White Rock Bay Loop

White Rock Bay Loop traverses the western shore of Antelope Island, combining a lakeside walk along the saltwater margin of the Great Salt Lake with an inland climb through terrain that supports the island's pronghorn antelope population. The 4-mile circuit gains 400 feet and offers perspectives on the lake's unique ecology that are unavailable from any other trail on the island — the western shore is more remote and wild than the developed eastern side, giving the hike a genuine sense of discovery.

The lake shore section reveals the bizarre characteristics of the hypersaline Great Salt Lake up close — the salty, mineral-rich water supports blooms of brine shrimp and algae that attract enormous flocks of shorebirds, including tens of thousands of American avocets and phalaropes during migration. The pungent smell of brine and decaying organic matter is a sensory component of the experience impossible to convey in photographs. Pronghorn antelope, the fastest land animal in North America, can often be spotted in the open grasslands of the inland section. The white quartzite rocks that give the bay its name are among the oldest exposed rocks in Utah, some dating to 2.7 billion years ago. Dogs are not permitted. The $15 per vehicle fee applies to all island visitors.