How To Visit Utah's Pink Lake

I am not exaggerating when I say that visiting Utah's pink lake was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. And I have done some slightly out there things. 

Wading in pink water with a solid salt crystal lakebed underfoot was as mind-blowing for me as bungee jumping albeit in a different way. It was certainly thrilling but without the heart-pumping adrenaline. 

Not only was it breathtakingly beautiful; it's a relatively rare experience. While there are dozens of places worldwide where you can experience stunning pink lakes, there is only one in America!

Or maybe it's two depending on how you look at it. Great Salt Lake is the only body of water in the United States that reliably contains the two microorganisms that gives the saltwater its rosy hue. But you can experience it for yourself in two different locations: Spiral Jetty on the northeast side of Great Salt Lake (where I went) and Stansbury Island on the southwest end. 

Stansbury Island is about an hour away by car from downtown Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, Spiral Jetty is a two-hour drive one way. So, basically it's in the middle of nowhere and requires a walk on flat beach for half a mile or so. 

Spiral Jetty is a lovely work of art, yet these days it is most often not an actual jetty. The ground around it is completely dry and, of course, salty. I was happy to take the long trip out here because I had been wanting to see Spiral Jetty for over a decade. I first heard about it when I was a kid but didn't want to make the trip until now. 

I have visited the shores of Great Salt Lake several times before but never experienced anything close to this. At first walking toward the shoreline felt familiar: gray, flat beach with a slight salty crust 

As we neared the edge of the water the ground became increasingly covered with salty puddles here and there making perfect breeding grounds for brine flies and a familiar smell. Ew! Once we got to the water however, the brine flies and smell dissipated. 

The beach immediately by the shore was completely white making me feel like I was magicked to a warm yet snowy landscape that crunched beneath our feet like ice-crusted snow.

Right against the shoreline was about three feet of white foam created by bacteria breaking down into a natural soapy substance. As wind blows it billows this "soap" into foam on the shoreline where it stays much longer than on freshwater shores because of low surface tension of the extremely salty water. 

As I crossed this ethereal barrier and tread into the pale pink water I felt as if I had been transported to a stunning alien planet. The floor of the lake was even more crystalline than on shore. The lakebed is like solid salt crystal extending into the distance, sharp and jagged under my white Birkenstocks. 

It was wild being there in person, unexpectedly so. I had seen photos, of course, but many of those made the water appear orange-ish rather than pink. I learned later that this is because most phone cameras are designed compensate for the natural blue of sunlight and make colors appear warmer than in real life. 

What my camera saw

What my eyes saw

My photos here have been edited to give you an accurate look at this pink lake's actual appearance. It's PINK! True, Barbie, pink lemonade, bubble gum pink. Photos really do not do it justice.

The water feels pleasantly hot like a bath, and as I waded deeper inch by inch, the pale rose tint deepened to bubble gum pink and then magenta!

My kids joined me in the water and as we played, we avoided splashing to keep from getting salt into our eyes. All the while we marveled at the craziness of it all. 

Then my son decided to try floating on his back. He had been enchanted with my descriptions of floating on the Dead Sea without effort and wanted to try it himself. He loved it.

Upon closer inspection, we noticed coin-sized salt rafts peppering the lake's surface. The pink water literally sparkled in the sunlight! 

At one point my son got a pill-sized rock crystal lodged in his sandal. It was uncomfortable for him (watch for cuts) but once we got the salty sparkle out, we decided to save it as a souvenir for him. He doesn't know I've saved it. I put it in a special box where I keep his childhood treasures.

As we trekked back to the car and our skin dried, we found ourselves covered in tiny glittery salt crystals. This, I have experienced before! It's fun until you have to sit in the car especially if you have leather seats. 

I wished I had thought to bring a five-gallon container of water to wash myself and my kids off a bit. But they didn't complain. My sons blonde hair was white with salt!  

I honestly think this photo is tacky, but it's how my seven year old told me to pose. More importantly, it shows how the water looks bubble gum pink when you go a little deeper.

This water is 30% salt! So, be aware before going that the salty water will sting any cuts you may have. And maybe wait until after your adventure to shave your legs.  

The temperature that day was 95 F in the late afternoon and it was quite a hike for our kids ages seven and four. But the beach is totally flat and we brought sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and drinking water. 

I carried my big Reduce cup of water in case saltwater got in anyone's eyes, which is exactly what happened. Walk slowly so you don't trip! 

Do not bring goggles to submerge in the water either as it wouldn't be enough to protect your eyes from the incredibly saline water. We were grateful to have that extra water for an eye rinse.

Know that there are no restrooms or facilities of any kind at Spiral Jetty. The closest building can be found at Golden Spike National Historical Park where you can visit the restroom and fill up on water before the last 16 miles of your drive. 

The drive is scenic but a bit uncomfortable for the last several miles. The road is paved for only a few more miles beyond Golden Spike. Once you get to the dirt road you've got about 12 miles until you reach the jetty. 

There are three cattle guard's you'll pass along the way, and after each one the road gets a littler rougher with a washboard texture. If the road is clear of other vehicles, you can drive about 35 miles per hour and get a smoother ride over the washboard road than if you drive slower.

As long as there has not been a recent rain, the route can be traversed with almost any car. There are some dips and bumps along the way, but it's not off-roading by any means. 

And one more to show that deeper, almost magenta pink. This photo was taken in about two feet of depth. Behind my son, you can see some of the tiny salt formations on the surface! 

Despite the long drive, it was totally worth it! I like that it was remote and there was hardly anyone else there. 

Next time, I will visit Stansbury Island. It's a much shorter trip in the car and I hear it's less of a walk to get to the shore too.

My plan is to go again in early fall, maybe late September or early October. The weather will be milder and my theory is that the water will still be a little warm.

I want to bring a light lunch, plenty of water, and a couple paddleboards! However, the water is so shallow that I would need to forego the fin on the bottom to avoid getting it wrecked on the salty lake floor. Oh, and I will definitely bring lots of water to wash off before heading home. 

At first, I thought it would be so cool to try to see how far the pink water extends from Spiral Jetty until I learned I would have to paddle for 10 miles! 

Still, I think it would be enchanting to paddle around in a Barbie lake, eat a snack, maybe drink some pink lemonade and float on my back. 

If you liked this pink lake post, check out some of my other posts! 

• Salt Lake City: Off The Beaten Path Things To Do From A Local 
• Unique Cultural Restaurants In Salt Lake City (Part 4) 
• My Favorite Desserts In Salt Lake City, Utah

Hi, I'm Kaitlyn and I'm so glad you're here. Get to know me and more about my blog