Swimming in the Great Salt Lake (Salt Lake City: move, beach, water)

[thegooch]

What is the best place to do this within an hour of Salt Lake City? Is it recommended???

[dreameyes]

Swimming in the GSL is fine and even pretty fun, as you float when the water is too deep too touch (the bouancy(sp?) actually pushes your feet up. It's a neat experience. As long as you don't mind getting all salty. About 6 years ago my husband, his brother and I went swimming, man we were in there for like 4 hours! I don't even know how deep we were. When we needed to rest we just stood in the water and up went our feet! But when we came out the salt was so thick we could wipe it off our skin. (that's why they have showers right there on the "beach") If you go just watch out for water in the eyes, nose or mouth!!! The best place to go is Antelope Island which is I'd say about an hour and a half from SLC.
You gotta know what to expect though so you're not caught off guard. Antelope island is gorgeous, gorgeous views, nice trails, but it's certainly not your typical beach. I've always found the lake smell a bit stinky at first. Once you're there a few min. though you don't notice it. At the shorelines, the brine flies are kinda gross (and you gotta wade through them to get more into the lake) but they're not too bad cause they fly away as you move. Anyways I'm babbling here. Hope you enjoy your stay!!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

If you just want to try out the floating part, you can go the the marina (off I-80 West) and clamber over sdome rocks to reach the deep part of the channel. Easier and not quite as messy. But it's not for serious swimming. And it might be too cold now anyway, today's temp is 59 now (2:15 p.m.) so the water is probably colder. My family tried to swim off Antelope Island in June last year and were so cold they didn't get in over their knees.