Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve
Layton
Overview
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Wed 76 | 50 |
Thu 67 | 50 |
Fri 56 | 46 |
Sat 56 | 42 |
Sun 62 | 42 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
|
Wed 76 | 50 |
Thu 67 | 50 |
Fri 56 | 46 |
Sat 56 | 42 |
Sun 62 | 42 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
Heading to the Observation Tower.
On the eastern side of the Great Salt Lake, near Layton, is the site of the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. The preserve, owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy, provides essential habitat from some of the over 250 species of birds that use the Great Salt Lake as their home or as a stopover point during migration. For families, bird lovers, and Great Salt Lake enthusiasts, this is an excellent place to spend a few hours. The preserve has a boardwalk that meanders through it, offers views of the Great Salt Lake and usually many bird species. The preserve has a pavilion and observation tower as well. My pre-schooler absolutely loved climbing the stairs of the observation tower to take in the scenery.
I feel like the preserve is often overlooked, or simply not well known, but definitely deserves a visit. On the lovely fall afternoon we visited, only one other group stopped by. The preserve is open from 6am to 9pm March to October, and 7am to 9pm November to February. There is no cost to visit.
The wetlands and boardwalk from the Observation Tower.
Getting There
Take exit 330 (Layton Parkway) in Layton off of I-15 and head west across the highway, turning right (north) on Main Street. Follow Main Street north for 0.3 miles to Gentile Street. Turn left (west) onto Gentile Street and follow it for 3.1 miles to 3200 West. Turn left (south) on 3200 West and follow it about 1 mile to its end at the preserve.
A fun place to run around!
Route
From the parking area, the trail heads south, past restrooms and a small building before reaching the pavilion. The trail goes in a loop from the pavilion, around the wetlands to an observation tower, then back to the pavilion.
Photos
Maps
| Trailhead |
12T 413722mE 4543976mN N41° 02' 33" W112° 01' 35" |
| Pavilion |
12T 413802mE 4543721mN N41° 02' 25" W112° 01' 32" |
| Observation Tower |
12T 413511mE 4543318mN N41° 02' 11" W112° 01' 44" |