Antelope Island State Park
Personal Notes
This page contains our personal notes on hiking in Antelope Island State Park in Utah.
General Overview
We have visited Antelope Island State Park twice within the past three years, the most recent trip on Sunday, June 15, 2003. Each time we hiked a different trail, with some unavoidable overlap on the stretch along White Rock Bay.
On our most recent trip we discovered, because of the drought, that the level of the Great Salt Lake is considerably lower than when we were there a couple of years back. The "island" is almost not an island anymore. But the last half mile of the causeway is surrounded by water, so I guess the designation still stands. We also noticed that they have rearranged the trailhead area and it is now better defined. There is a vault toilet at the trailhead.
Camping
There are camping facilities on the island, with restrooms and fresh water. But the sites are exposed and it is not an attractive campground. If you are into "the beach" and don't mind sand in everything and sun baking you all day long then this might be for you. Of course the water is very salty.
White Rock Bay Loop
This trail, although relatively easy, does have some long steady climbs. We hiked it in a clockwise direction, with the shortest climb at the beginning, while we were fresh, leaving mostly flat or descending sections for the end. Hikers are exposed over the entire course of the 9.2 miles. The trail is mostly solid, with some sandy areas. One portion of the trail does pass through an interesting rocky area, where we spotted a coyote. At about the halfway point, near Beacon Knob, there is a short side trail up to Dooley Knob, where there are several buildings, including an old structure that must have housed old communications equipment of some sort. A modern building at the site has replaced it. There are benches for resting and viewing along the east coast of the island.
On this hike we spotted buffalo, antelope, coyote, and a variety of birds.
June 15, 2003
White Rock Bay Loop / Split Rock Bay Loop
The GPS gave us a location of N 41 01 544; W 112 14 475 (with 18 feet of accuracy) for the Back Country Trailhead, at an elevation of 4,280 feet above sea level. Our hike was exactly 10 miles round trip, from the trailhead, along the White Rock Bay portion of the White Rocky Bay Loop, to just past the stone corral out along the southeast arm of the Split Rock Bay Loop. Our walking time was 3 hours and 20 minutes at an average speed of 3.0 miles per hour. Our overall average speed, from the time we left until we returned to the trailhead, was 2.2 miles per hour.
The junction of the White Rock Bay Loop Trail and the Split Rock Bay Loop Trail is 2.81 miles by our GPS unit, or 3.4 miles, according to the trail marker at the junction. There is a bench at the junction, though it is completely exposed to the sun. There is very little shade along the entire length of the trail, except for rock outcrops above Split Rock Bay, near the junction with the trail to Elephant Head. There is one large, lone tree just past the bench that provides a nice spot of shade, but there is no place to sit except upon the ground. On a very hot day that would not be a concern. The temperature on this day was up into the lower 90s.
The hike starts out relatively flat with a solid hard-packed sandy surface. The trail is softer in some areas where the horses and mountain bikes have made ruts and loosened the sand. About a mile out you will encounter a slight rise through a tumbled rock outcrop. Once you cross over you will descend into a long exposed stretch of trail through sage and grass. The grasses were already golden yellows and light browns. It was very dry out there. After a large patch of sage you will begin a long, slow climb up to the junction of the two loops.
We encountered two horseback riders coming toward us along this stretch. They were the only people we encountered during the entire hike. On our way back in we spotted two other riders off in the distance, along the southeastern portion of the White Rock Bay Loop, but they went on toward Elephant Head.
From the junction, the Split Rock Trail begins a steeper climb up to the next bench, which is a rocky area that is much more interesting than the first three mile stretch through the grasslands. Here we spotted several Chukars and a variety of lizards, and spotted either a pair of vultures or golden eagle. We couldn't determine their type for sure, but I suspect they were buzzards.
The views of the lake are also much better from the bench, where the trail contours along the rim and meanders along with only slight elevation change. At about the 4.75 mile mark we came upon the old stone corral that is well marked by an official information sign. We continued on about .25 miles farther, to a point where we could see the trail making it's broad switchbacks down to the lake level. From there we could see the trail curve back to the north and eventually back up the wide, exposed canyon to finish the loop.
We turned back at that point and retraced our previous steps.
Although hot, the mostly steady breeze helped to keep us comfortable. The only real negative about the entire hike was the somewhat boring stretch from the junction to the trailhead and the persistence of the gnats, flies, and other biting insects. We both ended the day with itchy bug bites all over our legs.
A note on dehydration. Although we had been drinking water prior to the hike, and each consumed about two quarts while on the hike, and again drank plenty immediately after the hike, by late Monday morning, following this hike, I was beginning to pass a kidney stone. It took me until 6:30 on that Thursday to finally get it out of my system. I'm sure the stone was developing prior to the hike, but I was probably not hydrated sufficiently and because of the heat and breeze and dry air I probably sweat more than I knew while hiking. My doctor has suggested that we make sure that we're fully hydrated prior to a hike, and drink three quarts each during the hike, and have plenty to drink immediately after a hike. Of course we should stay hydrated at all times, even during our normal daily activities.
We set Anne's watch to beep every 30 minutes, at which time we stop and drink. The doctor suggests either getting a camel back type water bag, or to set Anne's watch to 15 minute intervals. We may try the latter.
