Roadside Attraction Blue Lake
Wendover
Overview
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Sun 98 | 72 |
Mon 99 | 74 |
Tue 100 | 73 |
Wed 97 | 72 |
Thu 97 | 71 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
|
Sun 98 | 72 |
Mon 99 | 74 |
Tue 100 | 73 |
Wed 97 | 72 |
Thu 97 | 71 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
Fisherman at Blue Lake Utah
Blue Lake is located south of Wendover on the very western edge of Utah. The lake, a geothermal pool in a vast open desert, is well known amount scuba enthusiasts. It is one of the few warm bodies of water in the state that, at about 60-ft deep, offers the opportunity for scuba diving in all but the coldest months. The naturally heated water comes out of the ground at about 85 degrees at the bottom of the lake, with surface temperatures ranging between about 60-80 degrees depending on the season.
The lake is used mostly by scuba divers and fisherman. Because of the warm water, the lake is home to some planted warm water fish like bass, tilapia (introduced illegally), sunfish and bluegill.
While excited to visit this oasis in the desert, I will admit to being fairly disappointed. The area, on our visit, was covered in litter and substantial trash. A wooden boardwalk goes from the parking area to the lake. At the lake, the boardwalk ends and dense vegetation makes getting off the boardwalk nearly impossible, meaning everyone congregates in a tiny area.
This was interesting to visit once, but not something I would recommend going too far out of your way to visit. We visited as part of a loop trip from Salt Lake City, west across the Pony Express Trail to Ibapah, then up to Blue Lake and back to Salt Lake City via I-80. Doing it as part of that loop it made a nice leg stretching stop.
The boardwalk to Blue Lake
Getting There
From downtown Wendover Nevada, head south on US-93 toward Ely. For this for about 16.4 miles to a dirt road on the left side of the highway at about mile marker EL 36.5.
- Turn off US-93 at about Mile Marker EL 36.5 and reset your odometer. ( 11T 741295E 4489026N / 40°31'01"N 114°09'06"W )
- 0.9 miles - T-Junction. Turn right. ( 11T 742658E 4488825N / 40°30'53"N 114°08'09"W )
- 1.05 miles - Junction. Go left. The road now heads almost due east. ( 11T 742649E 4488562N / 40°30'44"N 114°08'10"W )
- 5.25 miles - Side road comes in on the left. Stay straight. ( 11T 749201E 4488234N / 40°30'27"N 114°03'32"W )
- 5.8 miles - Side road on the left. Stay straight. ( 11T 749852E 4487646N / 40°30'07"N 114°03'05"W )
- 6.1 miles - Major junction. Go left, soon heading north. ( 11T 750302E 4487428N / 40°29'59"N 114°02'46"W )
- 6.45 miles - Junction. Go right, now heading east across the marsh area. ( 11T 750181E 4487941N / 40°30'16"N 114°02'51"W )
- 7.2 miles - End of the road in a large dirt parking area. Trailhead ( 11T 751233E 4487695N / 40°30'07"N 114°02'07"W )
- Blue Lake ( 11T 751407E 4487712N / 40°30'07"N 114°01'59"W )
Stark beauty around Blue Lake Utah
Route
From the parking area, a wooden boardwalk makes up the short path from the parking area to the lake.
Photos
Maps
| Trailhead |
11T 751233E 4487696N 40°30'07"N 114°02'07"W |
| Blue Lake |
11T 751407E 4487713N 40°30'07"N 114°01'59"W |