Utah’s Pink Lake at Spiral Jetty

Updated September 2026, Utah’s Pink Lake at Spiral Jetty was originally published in January 2024

Surreal and unusual, Utah’s Pink Lake is a true hidden gem. I’ve been living in Utah for a few months now and only recently discovered it, stumbling across the pink lake while looking at satellite images of the greater Salt Lake area.

I’ve been to several pink lakes over time (they never get old) such as Maharloo Lake and Lipar Lagoon in Iran, Laguna Colorada in Bolivia, Las Salinas Salt Flat in Puerto Rico, and now- the Great Salt Lake in Utah.

I never knew that there were bays of pink dotted around the Great Salt Lake until I noticed some pinkish-looking waters on a map, so naturally, I had to go find out for myself. 

There is more than one pink lake in Utah, actually. In this post, I’m focusing on the pink waters around the Spiral Jetty on Promontory Point on the Great Salt Lake’s Northshore but there are others including near a railroad causeway (also located on Promontory Point) and Stansbury Island on the south of the Great Salt Lake not far from the Bonneville Salt Flats.

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Tips for Visiting Utah’s Pink Lake

• Pack lots of sunscreen if visiting in later spring, summer, or early fall; the sun gets intense out here.
• Bring waterproof sandals as the salty beach and the lake floor if you plan to go in can be a bit sharp.
• Pack plenty of drinking water and food. There are no services at Utah’s Pink Lake at Promontory Point.
• Don’t forget a swimsuit and a towel. That is, if you plan to swim or float. Make sure to bring a change of clothes as well as a bag to toss your wet towel and swimming gear in, as they’ll be extra crusty from the high salt content of Utah’s Pink Lake.
• Make sure your vehicle has enough gasoline. There are no gas stations near the beach at Pink Lake. The nearest station is in Corinne, about 40 miles away.
• Pack a drone if you have one. Seeing Utah’s Pink Lake from the shore is beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but the aerial views are unbelievable. If not, make sure to have your camera handy and your phone charged. 

Where to Stay in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City hosts a myriad of hotels. That said, some of the most recommended include the adventure-focused evo Hotel Salt Lake City, the boutique Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City, and finally the historic Peery Salt Lake City Downtown.

Where is the Pink Lake in Utah?

The Pink Lake at Spiral Jetty is located on the western shore of Promontory Point on the Great Salt Lake’s Northshore.

Nearby on Promontory Point is the Railroad Causeway, which is located at the southern end of Promontory Point. If you plan to visit both Spiral Jetty and the Railroad Causeway, it takes roughly one hour and 20 minutes to drive between the two locations.

The other Pink Lake is on Stansbury Island, which is located along the Southshore of the Great Salt Lake. This is located close to the Bonneville Salt Flats, so you could combine the two.

How to get to the Pink Lake by the Spiral Jetty at Promontory Point, Utah

The easiest way to reach Utah’s Pink Lake is to drive to Spiral Jetty at Rozel Point. Search for Spiral Jetty Information Plaque in Google Maps, which will take you to the parking area.

Plan for a two hour journey to reach Spiral Jetty if coming from Downtown Salt Lake City. It took me two hours and 30 minutes, and I live a bit south of downtown.

To reach the Pink Lake at Spiral Jetty, you’ll need to turn from the I-15 North (assuming you’re coming from the Salt Lake City area). 

Next, take exit 365 onto UT-13 North/Promontory Road, which will eventually turn into UT-83 North. 

Take a left onto West Golden Spike Drive and stay on it until you reach Spiral Jetty Road.

Take a right onto North Rozel Flats Road, which will bring you to the parking lot for Spiral Jetty.

Note that the last portion of the drive to the Pink Lake at Spiral Jetty is on dirt roads. They are in pretty good condition but are washboard in a few areas. No high-clearance vehicle is needed (my Kia Soul made it no problem).

When is the Best Time to Visit the Pink Lake in Utah?

The best time to visit Pink Lake in Utah depends on whether you’re coming for the color, photography or swimming. The pink bays around Spiral Jetty can remain vibrant year-round, although their color can shift toward purple or blue after periods of heavy rain or snow.

I visited in late summer, and honestly, the Spiral Jetty was pretty evaporated-looking (I’ve now seen photos online perusing Google that it’s surrounded by pink waters), but the lake was still neon pink once you made the trek out to the Pink Lake Beach.

Surprisingly, Utah’s Pink Lake and Spiral Jetty don’t get heaps of visitors. I visited on a Tuesday, and I had the whole place to myself. 

I stayed for a few hours, and maybe about five cars came and went in that time, though if visiting on a weekend or holiday, I’d expect a bit more traffic.

For photos, visiting Utah’s Pink Salt Lake is best in the morning and around sunset. I opted to wake up super early and make the drive out for sunrise at the Railroad Causeway, and then continued onto the Pink Lake by Spiral Jetty around 8 am.

Why are these Bays of the Great Salt Lake Pink?

The pink color comes from halophilic microorganisms, including bacteria and algae, that thrive in the Great Salt Lake’s extremely salty water.

These microorganisms contain pigments that can give the water its distinctive pink, red or purple coloration, with the exact color varying depending on conditions.

Not many organisms can survive in these high-salinity environments, but the pink bacteria and algae that live here thrive in high salt concentrations.

Is it Safe to Swim in the Pink Salt Lake in Utah?

While it might sound dodgy to swim in a neon pink lake that you just read is teeming with bacteria and algae, know swimming in the Great Salt Lake is generally possible, and the high salt content makes you extremely buoyant. However, conditions at the Pink Lake near Spiral Jetty can vary, so use common sense around the shoreline and avoid getting the water in your eyes or mouth

That all said, I wouldn’t drink the water from the Pink Lake (and I don’t know why you’d want to since it’s extremely salty).

Another fun thing to note is that the high salt content of the Pink Lake here at Spiral Jetty makes you extra buoyant, so you can get some cool snaps of yourself floating in the water here.

Camping at Utah’s Pink Lake at Spiral Jetty

There are no developed campgrounds or facilities at Pink Lake near Spiral Jetty, so you’ll need to be completely self-sufficient if you plan to spend the night.

Have any questions about visiting Pink Lake, Utah?

Ask you questions about the Pink Lake at Sprial Jetty in the comments section below.

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