Salt Lake City: Great Salt Lake 45-Minute Boat Tour

A Slow Boat Across the Saltiest Lake in the Western Hemisphere

You board a slow motorized pontoon at the state park marina and spend 45 minutes on the Great Salt Lake, staying within a mile of shore while the captain shares the lake's history and stories. You get bottled water, a mesh hat for the bugs, and views of the Salt Lake Valley and mountains from the water. The pace is deliberate: designed for commentary and photos, not speed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Great Salt Lake 45-minute boat tour

• Depart from Great Salt Lake Marina
• Board motorized pontoon boat
• Enjoy slow boat ride near marina
• Listen to stories, history, and jokes
• View salt lake valley and mountains
• Take photos during the tour

The experience

The pontoon motor cuts low as you push away from Great Salt Lake State Park Marina, and the water spreads out in front of you: flat, wide, and so salty that nothing sinks. Forty-five minutes doesn't sound like much time, but on a lake this size, staying close to shore is the whole point. The captain keeps the boat slow enough to talk, and he does, feeding you the kind of stories about the Great Salt Lake that you won't find on a plaque: how the water got so dense, what lives in it, why the islands sit where they do. You're not racing to some distant landmark. You're floating on something genuinely strange.

The tour stays within a mile of the marina. The captain is clear about this upfront, and it matters. The islands are several miles out, and honestly, the view doesn't change much once you're past the first stretch. What changes is the feeling of being on the water itself, seeing the Salt Lake Valley and the mountains from the lake side instead of standing on shore looking out. It's a different angle on a place most people only see from land. The boat moves slow enough that you can actually hear what's being said, take photos without everything blurring, and notice small things: the color of the water, the way the light hits the shoreline, the scale of the whole thing.

One practical thing: the lake has bugs near the marina, especially depending on the season. They don't bite, but they can swarm. The tour gives you mesh hats to keep them out of your face. It sounds odd until you're out there and grateful for it. The captain will tell you the current bug situation if you call ahead, since it changes. Bottled water is included, and the whole vibe is low-key: you're getting the lake's history and a few jokes, not a high-speed thrill ride. If you want to race across open water or reach the islands, this isn't the tour. If you want to actually float on the saltiest body of water in the Western Hemisphere and hear about it from someone who knows it, this is.

What’s included

Your 45-minute tour includes departure from Great Salt Lake State Park Marina on a motorized pontoon boat, captain-led commentary on the lake's history and stories, bottled water, mesh hats for bug protection, and views of the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding mountains from the water.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to Saturday6 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (1 to 12 years)

GroupUp to 10 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Exclusive Excursions SLC

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to experience the Great Salt Lake from the water without arranging your own boat: the fixed 45-minute window and included bug protection mean you show up and float, no logistics to manage.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 12 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Great Salt Lake boat tour?

45 minutes total, departing from and returning to Great Salt Lake State Park Marina.

How far out on the lake does the boat go?

The tour stays within a mile of the marina. The islands are several miles away, and the captain keeps the pace slow for commentary rather than distance.

What's included in the tour?

Lake history and stories from the captain, bottled water, and mesh hats to protect from bugs. Photography time is built in.

Are there bugs on the Great Salt Lake?

Yes, especially near the marina depending on the season. They don't bite, but the tour provides mesh hats to keep them away from your face. Call ahead for the current bug situation.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

Is the boat fast?

No. The captain keeps the motorized pontoon at a slow, steady pace so he can provide commentary throughout the tour. It's designed for sightseeing and listening, not speed.

Who should not take this tour?

It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. It's suitable for all other fitness levels.

Can I take photos on the tour?

Yes, photo time is included, and the slow pace makes it easy to capture images of the lake, shoreline, and mountains.