Great Salt Lake State Marina offers spectacular views of sunsets over the Great Salt Lake and provides marina access for sailors, sculling enthusiasts, other boaters, and bird watchers. A remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville, the Great Salt Lake covers more than 2,000 square miles and is several times saltier than the ocean. The lake attracts more than 257 species of birds, depending on the season.

Utah State Parks and Recreation opened this area as a park in 1975. In 1980, the marina was enlarged with new boat docks.

Between 1983 and 1987, the Salt Lake area experienced a lot of precipitation which caused the Great Salt Lake to rise far past its average level of 4,200 feet. The surface elevation rose to 4211.5 feet above sea level. This rise destroyed roads, parking areas, buildings and breakwalls. The marina was rebuilt in 1987 and reopened in September of that year.