Reservation7/10
Split Rock Bay Site 2 cancellations
Remote backcountry campsite on the island's west side....
Split Rock Bay Site 1 Permit
Antelope Island State Park · Utah
One date at a time
Remote backcountry campsite on the island's west side.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Split Rock 1 were gone within 10 minutes.
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Split Rock 1 Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
SeasonYear-round - Year-round
Cost$20.00 per night, and the fee covers one vehicle. Park entrance is charged separately.
Max Group Size4 people
Split Rock 1 Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Split Rock 1 in Antelope Island State Park, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Split Rock 1 is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Split Rock 1 runs year-round.
- The Split Rock 1 route covers 5 miles, rated moderate.
- Cancelled Split Rock 1 permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonYear-round - Year-round
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level7/10
LocationGreat Salt Lake, UT
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.
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
5 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-2 nights
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
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Backcountry Tips
- Tomorrow: Wind gusts to 41mph. Secure tent, avoid exposed ridges.
- Day 3: Wind gusts to 41mph. Secure tent, avoid exposed ridges.
- Windy conditions: Bring wind-resistant shelter if camping.
Today
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83°
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Mon
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Tue
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Wed
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Thu
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79°
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View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Utah State Parks account
Sign up at Utah State Parks if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: April through June and September through OctoberShoulder: November through March
Conditions
Green hills on the island, comfortable temperatures, and bison calving season.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Best walking temperatures of the year
- +Green island, which is unusual here
- +Bird migration on the lake
Challenges
- !Insects build through spring on the shoreline
- !Wind across an open island
- !Weekend demand on four sites
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Backpackers who want a genuinely strange overnight within an hour of Salt Lake City, and who will carry every drop of water five miles.
Recommended Experience
Enough to carry two days of water on a five-mile approach and camp with no facilities.
Not Recommended For
Groups over four, anyone hoping to walk up on the day, and anyone who needs shade or water at camp.
About This Permit
Split Rock Bay Site 1 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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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 1 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.
The Feeling
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Split Rock 1
🚐
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Key Landmarks
Split Rock Bay
The bay on the island's west side holding the four backcountry campsites, five miles from the nearest parking
Frary Peak
The island's high point and its best-known hike
Bridger Bay Campground
The 64-site drive-up campground with flush restrooms and showers, and the nearest water on the island
Fielding Garr Ranch
The historic ranch on the island's east side, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Split Rock 1 FAQ
How do I reserve the Split Rock Bay Site 1 backcountry campsite?
In advance, through Utah State Parks - online or by calling 1-800-322-3770. The park is explicit that reservations are required in advance and no walk-up reservations are available for the Split Rock Bay backcountry sites. Utah State Parks does not book through Recreation.gov.
How far is the walk to the Split Rock Bay campsites?
The park says the campsites are five miles from the nearest parking, and that they are primitive and hike-in only.
How many people can stay at a Split Rock Bay campsite?
Four. The park lists maximum site capacity as four people, and the $20.00 nightly fee covers one vehicle.
Is there water at the Split Rock Bay campsites?
No. The park states there is no water, shade or electricity at these sites. Water on the island is available at Bridger Bay Beach, the dump station and the visitor center, so fill up before you start walking.
Can I have a campfire at a Split Rock Bay campsite?
No. Fires are not permitted at the Split Rock Bay backcountry campsites. Bring a stove.
Are dogs allowed at the Split Rock Bay campsites?
Yes. Dogs on leash are welcome and you must clean up after your dog.
Do I have to camp on the tent pad at Split Rock Bay?
Yes. Individual sites are designated with a tent pad and a post, and the park requires tents to be within the tent pad.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset over the Great Salt Lake from the island's west side, which is exactly the direction Split Rock Bay faces.
Best Light
After dark. The island sits far enough from the Wasatch Front that the sky opens up while the city lights sit low across the water.
Beat the Crowds
Four sites, five miles from parking, on the far side of the island. This is the quietest place on Antelope Island by a wide margin, and the day-use crowd never reaches it.
Classic Shots
- 📍Bison silhouetted on open grassland with the lake behind
- 📍A dead-flat Great Salt Lake mirroring the sky at dawn
- 📍Wasatch Front lights across the water at blue hour
- 📍The island's bare, rounded ridgelines in low side light
Can't Get a Split Rock 1 Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Other Split Rock Bay backcountry sites
Same AreaThe other three tent pads in the same bay, identical in facilities and capacity.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Same experience, different pad - which is exactly why watching all four rather than one is the sensible move.
Fossil Flats Improved Primitive Campground
Similar ExperiencePrimitive camping at Utahraptor State Park near Moab, with 27 sites and pit toilets in every loop.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Drive-up rather than a five-mile carry, and far more sites - but red rock desert rather than a lake island.
Behind the Butte East Primitive
Easier AlternativeA 32-site first-come primitive campground at Goblin Valley State Park.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
No reservation to win at all, but you are driving to it and sharing a campground rather than hiking to a pad.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Split Rock 1 trip
Very HardIn Demand26 sitesCanyonlands National Park Needles District Campground
Canyonlands National Park
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Very HardIn Demand3 sitesCanyonlands National Park Needles District Group Campsites
Canyonlands National Park
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Very HardIn Demand57 sitesDevils Garden Campground
Arches National Park
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