While Utah is landlocked, its population is scattered around the largest lake west of the Mississippi. With white, sandy shores, water that's significantly saltier than the ocean, and plenty of hot, desert sunshine, the Great Salt Lake makes for a unique sun and swimming experience.
The greater Salt Lake City region has variable weather that changes sharply throughout the year. Winters in the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding mountains are cold and snowy. The summers can get excessively hot and sunny, sometimes reaching more than 100 degrees around the Great Salt Lake's beaches. Summer also brings low humidity, making for sunny, dry days. More moderate weather is experienced in the spring and fall.
Back in the late 1800s and first half of the 20th century, the Great Salt Lake was a popular destination for swimming and beachgoing. It had numerous resorts around its shores, most famous of which was the Saltair, an elaborate beach resort and amusement park built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Salt Lake and Los Angeles Railroad Company. The resort was quite popular back then, attracting as many as half a million visitors a year, and was even dubbed the "Coney Island of the West." It declined after a 1925 fire and, while later rebuilt several times, is no longer a major destination.
Great Salt Lake State Marina
The historic Saltair is now a part of Great Salt Lake State Marina. While it's no longer the amusement-filled destination resort that it was in the early 1900s, swimming is still possible along the shores of the park. According to Utah.com, as long as the water levels are high enough, swimming along the beaches adjacent to the marina is enjoyable.
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island is the largest island on the Great Salt Lake, and thanks to its facilities and white-sand beaches, it is the most popular place for swimming in the lake. According to Utah.com, Bridger Bay Beach on the northern part of the island is possibly the nicest beach there. It's a 2-mile, 300-foot-wide stretch of white, Oolitic sand where people go to test the theory that you can float in the lake -- and with a salinity content of around 12 percent, you can. The park has freshwater showers to wash up after swimming.
In addition to offering miles of quiet, scenic beaches, Antelope Island is a natural preserve where you'll find wildlife such as bison, antelope, coyotes and waterfowl. Camping, hiking, mountain biking, boating and other activities are offered at the park.