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Utah offers an abundance of boating opportunities. From man made reservoirs to Utah's natural lakes, boaters can enjoy activities such as fishing, water skiing, tubing, wave runners, jet ski's or just enjoying a lazy day floating around soaking up the ray's. Below is a directory of Utah waters that offer motorized boating.
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Boating in Utah
For a state with vast stretches of desert, Utah has a surprising number of lakes and reservoirs. In fact, Utah is ranked sixth in the U.S. for amount of boatable water per capita. Not bad for the second dryest state in the nation.
Utah offers over 100 bodies of water that are considered boatable. We describe the most popular below. All have developed boat ramps and other modern facilities. Excellent campgrounds are available at each of these waters. Elevations and surface acres are approximate and are for full pool.
Use these links for additional information on:
- Boating rules and regulations
- Current boating conditions
- Other boating information
Lake Powell is our most popular boating water. It offers sunny skies, sandy beaches, scenic canyons and excellent opportunities for skiing, fishing and personal watercraft. Excellent launch ramps and boat rentals are available at major marinas. Part of this reservoir extends into Arizona.
Elevation: 3,700 ft
Surface acres: 160,000
facilities and boat rentals are available. Part of this res ervoir extends into Wyoming.
Elevation: 6,053 ft
Surface acres: 42,020
Flaming Gorge is also a huge reservoir where boating is very popular. Houseboats are available here and it is easy to escape to a secluded cove. "The Gorge" is bordered by forested mountains in spots and has sandy beaches in other areas. It offers excellent powerboating, skiing and world-class fishing. Top-notch
 Bear Lake is a beautiful natural lake with Caribbean-like cobalt blue water. It offers excellent powerboating, sailing, skiing, fishing and diving. Part of this lake extends into Idaho.
Elevation: 5,920 ft
Surface Acres: 70,000
Jordanelle Reservoir is a popular playground close to the Salt Lake metro area. On summer weekends the number of craft on the water is restricted to insure a quality experience. This water is excellent for powerboating, skiing, personal watercraft and fishing.
Elevation: 6,200 ft
Surface Acres: 3,300
Deer Creek Reservoir is also
close to the SL metro area and is popular for powerboating, skiing, personal watercraft, sailing and fishing.
Elevation: 5,423 feet
Surface Acres: 2,965
Willard Bay Reservoir is located on the edge of the Great Salt Lake, just north of Ogden. It is very popular for powerboating, skiing, personal watercraft and fishing.
Elevation: 4,236 ft
Surface Acres: 2,870
Utah Lake is located just west of Provo, in the metro area. It is a shallow lake suitable for Powerboating, skiing and fishing.
Elevation: 4,488 ft
Surface Acres: 2,870
Yuba Lake is located about 25 miles south of Nephi, just east of I-15. It offers warm water, sandy beaches and great conditions for skiing and other water sports. It is one of the few waters in Utah offering boat-in camping. It is also a popular fishery for walleye, perch, trout and pike.
Elevation 5,100 ft
Surface Acres: 11000
Quail Creek Reservoir is an extremely popular water playground near St. George. It is great for powerboating and personal watercraft; launch restrictions control the number of vessels on the water to provide a quality experience. Fishing is good during the winter. Powerboaters push fishermen off the water during the summer, but fishing can be good very early on summer mornings.
Elevation: 2,900 ft
Surface Acres: 590
Sand Hollow Reservoir is also located near St. George. It is the newest reservoir in Utah's system and is rapidly becoming one of the most popular. It is set amid sand dunes and rocky cliffs, which provide gorgeous scenery and fun play areas. Restrictions control the number of craft on the water. Fishing is good but powerboaters dominate so fishermen usually choose to hit the water very early.
Elevation: 2,900 ft
Surface Acres: 1,000
Pineview Reservoir is in a mountain valley east of Ogden, where it has some protection from the wind. Water is often glassy and ideal for skiing. It is also a very popular fishery.
Elevation: 4,900
Surface Acres: 2,870
Strawberry Reservoir is perhaps the most popular fishing water in Utah. It grows big rainbows, cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon. It is located at a high elevation and the water is cold, so most boating activity revolves around fishing.
Elevation: 7,560 ft
Surface Acres: 17,200
Great Salt Lake is Utah's largest body of water in terms of surface area. It is shallow but provides excellent conditions for sail boating. Most powerboaters ignore the lake; that's too bad because powerboats can operate there without any problem if they simply flush salt water from their engines after completing their outings. The Great Salt Lake is perhaps Utah's most under-utilized playground.
Elevation: 4,200 ft
Surface Acres: 960,000
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Beautiful Lake Powell in southwestern Utah is the premiere water recreation destination in Utah. Also popular is Bear Lake and wonderful Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in the northern portion of the state. Opportunities on a smaller scale are available on the numerous natural lakes and reservoirs throughout the mountainous areas of Utah (green on map).
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| Destinations to consider are grouped by region below. Select any destination that interests you for complete information on rentals, outfitters, publications, etc. |
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NORTHERN UTAH
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Bear Lake is an 150 square mile lake set attractively between low, lightly timbered mountains. 
Minerals in the water give the lake a striking turquoise color. It is popular for boating, water skiing and sailing.
Flaming Gorge NRA contains big clear blue Flaming Gorge Lake. It is surrounded by brightly colored canyon walls and thousands of acres of pretty, forested highlands. It is an excellent setting for boating and fishing.
Provo is Utah's second largest city. Clean and pleasant, it sits between the Wasatch Mountains and 150 square-mile Utah Lake. Though shallow and somewhat murky, the lake offers boating, water skiing and sailing opportunities.
You'll also find numerous reservoirs throughout northern Utah, many of which are large enough for boating. A few of the larger ones are listed below.
