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Utah Lake is unique, it is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the West but it sits in an arid area that receives only about 15 inches of rainfall a year.
The mouth of the Provo River, where it empties into Utah Lake, was undoubtedly a very popular camping place for the early inhabitants of Utah Valley.
In fall 1776, the Dominguez-Escalante party traversed Spanish Fork Canyon and on Sept. 21, climbed a small hill near its mouth and looked down upon the large lake situated in a vast valley. One member of that party, Bernardo Y. Pacheco, reported to his king, "This place is the most pleasant, beautiful and fertile in all New Spain."
From the time of Escalante's exploration until the early 19th century, no accurate records about Utah Lake are available.
A thriving market for furs brought another breed of men into Utah Valley, the mountain men. Some who visited near the lake were Peter Skeen Ogden, Osborne Russell, Daniel T. Potts, Jim Bridger and Jedediah Strong Smith. Smith, in 1827, became one of the first men to mention Utah as the name of the lake. In 1844 and 1845, John C. Fremont visited the lake.
In 1933, an application requesting the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps was made and a marina was completed within a few years. Upon completion, Provo City began constructing shoreline picnic and camp facilities.
Recently renovated and named one of America's 21st Century Parks, Utah Lake State Park provides many recreation opportunities for visitors.
A popular fishing hole, Utah Lake, Utah's largest freshwater lake, offers channel catfish, walleye, white bass, black bass and several different species of panfish.
Utah Lake State Park provides major access to the 96,600-acre lake for power boating, sailing, canoeing or kayaking, and also provides camping and day-use facilities.
Outdoor Activities |
