Swim Calm Sunlit Water and Picnic at Northport Park
Why Rent On Stansbury Lake
Stansbury Lake is a 110-acre man-made lake in Stansbury Park, Tooele County, Utah, about 30 minutes west of Salt Lake City via Interstate 80. Built in the early 1970s as part of the Terracor planned community development alongside an 18-hole golf course, the lake was originally intended as a reservoir for irrigation and a centerpiece for lakefront residential development. Today it is privately managed by the Stansbury Service Agency and is the recreational heart of a community approaching 10,000 residents. The Oquirrh Mountains rise directly to the east, giving the lake a backdrop that feels more dramatic than a 110-acre suburban water body has any right to deliver.
On the water
The lake is private and open to Stansbury Park residents and their guests — no fishing licence is required on the lake itself, but all fishing is catch and release only. Largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and carp all inhabit the water. No gasoline-powered watercraft are permitted; kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and small electric-motor fishing boats are the appropriate craft. Swimming is permitted during summer months. Fishing near the clubhouse area is not allowed. The lake can experience algae and water quality challenges during hot, calm periods — the Stansbury Service Agency monitors water quality under the Utah Water Watch programme and posts current conditions on their website; check before visiting in midsummer. The adjacent Mill Pond, a natural spring-fed pond managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, sits to the northeast and provides a nearby public fishing option with its own character and fish populations for visitors who want a licence-required alternative.
What to do near Stansbury Lake
The Stansbury Park Golf Course, one of the few Greater Salt Lake City courses open during mild winters, runs through the community with 14 water features. The Benson Grist Mill, a restored pioneer gristmill museum in Tooele County, is a short drive away and gives families a tangible connection to Utah territorial history. Tooele, six miles south, provides full city services including restaurants, grocery, and medical. Salt Lake City’s museums, Temple Square, the Natural History Museum of Utah, and a first-rate restaurant scene are 30 minutes east via I-80. Willard Bay State Park, about 60 miles north, provides public lake access with boat ramps for visitors who need motorized boating.
When to go and where to stay
Late May through September is the main outdoor season, with water warm enough for swimming by mid-June. Bass fishing is best in spring and fall when temperatures are in the productive catch-and-release range. Summer evenings are popular for paddling as desert heat eases and the Oquirrh Mountain light turns. Winter occasionally freezes the lake, though skating and winter use are episodic rather than reliably planned. Vacation homes and properties within Stansbury Park are the only practical way to access the lake as a visitor — a rental provides full guest privileges for the duration of your stay. Browse Lake.com for properties within the Stansbury Park community, including homes with lake views and trail access in Tooele County, Utah.
- Surface area (mi)
- 0.28
- Max depth (ft)
- 5.91
- Elevation (ft)
- 2025.26
- Shoreline length (mi)
- 6.34
Popular activities
- Boating
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Cross-country Skiing
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to dive into what Stansbury Lake has to offer? Let’s tackle some of the burning questions you might have as you plan your visit!
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Yes, swimming is allowed in Stansbury Lake, but only in designated areas where swimming is exclusively permitted, such as near the clubhouse. Swimming is not allowed near areas where fishing is taking place.
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Stansbury Lake is a popular destination because it offers various activities and diverse wildlife. The lake allows catch-and-release fishing, boating, and is home to many fish species, birds, and other wildlife like muskrats, raccoons, and deer. It also has a boat ramp and dock, making it convenient for water activities.
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At Stansbury Lake in Utah, largemouth bass must be released, there is a 10-fish combined limit for bluegill, green sunfish, and black crappie, and a limit of two channel catfish. The lake is catch and release for largemouth bass, and no fishing license is required since it is a private lake.
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There is no public beach at Stansbury Lake. The lake is a man-made body of water within Stansbury Park, and it does not have a designated public beach area. The water sources include a deep well, artesian wells, and small springs, but it lacks public beach facilities.
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Towns near Stansbury Park include Tooele, Magna, and Grantsville. Stansbury Park is located in Tooele County, Utah, with Tooele being the largest nearby city and Grantsville also in the same county. These towns are situated in the Tooele Valley between the Stansbury and Oquirrh Mountains.
