There are few things more spectacular than pink lakes, and the Pink Lake Utah is made all the more surreal by its perfect split; pink on one side and blue on the other. The railway causeway that divides the Great Salt Lake can be thanked for this unique setting, with nowhere else like it in the world. If you’re hoping to get a banger drone shot of the railway tracks, this spot is where you’ll want to go, but if you actually want to swim in the Pink Salt Lake, read this article to the Spiral Jetty here.
We’d seen drone shots of this particular spot doing the rounds on Instagram so we just had to check it out, especially since it’s not far from Carson’s hometown. It’s always a good feeling when a place you’ve seen online exceeds your expectations in real life!
HOW TO GET TO THE PINK LAKE IN UTAH
The Pink Lake in Utah is a section of the Great Salt Lake, about a 2-hour drive from Salt Lake City. It’s not labelled on Google Maps, but we’ve pinned it for you below or you can hit this link here. You’re definitely going to need your own transport and you can hire a car from Salt Lake City for around $50/day.
IMPORTANT: If you want to actually swim in the pink lake, read our other blog post for directions to the Spiral Jetty at the Pink Salt Lake.
RELATED ARTICLE: Pink Lake at the Spiral Jetty
Once you’re on the road, it’s pretty smooth sailing until the last little stretch which turns to dirt. There are ‘no trespassing’ signs if you veer of the main road, but as long as you stick to the Promontory Road it’ll take you all the way to the right spot.
There were very few other cars on the road going to the Pink Lake Utah so it’s easy to want to disregard the speed limit. Don’t let that fool you, if we didn’t slow down to the signed 40mph we would have definitely hit a deer, so just be mindful.
WHAT TO BRING TO THE PINK LAKE IN UTAH
Prepare for your trip to Pink Lake Utah with our must-have travel essentials.
Light jacket: Columbia Men’s Watertight Jacket (click for price), Columbia Women’s Waterproof Jacket (click for price)
Insulated water bottle: Hydro Flask Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle (click for price)
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro (click for price)
To see our complete camera gear read this post here.
WHEN TO VISIT PINK LAKE UTAH
You can expect Pink Lake Utah to be pink year-round, but some days appear pinker than others based on salt levels. For the best lighting, we went just after sunrise to minimise midday glare in the drone shots, but if you’re not concerned about that you can go any time.
WHY IS IT PINK
It’s all about the salt. The railway causeway separates the Great Salt Lake into two very distinct bodies of water. The blue side is mixed with fresh water from the Bear, Weber and Jordan rivers, so its salt levels are considerably lower than its pink neighbour. The pink side has almost 10 times the salt content of the ocean and is home to salt-loving organisms that light up a beautiful shade of pink the saltier it gets.
MORE UTAH TRAVEL GUIDES
Spiral Jetty at the Pink Salt Lake
Antelope Island State Park
Potash Ponds in Moab
Fifth Water Hot Springs
Meadow Hot Springs
WHAT TO EXPECT AT PINK LAKE UTAH
The Pink Lake in Utah is pretty freaking spectacular. From the minute we arrived we were blown away by its incredible saturated colour. We hadn’t been duped by other people’s IG photos, it really was as magical in real life. You’d think such an epic setting would attract more tourists and photographers, but we had the entire place to ourselves.
One thing that was super cool in particular patches was the cracked pattern in the salt. It was like an intricate puzzle with a thousand unique pieces. The whole landscape was completely surreal and we were in awe.
SEE MORE PINK WATER AT THE SPIRAL JETTY UTAH
The railroad track isn’t the only place where you can see the pink water of the Great Salt Lake. The Spiral Jetty art installation is also often surrounded by vibrant pink water, which is the best spot in the Pink Salt Lake Utah to swim or even paddleboard in.
READ: SPIRAL JETTY UTAH GUIDE
Read our other Utah travel guides for more epic things to do:
- Antelope Island State Park
- Meadow Hot Springs
- Bridal Veil Falls
- Potash Ponds in Moab
- Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork)
- Bryce Canyon Hike (Navajo Loop Trail)
PIN IT FOR LATER
WHERE TO STAY IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
There’s no shortage of accommodation in Salt Lake City, but having all those options can be a little overwhelming when it comes to choosing the best place to stay. We’ve chosen our top picks for budget, midscale and luxury hotels in Salt Lake City to make things easier for you.
BUDGET: SLC HOSTEL
SLC Hostel is located in the heart of downtown SLC and our top pick for budget stays. With deluxe bathrooms in common areas, radiant heated floors and modern technology, it’s the best option for budget backpackers and digital nomads not looking to break the bank.
MIDSCALE: LITTLE AMERICA HOTEL
Little in name but not in stature, Little America Hotel is the largest hotel in Salt Lake City with 850 rooms and a history dating back 60 years. It’s a little up there on the midscale ranking but still offers affordable prices with very well maintained facilities.
LUXURY: GRAND AMERICA HOTEL
If you fancy the finer things in life and don’t mind splashing some cash, Grand America Hotel is the pinnacle of five star accommodation in Salt Lake City. Everything here is, well… grand. The pool, gardens, restaurants and rooms all live up to their name.
