On the River: Provo Bay: Kayak Adventure

From a birds eye view Provo Bay looks like the eastern annex of Utah Lake. On some maps it can look almost separate from the lake with land bridges joining together at the western entrance of the bay. There are even plans drawn up to build a land bridge, with and opening to the lake, that would join the southern peninsula with the Provo airport area.

Utah Lake sits in the middle of a valley. Water from the mountains eventually trickles to the lake, often melting from the greatest snow on earth and spilling into ancient rivers like the Provo river, once called Timpanogotzis, named by the inhabitants before european settlers. From a kayakers perspective the two main water sources that feed Utah Lake are the book ends of Provo Bay; The Spanish Fork River on the south and the Provo River on the north. There are two more kayak entrances within the bay itself; Hobble Creek and Mill Race. I have used all four of these waterways to enter the bay and find each one of them to be a unique kayaking experience. You can plan a paddle from waterway to waterway or enter and leave the same way you came. The adventure is up to you and whatever logistics you plan.

The Living Bay

Provo bay has a few other names: "Mud Lake", because of the ever changing shore line based on water levels. Another name is the proposed "Restoration Bay", because of the once endangered June Suckers that are released there and are now making a comeback.

The changing shoreline provides incredible habitat for many of the bird species in Utah Lake. In fact 90% of the bird species in the 26 mile long Utah lake exist in Provo and Goshen Bay. At last count there are 152 bird species in the Utah Lake area. Kayaking through waterways such as Mill Race can sound like a choir of bird chatter as you work your way to the bay.

In addition to the June Sucker there are many other fish species in Provo Bay. In fact every species that exists in Utah Lake is in Provo Bay and I have caught almost every one of them including the Mosquito Fish and the harder to find Green Sunfish.

Many mammals live or exist in or around Provo Bay. Don't be surprised to see a mule deer on your journey. In addition there are plentiful muskrats taking a swim nearby. On occasion a beaver lodge will show up and you can even catch Mr. Busy in construction. Another posible ghost from the past is an elusive otter sighting. I find it a privilege to have had three otter sightings on Utah Lake and one of those was in Provo Bay.

Water Fowl list (partial):