $10 fee per car to enter the State Park. You can drive the dirt track of the former transcontinental route around the north end of the lake (with a stop at Golden Spike National Historic Site - where the pavement ends). It basically involves driving to the Golden Spike National Historic Site, and following public backroads from there to the north arm of the lake. You may be just as astonished to find a causeway leading to Antelope Island—the largest of the Great Salt Lake's nine islands. Bicycle/e-bikes rentals and bike tours are available. Timpanogas National Monument is also very pretty. • Setting: A large body of water • Time: 1952 • Event: A causeway is built across the body of water separating the north end from the south end. Great Salt Lake is definitely a worthwhile boating destination. Great Salt Lake was split into two parts by a rock causeway constructed across the lake by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1959. I f you skip a rock across the surface of the Great Salt Lake, it will skim and ricochet across the far-reaching, glassy face for what seems like a mile. waltflanagan, Jul 31, 2011 #1. zml. Salt Lake County, with a plan for a causeway on the island's south end, wants in on the action. Neither are suitable for camping, unfortunately. What You Need to Know Take some flip-flops or sandals with you. Some popular short destinations are to Black Rock (2 miles RT(40.725294, -112.227835)) or Pyrite Point (5 miles RT (40.758405, -112.191853). Annual State Park Passes do not cover the $2 Davis County Causeway fee. Northern Utah Just north of Salt Lake City, Davis County is known as the ultimate playground for fun, entertainment, and outdoor adventure. Launch your kayak or SUP from the marina, which is located only 20 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. No, Great Salt lake is bigger . Everybody should get on this water at least once. The Great Salt Lake stretches as far as the eye can see. Before the causeway was built, fresh water from the Bear, Weber/Ogden, and Jordan Rivers circulated throughout the entire Great Salt Lake. Reservations can be made through the Reserve link at the top of the page or by calling 1 (800) 322-3770. Between 2011 and 2013, UPRR applied for and received a federal Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) to close two . Bikes are allowed on most trails. People in Salt Lake City could see a lot more water from their high-rise office buildings and other vantage points if it weren't for Antelope Island, a 28,022-acre state park that dominates much of the view of Utah's Great Salt Lake.From the city, the island looks like an expanse of desert emptiness. Yes, you can, you just can't travel on the railroad causeway. You can go as long and far as you want. Its a long trip across the alkaline desert, but well worth it. The original trestle remained were it stood and its remnants can still be seen today. Note: Access to the Island is via the Davis County Causeway (Antelope Island Road . We stopped and parked our car (free) near what I guess is a concert hall and gift shop. The north half has a higher salinity level with about 27 percent salt and is . You will see the trailhead parking lot about halfway up the hillside. In July 2021, the southern portion of the Great Salt Lake reached a new historic low, with average daily water levels dropping about an inch . Mt. Spiral Jetty, Robert Smithson's odd embellishment of the salty shores of the Great Salt Lake, is a 15-mile drive on uneven dirt roads from Golden Spike. If you want to see it, look up Spiral Jetty and follow the directions. Background The twenty-mile Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) causeway across the Great Salt Lake separates the lake into a North Arm and South Arm of different salinities. The Great Salt Lake is located north and west of Salt Lake City. A causeway has been built to allow automobile access to the island. After four years of work the Great Salt Lake Causeway's right-of-way was completed on July 9, 1959 and turned over to the SP for final track laying and signaling. The salty water requires that you flush out your engines when you leave the lake and rinse off your boat hull and trailer before you hit the road. . Antelope Island is northwest of Salt Lake City. Road biking and mountain biking are both good options. It is a remnant of the prehistoric . *Some routes may be closed to vehicles in the winter. Camping fees: Reservations are recommended. From high above, the lake looks very different than you might think. Or if they were, it didn't matter. During the fur trapping era of the 1820- 30s, numerous fur trading companies operated in the area of Utah. It makes for a great cruising destination. It's not that it's malodorous, exactly; it's just distinctive. Reservations can be made through the Reserve link at the top of the page or by calling 1 (800) 322-3770. Great Salt Lake - Case Study Details What is a causeway? Some popular short destinations are to Black Rock (2 miles RT(40.725294, -112.227835)) or Pyrite Point (5 miles RT (40.758405, -112.191853). It is definitely worth a visit, but check first with the folks at Golden Spike on the status of the road into the site and get directions (the route, through private property, is not well . You can even hike or bike along that ancient shoreline if you follow the Bonneville . Union Pacific's Great Salt Lake causeway cuts through the heart of the . The Great Salt Lake is the remnant of Lake Bonneville, an enormous prehistoric lake that covered a large portion of western Utah. As you approach the causeway to reach Antelope Island, you will be stopped at a ranger station. The same year that Refuge was published, the Great Salt Lake earned its designation as a site of "Hemispheric Importance" by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Source: Shutterstock. If you are ever in Utah and want to spend time enjoying its lakes, these are the 15 best lakes in Utah. One of the FIRST, if not the first recorded drownings in the Great Salt Lake happened on