Drone Flight at Great Salt Lake State Park
Aerial view of the the marina and visitor area of Great Salt Lake State Park from over the lake.
Great Salt Lake State Park
Great Salt Lake State Park is one of 46 state parks in Utah, located about 19 miles west of Salt Lake City, near the southern shore of the Great Salt Lake. The park features a marina, a visitor center, and opportunities for boating, birdwatching, and photography. It provides access to the lake’s unique ecosystem and serves as a starting point for exploring its saline waters and surrounding landscapes.
Getting to Great Salt Lake State Park from Salt Lake City
I traveled to Salt Lake City via the FrontRunner train from Provo, UT, and initially planned to take a bus from the Central Station to the park. However, the park is about 19 miles west in Magna, Utah, and no public transit options are available. Instead, I used Uber, which cost about $20 to get there and $25 for the return trip—a reasonable price for the distance.
Flying a Drone in Great Salt Lake State Park
I already felt pretty good about the fair cost of transit, but felt even better at the park. Entering on foot is only $2. I went to the visitor center to complete the application for the drone permit and it was only $1. The application was easy and standard, basic personal info, remote pilot certificate number, etc. I asked if there was anything I needed to know about flying there and the ranger just shrugged. Basically, use common sense.
I went out to the beach and thought there was a surprising amount of people there for midday on a Monday. Then I remembered it was President’s Day and people were off.
It was a mild winter day. The Wasatch Range, the mountains that backdrop Salt Lake City, were virtually invisible from clouds. The lake had a misty, grey feel. At first, the drone wouldn’t take off because of a remote ID error. Which I was trying to solve the hard way but then did the old fashioned turn it off and back on. Once it was in the air it was a smooth flight.
I took off fast over the lake and I felt rushed because I had just spent the last few months flying high in the Colorado Rockies and the battery life suffered greatly. Although the Great Salt Lake is high in general, around 4,200’, it is tremendously lower than what I had been doing. Once I realized the battery wasn’t evaporating, I slowed down to line up shots and flew out further than usual.
The focus quickly became the islands in the southern part of the lake: Stansbury Island and Antelope Island. The latter is a state park in its own right. After about 15 minutes, I felt it was enough because of the low visibility. I landed and pack the drone up. As soon as I started walking away, the sun broke through the clouds and the landscape improved instantly. I was almost annoyed because I was done, but felt compelled to do it all over again.
Stansbury Island- Great Salt Lake. From Great Salt Lake State Park- Magna, Utah, west of Salt Lake City.
Antelope Island- Great Salt Lake. From Great Salt Lake State Park- Magna, Utah, west of Salt Lake City.
Final Thoughts
Great Salt Lake State Park provides an accessible and affordable location for drone pilots looking to capture the unique scenery of Utah’s largest lake. The permit process is simple, and the wide-open landscape offers plenty of opportunities for aerial photography. Keep in mind that the permits in the Utah State Parks are only available in the winter months.