Visiting Utah’s Pink Lake At Spiral Jetty And The Causeway

Did you know there’s a pink-colored lake located just outside of Salt Lake City? There are three places to see pink lake, Utah: Spiral Jetty, the Great Salt Lake Causeway and Stansbury Island.

Pink Lake Utah Directions, Address & Map

Directions To Pink Lake Utah At Spiral Jetty

Directions to Utah’s pink lake at Spiral Jetty from Salt Lake City:
1. Take I-15 N to UT-13 for approx. 60 miles.
2. Follow signs for UT-13/Corinne.
3. Merge onto UT-13 N/Promontory Rd.
4. Continue onto UT-83 N/W Hwy 13.
5. Turn left onto Golden Spike Dr.
6. Stay on Golden Spike Dr. (and eventually Golden Spike Rd.) until you hit Spiral Jetty Rd.
7. Turn right onto N Rozel Flats Rd.
8. Continue onto Spiral Jetty Rd.
9. Turn right to stay on Spiral Jetty Rd.
10. Drive Spiral Jetty Rd. until you come to a parking lot near the water.
11. Once you finally arrive to the parking lot, walk the path down to the salt lake bed.

You’ll be able to see both the pink lake and the Spiral Jetty art installation from the parking lot, but, depending on the tide, you might have to walk a few minutes to get to the water.

Spiral Jetty is an art installation built into the pink water. Apart from the unique swirly artwork, the location of Spiral Jetty offers unforgettable views of the pink lake and surrounding mountains. Moreover, Spiral Jetty jets out of the salty beachside, which means that this location is ideal for swimming if you’d like a chance to float in the pink lake. You can find Spiral Jetty by typing “Spiral Jetty” into your GPS. Or, follow the directions above.

Directions To Pink Lake Utah At The Causeway

Directions to Utah’s pink lake at Great Salt Lake Causeway from Salt Lake City (GPS coordinates 41.22, -112.49):
1. Get on I-15 N.
2. Drive on I-15 N for about 60 miles to UT-13 N/Promontory Rd.
3. Take exit 365 from I-15 N to UT-13 N/Promontory Rd.
4. Keep right at the fork. Follow signs for UT-13/Corinne and merge onto UT-13 N/Promontory Rd.
5. Follow UT-83 N to NE Promontory Rd for 54 miles.
6. Merge onto UT-13 N/Promontory Rd.
7. Continue to follow UT-13 N for about 3 miles.
8. Continue onto UT-83 N/W Hwy 13 for about 17 miles.
9. Turn left onto 7200 N Rd/W Golden Spike Dr.
10. Continue straight onto 7200 N Rd.
11. Continue onto NE Promontory Rd. for about 30 miles to Promontory Point.
12. Once you reach Promontory Point, take SE Promontory Rd. eastward toward coordinates 41.22, -112.49.

This location, although very worthwhile, isn’t as simple as typing a location name into your GPS. This is exactly how to get to the Great Salt Lake Causeway railroad from Salt Lake City, Utah. I suggest using the very first map (with the two destination points) to get you to the southernmost location (the causeway) in conjunction with the above directions to SE Promontory Rd.:

About the same distance from Salt Lake City as Spiral Jetty, this address offers a perfect view of the divide between the pink half of Great Salt Lake and the rest of the Great Salt Lake. If you’re a drone pilot, you won’t want to miss this epic aerial shot of Utah’s pink lake here. However, if you’re looking forward more to swimming and floating in the lake, I recommend going to Spiral Jetty for more of a beach setting.

Cost To See Utah’s Pink Lake

Because Pink Lake, Utah, is located inside Great Salt lake State Park there is an entrance fee of $5.00. If you are driving to Spiral Jetty from Salt Lake City, it is likely that you won’t have to pay the entrance fee because you won’t pass through the state park entrance.

Either way, the fee is minimal compared to the ethereal view you get to experience. Furthermore, if you own a registered drone, you can pay $1.00 for a drone permit to fly over and take aerial footage of Pink Lake. You can view and print the drone permit form here.

In addition to the park entrance fees and permits, you also may need to rent a car to get to the pink lake. As mentioned prior, the drive to the pink lake from Salt Lake City (where you’ll most likely be staying) is about two hours, and there is no public transportation available to Utah’s Pink Lake.

So, unless you are road tripping in your own car from home, you’ll need a rental car. Be sure to purchase auto rental insurance as well, as the roads to the lake are rough and rocky. Likewise, be sure to fill your gas tank before adventuring. There are no gas stations near the pink lake in Utah.