Sunday, August 6, 1882. Antelope Island State Park is located approximately 41 miles north of Salt Lake City. I would recommend driving out to Lakeside which is on the west end of the causeway and is where the rock quarry is for the causeway. A separate Causeway Sticker can be purchased at the park entrance booth for $15. Some popular short destinations are to Black Rock (2 miles RT(40.725294, -112.227835)) or Pyrite Point (5 miles RT (40.758405, -112.191853). Facts Remnant of Lake Bonneville, a prehistoric freshwater lake that was 10 times larger than the Great Salt Lake Largest lake west of the Mississippi River Relatively shallow lake with a maximum depth of about 35 feet Typically 3 to 5 times saltier than the ocean Too salty for fish Important source of brine shrimp Accessible by car via a narrow causeway, the island is a popular destination for hiking, mountain . Spiral Jetty, Robert Smithson's odd embellishment of the salty shores of the Great Salt Lake, is a 15-mile drive on uneven dirt roads from Golden Spike. 2. 1. Take I-15 north from Salt Lake City for 28.5 miles to Exit 332 (Antelope Drive/state Route 127). Drive across the causeway bridge to Antelope Island, where you will most likely come face to face with one of the many . Show off Salt Lake's namesake and head northwest to the Great Salt Lake. The Great Salt Lake is super salty; salinity levels range between 5-27 percent, depending on the water level. -Find all news releases associated with the Great Salt Lake from the News Tab at the top of this page. Antelope Island within the Great Salt Lake is an interesting place. By contrast, the world's oceans average a salinity level of 3.5 percent. Although it was just after 6:00 pm and everything was closed. There's a causeway that you can drive across to get there. Launch your kayak or SUP from the marina, which is located only 20 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. Great Salt Lake Boating. Visit the Antelope Island State Park Visitors Center. It has a variety of islands that you can explore, each with their own history. Great Salt Lake; Salt Lake, Weber, Box Elder & Tooele Counties. Great Salt Lake State Park Marina offers a well-developed marina with water, electricity, and a pump-out station. Why I've been so fascinated with the Great Salt Lake is beyond me. One of the best ways to experience Great Salt Lake is visiting Antelope Island State Park . Antelope Island State Park is an island in the Great Salt Lake and can be reached from the mainland along the Antelope Island Road, a small but scenic road that can be accessed by paying the entrance fee at the toll booth ($ 15 per vehicle. You can see a distinct line where the Lucin Cutoff cuts through the lake. Another $140,000 went to Davis County, which collects $2 from the $6 charged to each car to drive the causeway that links the island to Syra-cuse. Swim at the Bridger Bay Day-Use Area Yes, you can swim in the Great Salt Lake! I noticed bike maintenance stations with tools and pumps in several places along the road. The Great Salt Lake's third-largest island is now publicly owned and preserved indefinitely by a conservation easement. Does Amtrak go to Salt Lake City? The lake's surface area fluctuates dramatically according to rainfall levels, with 950 square miles in 1963 holding the record for its l. After the trek across the causeway, start your adventure with a stop at the Visitors Center. Antelope Island State Park is surrounded by the Great Salt Lake. YES, you can drown in the briny, buoyant waters of the Great Salt Lake. 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. Some of the long beaches are the best in the state. The original causeway to Antelope Island was not the northern one which you can now drive across to reach the island, but instead one that approached the island from the south. A remnant of the massive ancient Lake Bonneville, the lake is now landlocked and its waters are salty. Why you should camp here: A picturesque island with a fascinating wildlife population.. Reservations accepted: Yes; Best seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall; Campsite type: Tent, RV, car camping, hike-in; RV hookups: No; Antelope Island State Park is a small island encompassed by the Great Salt Lake. A railroad causeway built in 1959 cut Utah's Great Salt Lake into two very different lakes, ecologically speaking</a>, as seen in this striking drone footage posted by ABC News on Wednesday. Union Pacific's Great Salt Lake causeway cuts through the heart of the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere. There is a high point with a microwave tower that you can drive to if you have a higher clearance vehicle. In 1833, trapper, trader, explorer, and legendary frontiersman Joseph R. Walker mapped and explored the area around the Great Salt Lake and crossed the northern perimeter of the Salt Flats while working for a fur trading company run by Captain Benjamin L. E. Bonneville. And if you can't see, you can smell it. Salt can rust metal very quickly. It's right across from the smokestack of the smelting operation, so you can't miss it. A separate Causeway Sticker can be purchased at the park entrance booth for $15. Annual State Park Passes do not cover the $2 Davis County Causeway fee. It's as if the waters were never introduced to the laws of gravity. Neither are suitable for camping, unfortunately. In 1833, trapper, trader, explorer, and legendary frontiersman Joseph R. Walker mapped and explored the area around the Great Salt Lake and crossed the northern perimeter of the Salt Flats while working for a fur trading company run by Captain Benjamin L. E. Bonneville. The salinity of Great Salt Lake is roughly 12% — over three times saltier than the ocean. In July 2021, the southern portion of the Great Salt Lake reached a new historic low, with average daily water levels dropping about an inch below the previous record set in 1963, according to U.S. Geological Survey information collected at the SaltAir gage. This is just the start of amazing facts about Antelope Island