Kayak at Utah Lake State Park

There’s something relaxing about being out on the water in a kayak. You’re in control of the boat and have the freedom to paddle anywhere on the lake. Our recent trip to kayak at Utah Lake State Park was a great way to test out our new kayak and break away from yard work.

Schedule a few hours to take your kayak out on Utah Lake. Here are some tips to help you plan your adventure to this Utah State Park.

NOTE: Bring a waterproof camera along with you, and be sure you have floaties attached to it so it doesn’t sink.

How to Get There

Utah Lake State Park is less than three miles west of I-15. Take the Provo Center Street exit and head west along Center Street. It’s pretty much that simple. When you get to the entrance gate, that’s where you would pay the entrance fee or show your Utah State Parks Annual Pass.

Parking and Accessing the Lake

There are multiple areas within the Utah State Park where you can set up shop. I preferred to unload close to the water so I didn’t have to carry the kayak too far. Turn left as you enter the large parking lot and follow the road. You’ll pass a boat ramp on your right. Turn right shortly there after and you’ll find several parking spots.

All of the spots are near the water. If you’re wanting to grab a pavilion and make that your staging area, park by one of those on the west side of the road. If you are just going for a quick paddle, park on the east side of the road. There are a couple of docks you can use to get in your kayak.

If you don’t mind getting your feet wet, then you can walk a foot or two out into the water and climb on in. Then you’re ready to paddle away – but be sure you’ve locked your car before you leave. 😉

Places to Explore in a Kayak

After loading our kayaks onto the marina side, we paddled around to the swimming area. You’ll want to watch out for power boat traffic while in the marina area.

If you have younger kids and don’t want them out on the big lake, just have them paddle around in the swimming area. It’s large enough for some fun, but small enough to keep an eye on them.

We ventured out of the enclosed swimming area and followed the rocks south and east to the mouth of the Provo River. We paddled a little ways up the river, while staying inside the state park, but we didn’t want to try and paddle under the roadway. My wife was worried about spiders dangling from the bridge.

If you want to venture out into the lake, go for it. I wouldn’t recommend traversing the roughly 7.5 mile wide lake. Utah is known to have shifting weather and a wind storm could settle in quickly and cause problems. Do NOT try to do it solo. You’ll also need to keep an eye out for power boats racing around the lake.

I enjoy attacking the wakes left behind by the boats whizzing on by. My wife felt like she was going to tip when some of the bigger waves came our way. But we just pointed into them and had some fun.

Kayaking Safety & Tips

I’ve already mentioned a few things to look out for when kayaking. But here are some important tips to make sure your time on the water is safe.

1. Always wear a life jacket or Personal Floatation Device (PFD). Even adults should wear one.
2. Carry some water with you. It gets hot in Utah in the summer, and you don’t want to get dehydrated.
3. Wear a hat AND apply sunscreen.
4. Have a whistle with you in case you need to alert someone of a situation. Three long blows on the whistle indicate an emergency.
5. Carry a towline. I always have a towline with me (water ski rope) so I can connect to the other kayak if I need to help them paddle back to shore.
6. Don’t kayak solo. It’s best with a buddy anyway.
7. Be aware of the weather. Wind, rain and lightning can be extremely dangerous. In Utah, weather can change pretty quickly.
8. Don’t venture too far away from shoreline.
9. Plan on getting wet. Don’t carry phones or other electronic devices that don’t handle water well. if you capsize, you don’t want to lose or damage your devices.

The Details

Address: 4400 W Center St, Provo, UT 84601

Cost: $10 per vehicle during the summer months (April to October). $5 per vehicle November to March. Utah seniors 62 and older ar $5 and $2 respective to time of year. Walk-ins are $2 per person. Campgrounds are available as well for additional fees. A Utah State Park pass ($75) provides access to all 44 state parks.

Hours: April to October: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. November 1 to Thanksgiving Day: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Day after Thanksgiving to January 4: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. January 5 to March 31: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/utah-lake/

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