Swimming At Utah’s Pink Lake

Despite the pink bacteria and algae, it is safe to swim in the Great Salt Lake and the pink lake. However, remember to cover any cuts or open wounds you have. Otherwise, the salt will sting. Also, because of the high salt content in the lake water, you float easily in the pink lake, much like other bucket list destinations in the world like the Dead Sea.

However, it is not advisable to drink the water at Utah’s Pink Lake due to its algae and bacteria growth. The algae, bacteria as well as the high salt content are potentially harmful to humans.

The Best Time To Visit Utah’s Pink Lake

Believe it or not, Utah’s Great Salt Lake is pink year round. The best time to visit the pink lake is between March-October for ideal weather. Be sure to check the weather before departing for the pink lake. You definitely will not want to be caught in the extremities (rain or snow) on those unpaved backcountry roads. We visited in March, and the weather was perfect: sunny with a light breeze.

What To Bring To Pink Lake

Utah’s pink lake is in the middle of nowhere, so it is essential that you come prepared. Here is a packing list of items you won’t want to forget.

1. Packed lunches. There are no restaurants nearby, and you’ll be gone for at least 5-6 hours.
2. Lots of drinking water.
3. Full tank of gas. The last gas station is in Corinne, Utah.
4. Waterproof bandages, just in case your feet get cut by the salt (and to protect current cuts from the salt).
5. Sunscreen. There is absolutely no shade at Spiral Jetty.
6. Sunglasses. If you need new, affordable prescription sunglasses, check out Zenni Optical.
7. Swimsuit and towel — if you plan on taking a float in the salty water.
8. Travel pack of baby wipes to wipe the salt off your arms, legs, feet, etc before getting back into the car.
9. Lightweight jacket. Great Salt Lake can be very windy and, therefore, chilly — especially in fall, winter and spring.
10. Camera. You can find all of the best budget camera gear for travel photography that I personally use here.
11. Drone. Don’t forget your drone permit.
12. Comfortable waterproof shoes.

The beach at the pink lake in Utah is not a normal sand beach. The floor of the lake is made completely of hardened salt that is sharp and will cut your feet if you are not careful. You’ll definitely want shoes to protect your feet.

There is also a decent walk to the water from the parking lot (five-ish minutes) if the tide is low, so comfortable walking shoes are a plus. Furthermore, if you plan on wading in the water or swimming at all, it would be advisable to bring waterproof shoes. You can find my favorite cute waterproof shoes here.

Fortunately, you do not need a high clearance vehicle to get to Utah’s pink lake. There are tens of miles of unpaved gravel roads, but if I can make it in my tiny 2011 Chevy Cruze without any problems, so can you!

Where To Stay In Utah Near Pink Lake

When you visit Utah’s pink lake, you’ll most likely be coming from Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is the closest major city. When staying in Salt Lake City, you have a few accommodations options:

Hotel: Hotwire has fantastic hotel options for a fraction of the standard hotel cost.

Camping/RVing: Although, note that free campsites are few-and-far-between around Salt Lake City. We ended up boon-docking in the Walmart parking lot. It may be worth it to pay for a reserved campsite in Salt Lake City, unlike the rest of Utah where free campsites are plentiful.

Airbnb: I especially recommend Airbnbs if you’re traveling with a large family or hope to cook your own meals to save money.

Is the Great Salt Lake actually pink?

Yes! The Great Salt Lake is actually pink. Half of the Great Salt Lake is vibrant pink. The other half of Great Salt Lake is a normal blue color. The colors are divided by the Great Salt Lake Causeway railroad.

Although you may be doubting the lake’s pinkness because of modern photo editing software like Photoshop and Lightroom, I can assure you that the Great Salt Lake is indeed pink. I had these doubts, too. In fact, I wasn’t even sure that we would see a pink lake when we were on our way there. I said that I would believe it when I saw it. (News flash: I saw it.)

What Makes The Great Salt Lake Pink

The Great Salt Lake gets its pink color from the bacteria and algae that live in the water, both of which are pink, according to Dave Shearer, the Great Salt Lake State Park manager. Not many organisms can survive in an environment with such high salt levels, but the Great Salt Lake’s pink bacteria and algae can.

Please respect the natural beauty of Utah and follow the leave no trace principles when visiting the pink Great Salt Lake, Utah.

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