The Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve

Looking for an easy way to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and stunning Utah scenery? Take a quick drive up to the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve and stroll the boardwalk through the vibrant wetlands, which are full of cattails, birds, frogs, ponds and other small critters.

 

A 30-foot-high observation tower is located about halfway through the boardwalk, offering visitors the ability to really soak in the unobstructed views of the soaring mountains and expansive valley. The observation tower has an eye-catching shape with its unique architecture, and provides a nice place to stop and enjoy the Preserve.

 

The Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve was The Nature Conservancy’s first preserve in Utah, and is made up of 4,400 acres of wetlands and uplands habitat which borders the eastern edge of the Great Salt Lake.  

 

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is the largest natural saltwater lake in North American and is frequently recognized for its importance to migratory birds. The Great Salt Lake is a critical link in the Pacific Flyway between North and South America. It is estimated that almost six million birds visit, feed and nest at the Great Salt Lake and its wetlands annually. The spring and early summer months are an especially vibrant time for birdwatching – you’ll be able to see a lot of snowy plovers, American avocets and black-necked stilts at the Preserve. 

 

How do I get there?

A quick drive up to Layton, the Preserve is an easy outing you can do just about anytime. If you go during the week, you’ll likely have the entire Preserve to yourself. It can get a little busier on the weekends, but the wide open space and endless views, there is plenty of space to enjoy it all. 

 

The boardwalk is ADA-accessible and stroller friendly, with several great benches along the way. Visitors can walk the boardwalk anytime, any day of year. There isn’t any shade, or water, and in the summer there can be quite a few bugs, so plan accordingly. Utah offers so many ways to get out and enjoy nature, so pack your binoculars and head out!