Split Rock Bay Site 3 Permit
Antelope Island State Park · Utah
Remote backcountry campsite on the island's west side.
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Split Rock 3 reservation dates
- Season
- Year-round
- route distance, out and back
- 5mi
- max group size
- 4people
How to get a Split Rock 3 permit
As of September 2026, Split Rock 3 in Antelope Island State Park, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation. Split Rock 3 is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Split Rock 3 permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Split Rock 3 runs year-round. The Split Rock 3 route covers 5 miles, rated moderate.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Great Salt Lake, UT
Step 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.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Split Rock 3 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.
- Set alerts on all four Split Rock sites rather than one. They are functionally identical, so any of them gets you the night.
More on Split Rock 3: Live availability activityWhen Split Rock 3 permits open up
How much a Split Rock 3 permit costs
Split Rock 3 permit fee: $20.00 per night, and the fee covers one vehicle. Park entrance is charged separately.
The Split Rock 3 hike
- Distance
- 5 miles
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-2 nights
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Split Rock 3 landmarks
- 1Split Rock Bay
The bay on the island's west side holding the four backcountry campsites, five miles from the nearest parking
- 2Frary Peak
The island's high point and its best-known hike
- 3Bridger Bay Campground
The 64-site drive-up campground with flush restrooms and showers, and the nearest water on the island
- 4Fielding Garr Ranch
The historic ranch on the island's east side, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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.
About this permit
Split Rock Bay Site 3 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 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 3 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.
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 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.
Split Rock 3 hike highlights
- 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
How hard the Split Rock 3 hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Backpackers who want a 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.
When to hike Split Rock 3
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.
- Peak
- April through June and September through October
- Shoulder
- November through March
Spring
Green hills on the island, comfortable temperatures, and bison calving season.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Best walking temperatures of the year
- Advantage: Green island, which is unusual here
- Advantage: Bird migration on the lake
- Challenge: Insects build through spring on the shoreline
- Challenge: Wind across an open island
- Challenge: Weekend demand on four sites
Summer
Hot and completely unshaded, with the shoreline insect season at its peak.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Long daylight for the five-mile approach
- Advantage: Warm nights
- Advantage: Latest sunsets over the lake
- Challenge: Heat with no shade and no water at camp
- Challenge: Brine flies and midges on the shoreline
- Challenge: A long walk out if anything goes wrong
Fall
The best season here: cooling temperatures, insects easing, and clear air over the lake.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Comfortable hiking and camping temperatures
- Advantage: Insects drop off
- Advantage: Clearest light of the year
- Challenge: Shorter days against a five-mile approach
- Challenge: Cold once the sun drops
- Challenge: Popular weekends
Winter
Cold, quiet and exceptionally clear. Facilities closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Best availability of the year
- Advantage: No insects at all
- Advantage: Extraordinary lake reflections and low-angle light
- Challenge: Cold nights with no fire permitted
- Challenge: Short daylight for a five-mile carry
- Challenge: Wind chill on a fully exposed island
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
74°
53°
Wed
73°
58°
Thu
74°
55°
Fri
77°
61°
Sat
76°
63°
Sun
78°
62°
Mon
75°
60°
Split Rock 3 photography 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
Split Rock 3 rules, gear and safety
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
Rules & regulations
- 01Reservations are required in advance and no walk-up reservations are available
- 02The park asks you to watch its Backcountry Camping Orientation Video before your trip
- 03Individual sites are designated with a tent pad and post, and tents must be within the tent pad
- 04Maximum site capacity is four people
- 05Fires are not permitted
- 06Dogs on leash are welcome and you must clean up after your dog
- 07The $20.00 nightly fee covers one vehicle
- 08Antelope 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
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 overwhelming on the shoreline
- Summer heat on an unshaded desert island with a long walk out
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Split Rock 3.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Split Rock 3 · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Split Rock 3 FAQ
How do I reserve the Split Rock Bay Site 3 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.
Split Rock 3 trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Split Rock 3 permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Other Split Rock Bay backcountry sites
The other three tent pads in the same bay, identical in facilities and capacity.
Tradeoffs
Same experience, different pad, which is exactly why an alert on all four rather than one is the sensible move.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Fossil Flats Improved Primitive Campground
Primitive camping at Utahraptor State Park near Moab, with 27 sites and pit toilets in every loop.
Tradeoffs
Drive-up rather than a five-mile carry, and far more sites, but red rock desert rather than a lake island.
- Easier AlternativeNo permit needed
Behind the Butte East Primitive
A 32-site first-come primitive campground at Goblin Valley State Park.
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 near Split Rock 3
- Antelope Island State Park campgroundUtah
- Simpson Springs CampgroundSalt Lake Field Office
- Willard Bay State Park campgroundUtah
- All Utah campgrounds
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