State Park and the Great Salt Lake, America's Dead Sea. You can go as long and far as you want. They deliver propane to this spot but I would not attempt it in a regular car. Legends abound about the lake. Let's look at the next slide to find out. The appeal of the 75-mile-long Great Salt Lake is almost as powerful for waterfowl hunters as it is for birds. Another easy way to access the lake is at the Antelope Island Marina, reached by the Antelope Drive exit off 1-15 in Layton. Have your camera ready as you drive by—there's not an exit and the sculpture is surrounded by razor wire. To reach Antelope Island, drive north on I-15 to Syracuse, then west on U-127, following the signs. The Great Salt Lake is one of the most asked-about tourist destinations in Utah. #5 Check Out the Bonneville Salt Flats The expansive dried-lake bed to the west of the lake is known as The Salt Flats. Great Salt Lake Elevations The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been collecting water-surface-elevation data from Great Salt Lake since 1875 and continuously since October 1902. The beach is a great place to play and cool off during your visit to Antelope Island. 1. Use the scenic routes* below to get some fantastic natural views. Great Salt Lake Guided Bus Tour from Salt Lake City 46 Bus Tours from $55.74 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* 45 Minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour 32 Adventure Tours from $37.00 per adult Fly over the Great Salt Lake- Tandem Paramotoring 5 from $300.00 per adult 2 Hour Salt Lake Boat Tour with Swimming on the Lake 12 from $79.00 per adult Antelope Island is located north of Salt Lake City, Utah near Syracuse. The visit did not disappoint: I wasn't expecting a cozy beach day--especially not in the winter. Visitors are welcome, but only by boat, foot or bicycle. Answer: The Great Salt Lake The Great Salt Lake of Utah is the largest lake of salt water in the western hemisphere and the 37th largest of all lakes on Earth. At 440,000 hectare, Great Salt Lake is the largest salt water lake in the Western hemisphere! Drive six miles west on Antelope Drive to the Great Salt Lake. But take the six-mile drive across the causeway that connects Antelope Island with the . John Neill, an avian biologist with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), underscores it: "This is the highest rank of importance and one of only seven site designations in the contiguous United States." The east side of the Great Salt Lake has the most development and easiest access. Let's look at the next slide to find out. The lake has good public access, habitat that enables a wide variety of hunting styles, and extensive marshland that attracts a diversity of waterfowl species unrivaled elsewhere in the flyway—and probably the continent. Neither are suitable for camping, unfortunately. You can bike the entire 7-mile causeway, or drive your bikes to the island and then bike or drive wherever you like. Artist Karl Momen's internationally-acclaimed, colorful 87-foot tall sculpture stands out against the salt. Salt Lake is know for great outdoor vistas—and some of them can be seen from the climate controlled comfort of your vehicle. As it was mentioned above, the park is quite easy to add to an itinerary. Because the lake is so shallow, it stays quite warm, and the beaches are nice and sandy. The Great Salt Lake, is the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the most saline inland bodies of water in the world. From Interstate 15, take exit 332 and drive across the 7-mile causeway. You can go as long and far as you want. Within minutes, you can enjoy a round of golf at one of ten courses, explore over 500 miles of trails and bikeways, ski world-class downhill slopes, go sightseeing at Antelope Island State Park and the Great Salt Lake, or enjoy family fun at seven . With the change in climate, the lake began drying up, leaving Great Salt Lake . This took another month to finish and by late August trains were once again rolling across the lake. Great Salt Lake, Utah. During the fur trapping era of the 1820- 30s, numerous fur trading companies operated in the area of Utah. It's about a twenty minute drive from downtown. Salt Lake City, UT 84116 Save Book In Advance Great Salt Lake Guided Bus Tour from Salt Lake City Historical & Heritage Tours From $49.00* Fly over the Great Salt Lake- Tandem Paramotoring Paragliding From $300.00* 45 Minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours From $37.00* See More Tours Nancy K Brant Lake, New York 138 28 Launch your kayak or SUP from the marina, which is located only 20 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. The park is 7 miles west of the entrance gate across the Davis County Causeway. This 103-mile rail line was originally built on a trestle, but it was replaced by a causeway in the 1950s, which changed the salt content of the lake on one side. Take the Antelope Drive exit on Interstate-15, exit 332, and head west for approximately 15 miles. It is definitely worth a visit, but check first with the folks at Golden Spike on the status of the road into the site and get directions (the route, through private property, is not well . The lake is fed by three rivers - the Jordan, Weber, and Bear, which together deposit around 1.1 million tons of minerals in the lake each year. Parking is $2. The lake's salinity — and in turn, its density — has increased since the mid-1800s. Inhaling the water can choke and gag you and the briny water can fill your lungs and stop your breathing. Be prepared with plenty of water, field supplies/gear, and a full tank of gas in a high clearance vehicle. I believe it was completed in the early fifties and was used primarily for herding cattle to and from the island. Can dogs go to Antelope Island? It is the largest lake between the Great Lakes and the Pacific Ocean, and is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. It's a long drive, but it's located on that part of the lake. 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