( By the way, the Great Salt Lake offers surprisingly limited options.)
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Pineview Reservoir is situated at the top of Ogden Canyon in a mountain setting 10 miles east of Ogden.
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East Canyon Reservoir (680 acres) is 25 miles northeast of Salt Lake City in the lightly timbered foothills of the Wasatch Mountain
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Jordanelle Reservoir is 40 miles east of Salt Lake City in an open valley east of the Wasatch Mountains.
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Deer Creek Reservoir sits at the top of Provo Canyon 20 miles northeast of Provo.
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CENTRAL UTAH
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Fish Lake is a large natural lake 8,800 feet up in the heavily forested Fishlake Mountains. The water is cold so this is mostly a fishing lake, but you can motor around in small craft.
Green River -- Visitors use this mid-sized town on the Green River as a launching place to cruise the Green River south into Canyonlands National Park. In the park the river merges with the Colorado River, which can be followed upstream to Moab. (See Whitewater Rafting for information on opportunities on the Green River and other rivers in Utah.)
The Wasatch Plateau is an expansive area of forested peaks and rolling hills, alpine meadows and mountain lakes. It contains 2,800 acre Scofield Reservoir and 1,200 acre Joes Valley Reservoir which have boating and water skiing opportunities.
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SOUTHEASTERN UTAH
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Southeast Utah is desert country, so your boating opportunities here are limited. 
Moab -- The Colorado River flows easily beneath tall red canyon walls past Moab and into Canyonlands National Park where it meets the Green River. Outfitters in Moab rent boats and wave runners and lead guided jet boat tours above the confluence. (See Whitewater Rafting for information on opportunities on the Colorado River and other rivers in Utah.)
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SOUTHWESTERN UTAH
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Lake Powell is a spectacular lake created by the damming of the Colorado River. Its almost 2,000 miles of pretty, tall red rock shoreline exceeds the shoreline of the United Sates' entire west coast. It offers excellent opportunities for house boating, motor boating, water skiing and fishing. Most visitors spend days on the lake and nights camping out under the stars. 
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Utah State Parks Boating
Utah's Boating Program aims to educate and inform boat operators about the laws and rules established to provide public safety and protect our natural resources on Utah's waterways.
Our efforts are funded through boat registration fees, state taxes on gasoline used in motorboats, and federal boating safety grants.
With an ever-increasing demand on Utah's limited number of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, boaters must use their water recreation resources wisely.
Boaters have the responsibility to practice and advocate safe and ethical use of our waterways. This responsibility includes properly registering boats, learning and obeying boating safety laws and rules, and sharing waterways with other boaters, swimmers, and anglers.
Boating Information
Contact Us
Utah Boating Program
(801) 538-BOAT
(800) RIDE-PWC
E-mail: usprboating@utah.gov
Boat Dealers
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Boater's Outlet - Midvale, UT We are your boating supplier. We carry: Waterskis (Slalom, Alternitive, Combo Pairs & Jr.), Wakeboards (CWB), Wetsuits (Ski warm), boat Covers, Water Trampoline, Air Chair, Windglider, Air Boom, Fins and more...
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Executive Boat & Yacht Brokerage - Salt Lake City, UT Whether you are purchasing or selling the yacht of your dreams, let Executive Boat and Yacht Brokerage help you to realize your goal. We provide an array of products and services designed specifically to make the experience be a pleasant one.
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M and M Watersports - Murray, UT Pro Shop featuring Ski Centurion tournament and family boats, new and used boats, waterskis, wakeboards, wetsuits, drysuits, boating electronics, etc. Run by skiers for skiers. Guaranteed low prices.
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MarineMax - Salt Lake City
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Marine Products Pro Shop - Salt Lake City, UT Marine Products has all water related products on line! See the new Toyota boats and browse and buy from over 3000 different items. Boats, Motors, Waterskis, Wakeboards, Wetsuits, Bathing Suits, Ropes, EVERYTHING IS HERE! Factory Certified Service For: Mercruiser, Mercury, OMC, Volvo, Johnson, Indmar, PCM, and Lexus.
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Petersen Marine Supply Marine dealer of Mercury engines and recreation and fishing boats from Bayliner, Crownline, and Coral. Services include maintenance and repair. Online store for boating parts and accessories. Draper and Riverdale locations
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Robertson's Marine - SLC Utah Robertson's Marine is Utah's Largest Sellection of New Boats, Outboard Motors, Parts and accessories, with the Best Service in the Intermountain West. Boats by Carver, Fountain, Glastron, Larson, Skeeter Bass Boats, Crestliner Alum. Boats, Aquasport Fishing Boats, & Zodiac Inflatables.
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Sunrise Peak Houseboat ownerships on Lake Powell at Wahweap, Bullfrog, and Hite Marinas. Prices listed. Located in South Jordan
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Utah Water Sports We are a full-service marine dealership located in the heart of utah's sporting world. We are an authorized dealer for MasterCraft, Moomba and Supra. We service all the boats and engines we sell. If you're looking for water skiing and wake boarding accessories, you've come to the right place. Check them all out on our online store!
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Boat Registration
Boat registration is handled by the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Boats ("vessels") and personal watercraft (such as Jet Skis) in Utah must be registered and have the appropriate decals to be used on Utah waters (exceptions are canoes, kayaks, sailboards, and registered out-of-state boats that will be in Utah for 14 or fewer days). The process is similar to registering a car, with a few notable differences:
· Boats do not require emissions or safety inspections to be registered
· Boats do require a separate HIN (hull identification number) in order to be titled for the first time
· Boat uniform age-based fees are different from car fees
Utah Online Boating Safety Course and Exam $20.00
http://www.boat-ed.com/ut/
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