How to Get a Split Rock 4 Permit
One of four backcountry tent pads five miles from the nearest parking on an island in the Great Salt Lake, with a bison herd for neighbours and no water at all.
Check Split Rock 4 permit availability$20.00 per night, and the fee covers one vehicle. Park entrance is charged separately.
Permit Cost
1-2 nights
Duration
5 miles
Distance
moderate
Difficulty
About Split Rock 4
Split Rock Bay Site 4 is one of four Split Rock Bay Backcountry Campsites at Antelope Island State Park. The park's description is short and worth taking literally: reservations are required in advance, no walk-up reservations are available, the campsites are primitive and hike-in only, and they are five miles from the nearest parking. Each site is designated with a tent pad and a post, and tents must be within the tent pad. There is no water, shade or electricity. A mulching pit toilet serves the area. Fires are not permitted. Dogs on leash are welcome, and you must clean up after your dog. The rate is $20.00 per night and the fee covers one vehicle. Maximum site capacity is four people. The park also asks campers to watch its Backcountry Camping Orientation Video before the trip. Everything else on Antelope Island books at least two days out - the park says reservations must be made at least two days in advance, and day-prior and day-of camping is first come, first served. Because Split Rock Bay has no walk-up option at all, a cancellation inside that window is the only late way in. Reservations go through Utah State Parks, either online or on 1-800-322-3770.
Antelope Island runs six kinds of camping and exactly one of them is backcountry. Bridger Bay, White Rock Bay, Ladyfinger, the Lakeside group site and the cottages are all drive-up. Split Rock Bay is four hike-in sites, five miles from parking, on the island's west side. The park will not issue them as walk-ups either - it states that reservations are required in advance and no walk-up reservations are available, which makes these four pads the only Antelope Island camping you cannot simply turn up for.
The Experience
The island is a strange place to be after dark. The Great Salt Lake goes completely flat and reflective, the Wasatch Front lights sit across the water, and free-roaming bison move around the island on their own business. There is no shade at Split Rock Bay and no water, so what you get is exposure in both senses: to the weather and to a landscape with almost nothing built on it.
Split Rock Bay is on the west side of Antelope Island, and the campsites are five miles from the nearest parking. They are primitive and hike-in only. Each of the four sites is designated with a tent pad and a post, and tents must be within the tent pad - this is not a pick-your-own-spot arrangement. Split Rock Bay Site 4 is one of those four. There is a mulching pit toilet. There is no water, no shade and no electricity, and fires are not permitted.
What to Expect
Four backcountry campsites at Split Rock Bay, five miles from the nearest parking
A designated tent pad and post at each site, with tents required to be on the pad
A maximum site capacity of four people
No water, no shade and no electricity
A mulching pit toilet, and no fires of any kind
Advance reservations only - the park does not offer walk-ups for these sites
Free-roaming bison on the island, and the Great Salt Lake on three sides
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Permit Requirements
Reservations are required in advance and no walk-up reservations are available
The park asks you to watch its Backcountry Camping Orientation Video before your trip
Individual sites are designated with a tent pad and post, and tents must be within the tent pad
Maximum site capacity is four people
Fires are not permitted
Dogs on leash are welcome and you must clean up after your dog
The $20.00 nightly fee covers one vehicle
Antelope Island reservations must be made at least two days in advance; day-prior and day-of camping elsewhere on the island is first come, first served
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •All your water. The park states there is no water at these sites, and the nearest supply is at Bridger Bay Beach, the dump station or the visitor center
- •A tent that fits on a designated pad
- •A stove - fires are not permitted at Split Rock Bay
- •Sun protection and something to make your own shade; the park says there is none
- •Insect protection. Great Salt Lake shoreline has a serious brine fly and midge season
- •A headlamp, since the walk in is five miles and easy to underestimate
Hazards & Safety
Free-roaming bison. This is a working island herd, not a fenced exhibit - give them a very wide berth
Five miles from the nearest parking with no water at the destination, which is a real self-sufficiency problem in summer
Full exposure. No shade, no shelter, and lake-effect wind across an open island
Great Salt Lake insects in season, which can be genuinely overwhelming on the shoreline
Summer heat on an unshaded desert island with a long walk out
Best Time to Visit
Spring and autumn. Summer on the island is hot, exposed and buggy on the shoreline, and there is no water at the campsites to make that easier. Winter is cold and clear with the fewest visitors on the island, and the lake reflections at that time of year are the best of the whole calendar. The park is open daily 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with facilities closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Pro Tips
Book early and book in advance - there is no walk-up option for these four sites at all.
Watch the park's Backcountry Camping Orientation Video before you go. The park asks for it directly.
Fill every container at Bridger Bay Beach, the dump station or the visitor center before you start the five-mile walk. There is no water at camp.
Measure your tent against a designated pad. Tents must be on the pad, so a big shelter can be a problem.
Go in autumn if you can. Insects ease off, the temperature drops, and the light over the lake is at its best.
Keep a long distance from the bison. They roam the island freely and they are not tame.
Watch all four Split Rock sites rather than one. They are functionally identical, so any of them gets you the night.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Split Rock 4 permit?
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Split Rock 4 permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Split Rock 4?
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Spring and autumn. Summer on the island is hot, exposed and buggy on the shoreline, and there is no water at the campsites to make that easier. Winter is cold and clear with the fewest visitors on the island, and the lake reflections at that time of year are the best of the whole calendar. The park is open daily 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with facilities closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
How difficult is Split Rock 4?
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Backpackers who want a genuinely strange overnight within an hour of Salt Lake City, and who will carry every drop of water five miles.
What gear do I need for Split Rock 4?
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Essential gear includes: All your water. The park states there is no water at these sites, and the nearest supply is at Bridger Bay Beach, the dump station or the visitor center, A tent that fits on a designated pad, A stove - fires are not permitted at Split Rock Bay, Sun protection and something to make your own shade; the park says there is none, Insect protection. Great Salt Lake shoreline has a serious brine fly and midge season. Additional specialized gear may be required based on conditions.
Don't Miss Your Split Rock 4 Permit
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