Salt Lake City: a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
Dreaming of gliding on serene waters beneath towering mountain peaks?
The best places to paddle board in Salt Lake City are just around the corner.
Grab your board, and let’s explore Utah’s beautiful waterscapes together. Ready to ride?
Map
Planning Your Paddle in Salt Lake City
Season figures are averages of the daily maximum temperature in the ERA5 climate archive for 2019 to 2024. Every spot below can carry its own rules on top of these.
- Season: average daily highs clear 59 °F from May through October. July is the warmest month, averaging 93 °F, and outside that window a wetsuit is what separates a short session from a comfortable one.
- Rules and licences: The US Coast Guard treats a paddleboard as a vessel as soon as you leave the immediate swimming or surfing area. From that point a wearable life jacket for every person on board is required, together with a sound signal, and a white light after dark. Individual states add their own rules on top, so check the state boating agency before a longer trip.
Where to Paddle Board in Salt Lake City
Please note: While we strive for accuracy, always verify details before paddling. If you spot an error or if you're a local official wanting to make a correction, please comment below. Thanks!
#1 Great Salt Lake
- 🏖️ ️Location Type: Lake
- 📍️ Access Point: Antelope Island State Park (Google Maps)
- 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Still, salty water, afternoon winds
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Summer and Early Fall
- 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Brine shrimp, brine flies, bison, antelope
- 🏞️️ Landmarks & Views: Antelope Island, distant mountains
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Use caution in summer months due to brine flies, wear shoes to protect from sharp salt crystal formations
The Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, offers a unique and stunning paddle boarding experience.
Antelope Island provides picturesque views of the surrounding mountains and encounters with wildlife. The lake’s unusually saline waters make floating a breeze, creating an otherworldly adventure for paddlers.
#2 Jordan River
- 🏖️ ️Location Type: River
- 📍️ Access Point: Redwood Trailhead Park (Google Maps)
- 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Gentle currents, mostly protected from wind
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Late Spring to Early Fall
- 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Ducks, herons, beavers, red-winged blackbirds
- 🏞️ ️Landmarks & Views: Urban parks, bridges, wetland areas
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Avoid during high water, respect private properties, and watch for debris
Flowing through the heart of Salt Lake City, the Jordan River offers a tranquil paddleboard experience.
As the river meanders through urban parks and wetlands, paddlers can enjoy a quiet escape from the bustling city life. The gentle currents make the Jordan River an excellent spot for beginners or those looking for a peaceful ride.
#3 Deer Creek Reservoir
- 🏖️ Location Type: Reservoir
- 📍 Access Point: Main Deer Creek Boat Ramp in Deer Creek State Park, off US-189 in the Heber Valley (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Open reservoir water shared with motorboats and windsurfers, and cold enough early in the year that the park warns about coldwater conditions
- 🏞️️ Landmarks & Views: Mount Timpanogos across the water, the state park campgrounds along the shore
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Utah State Parks requires a life jacket for every person on a vessel, stand-up paddleboards included. Any craft arriving from out of state or from Lake Powell has to be inspected and decontaminated before it goes in, and the decontamination unit on site runs daily from 7am to 7pm
Deer Creek Reservoir lies in the Heber Valley south east of Salt Lake City, along US-189, with Mount Timpanogos filling the view across the water. Utah State Parks names kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding among the craft on the reservoir and keeps the Main Deer Creek Boat Ramp open for launching.
This is open water that windsurfers and motorboats use as well, so the sheltered edges are the better place to start. The park warns about coldwater boating conditions, which is worth taking seriously outside the high summer weeks.
#4 Farmington Pond
- 🏖️ ️Location Type: Pond
- 📍️ Access Point: Farmington Pond Park (Google Maps)
- 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Calm waters, mild winds
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Summer and Early Fall
- 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Ducks, fish
- 🏞️ ️Landmarks & Views: Surrounding park and mountain views
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Obey posted rules, respect local flora and fauna
Farmington Pond is a well-maintained pond located in a lush park setting, perfect for a relaxed day of paddleboarding.
With calm waters and picturesque mountain views, this spot is a great choice for families or those just starting out on their paddleboarding journey. The nearby park also offers amenities such as picnic areas and fishing spots.
#5 Bountiful Pond
- 🏖️ ️Location Type: Pond
- 📍️ Access Point: Bountiful Pond Park (Google Maps)
- 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Calm waters, mild winds
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Summer and Early Fall
- 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Ducks, fish
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: Surrounding parklands and mountain landscape
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Observe posted rules, respect wildlife
Bountiful Pond, located just north of Salt Lake City, offers a serene paddleboarding environment surrounded by lush parklands and mountain views.
The calm waters and tranquil setting make it an ideal spot for beginners and experienced paddlers alike. Enjoy a peaceful day on the water while taking in the beautiful Utah scenery.
#6 Causey Reservoir
- 🏖️ Location Type: Mountain Lake
- 📍️ Access Point: Causey Dam Boat Launch (Google Maps)
- 🌊️ Water, Currents & Wind: Calm waters, occasional winds
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Summer and Early Fall
- 🐟️ Wildlife Encounters: Trout, birds
- 🏞️ ️Landmarks & Views: Forested hillsides, mountain vistas
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: No motorized boats allowed, watch for fishing lines
Causey Reservoir is a picturesque mountain lake situated just over an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City. The reservoir features stunning forested hillsides and calm waters, perfect for a peaceful paddleboarding experience.
As motorized boats are not allowed on the lake, it’s an ideal destination for those looking for a quiet retreat surrounded by nature.
What to Take With You
Whatever the water here looks like, the same short list comes along. Each box below shows the model that currently sits at number one in our own test of that category.
- Typefoam, paddle cut
- ApprovalUSCG and Transport Canada
Every model we tested: 10 Best Life Vests for Paddle Boarding
- Cordcoiled, stretches to 9 ft
- Swivelstwo in-line
- RatingIP68 certified, 1 m for 30 minutes
- Floatsyes
- Capacity20 L, range from 10 to 55 L
- Material500D PVC tarpaulin
Every model we tested: The 9 Best Dry Bags for Paddle Boarding
- Typetall neoprene boot
- Thickness3 mm
FAQ
Where can you paddle board in Salt Lake City?
The Great Salt Lake and Pelican Lake are popular paddle boarding spots in Salt Lake City.
Do paddle boards need to be registered in Salt Lake City?
No, there’s no requirement for registering paddle boards in Salt Lake City.
When is the best time to paddle board in Salt Lake City?
The ideal paddle boarding period in Salt Lake City spans from late spring to early fall when temperatures are warmer.
Paddle Boarding Near Salt Lake City
Looking for another spot on the same trip? These guides cover the closest paddling waters we have mapped around Salt Lake City.
- Utah (40 miles southeast)
- Deer Valley, Park City (42 miles southeast)
- Wyoming
- Phelps Lake
