Moving back to Utah has certainly changed my paddling fun. I used to go surfing three or four mornings a week. Until about a week ago it was still snowing and water temps were too cold for my wet suit collection.
First kayak paddle of 2025, water temp in the high 40s, no waves unfortunately, but nice view. Nobody else was on the 21 mile long lake. Two swans, 3 trumpeter swans (?), bald eagle.
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Where in Utah?
Flaming Gorge, Lake Powell and Utah lake are all wonderful places to go.
I have paddled Flaming gorge, but not the other 2. I hope to go to Utah lake sometime.
Bear Lake on UTAH IDAHO BORDER. Utah Lake is not that great, its an urban eyesore. If you want an interesting paddle close to Salt Lake City, try the west shore of Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake, there is a causway that runs out to the island. Also a good place to see wildlife. My great grandmother was born on the Island when her father ran cattle for the Mormon Church there. When I was a kid we used to paddle from Woods Cross out to the east shore of the Island, but the lake level is so low now, its not possible.
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Nice shot of the distant mountains. It’s been at least 15 plus years since I visited Salt Lake City. I don’t remember much except for the physical prominence of the Mormon Church and the majesty of the surrounding mountains. Wish I had the chance to spend a little more time outside of the city when I was there.
-sing
Welcome back to Utah!
I moved here 35 years ago and have dabbled a little with my old love of kayaking and ended up with a couple Sea Eagle Razorlites so that we could drive to different waters and get going quickly. Lately, I transported them back to my original home in Nova Scotia so that I could take my grandkids on the water when we visit. We might replace them, but when we can, we head back to NS to be with the kids and loads of high quality paddling. In Utah, I have not tried Bear Lake but Mirror Lake is nice (if small and in summer, crowded). Most of the other reservoirs in the local area that we tried were disappointing, everything from lousy access to overcrowded with motorized people. We ran the San Juan in Southern Utah last spring and that was fun.
Fortunately, Utah has many other amazing outdoor offerings, so we manage to cope 
Cheers,
Rob
“Physical prominence of the Mormon Church,”
in some Capitals used to make the driven lurch.
Not much fan of taggers but one time they didn’t barf me,
Oz 495 I’s scanned ahead inspired demand, “Surrender Dorothy!”
But sticky fingers of Momma Nature’s lovely tree, pushing into her white cotton-candied sky, over the expanse of chilled lake makes all surrender, a least a moment, to sigh somewhat contently.
(With, quite Frankly, a desire to “paddle on.”)
Bear Lake is a beautiful and very large (by Western US standards anyway). Several relatives of my parents generation owned cabins on the East Shore. I solo paddled canoes up and down the shore there when I was ten, so it feels pretty much like home.
Memorial Day through Labor Day I stick to weekdays early morning or late evening for SUP and Kayak paddling. There can be vicious winds in the summer in the afternoon, locals claim the waves are 10’ (they are more like 4 ft where there is schoaling, and I tried surfing last summer, State Park ranger made me quit, because “it’s much too dangerous” 
). PM me if you want some info on where to launch. Its a big lake so better than others for crowds except at the marina and campground.
LOL , fortunately I escaped the culture many years ago.