Utah is known for its exquisite and scenic outdoor spaces. Here is a short list of places in Utah and Wasatch Counties where you can spend the day enjoying your standup paddleboards, kayaks, or canoes.
Strawberry Reservoir offers excellent boating, water skiing and canoeing. Anglers fish for Rainbow trout, Cutthroat trout and Kokanee salmon. The campground provides great beach access. Strawberry Marina is within 1/4 mile and offers a boat ramp, power and pontoon boat rentals, slip rentals, fuel and a small general store with fishing supplies. Other popular activities in the Strawberry area include hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Utah Lake
Known as Utah’s largest freshwater lake at roughly 148 sq. miles, Utah Lake provides a variety of recreation activities. Utah Lake State Park offers fishing access for channel catfish, walleye, white bass, black bass, and several species of panfish. With an average water temperature of 75 degrees, Utah Lake provides an excellent outlet for swimming, boating, and paddle boarding.
Silver Lake Flat Reservoir
Silver Lake Flat provides scenic views, incredible fishing, occasional moose-watching, and a more secluded experience than other reservoirs in the area. It’s also a starting point to hike to the smaller Silver Lake and its even smaller sister, Silver Glance. This area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and requires a small day-use fee to access.
Silver Lake Flat is stocked with brook trout, rainbow trout, and recent additions arctic grayling and cutthroat trout. The limit is four per person. Fishing from the steep dam embankments and shallow inlets are sure to get you strikes but canoeing or kayaking in the middle of the reservoir can also be extremely fruitful. Winterkill affects the reservoir every year, but it is restocked for spring and summer fishing.
Jordanelle Reservoir
Jordanelle Reservoir is located about 40 miles outside of Salt Lake City to provide an easy weekend escape from busy city life. The facility offers a wide array of attractions, including motorized boating, non-motorized boating, fish cleaning stations, pavilions, RV and tent campgrounds, cabins, and hiking trails. Non-motorized vessels utilize a separate boat ramp so launching vessels is safer and less congested. Jordanelle Reservoir is a state park and does require an entrance fee. For full information about fees visit their website.