Split Rock Loop

The Split Rock Loop in Antelope Island State Park offers some truly Utahn scenery to any intermediately-skilled and moderately fit hiker interested in a backcountry experience close to the Wasatch Front. Although the route is not particularly long or steep, it is quite remote, exposed, and very technical for short stretches. Making two ascents from the beach to the ancient Lake Bonneville shoreline bench, the Split Rock Loop takes in the wildly enormous and sublime landscape that characterizes the Great Salt Lake while giving glimpses of the unique wildlife of Antelope Island.

Anyone interested in hiking the Split Rock Loop, or visiting Antelope Island in general, should be aware of the season. Locals hike the Split Rock Loop in the early spring or late fall because it is very exposed to the sun (there is literally a single tree along the route) and, like the rest of the island, prone to massive hatchings of several distinct species of tiny biting insects, including mosquitoes and the dreaded no-see-ums. (While annoying to the point of maddening, these insects help feed the migratory bird populations for which the Great Salt Lake is famous.) But in the spring, the island tends to melt off faster than the Wasatch Front foothills, making it an excellent early season hike for anyone who wants to hike on solid ground.

This route begins from the White Rock Bay campgrounds. While Antelope Island has a visitor’s center and the campgrounds have latrines, the word that will pop into your mind as you hike the Split Rock Loop is “backcountry.” From the loop, you cannot see the Wasatch Front and the trail along the bench is rough and rocky, with some steep pitches and loose switchbacks descending to the shore. It’s a lot of fun and very quiet. But you’ll need to be on-form because the loop is long and you’ll need to carry all your water and food, a layer, and a little extra, just in case.

Children and dogs are both permitted but this author thinks that the loop might be too much for the former. Dogs are permitted on the trail while on a leash, which is most for safety reasons: there will be bison on the trail. The bison are majestic, awe-inspiring, short-sighted, temperamental, and known to gore and throw hikers and runners who get too close. Anything or anyone nearby can set them off if they become startled. From a distance (at least 300 feet, according to the National Parks Service), they really are pretty amazing. And distance is key for this hike: on a clear day, you can see to Nevada and Idaho. Everything is big and amazing, as long as you practice some caution.