Antelope Island State Park provides horse-friendly camping options with equestrian-specific sites available at White Rock Bay Campground. The campground features two dedicated equestrian sites that cost $40 per night, designed to accommodate riders with their horses. These sites offer essential amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, though visitors should note that drinking water is not available at this location. The campground's wide-open setting offers minimal shade but provides exceptional views of the Great Salt Lake, particularly during sunset when colors reflect off the water's surface.
Located approximately 30 minutes from Fruit Heights, the park's equestrian facilities connect riders to an extensive trail system across Antelope Island. Horseback riders frequently encounter free-ranging wildlife, including bison and pronghorn antelope, while traversing the park's varied terrain. Bridger Bay Campground, another option within the park, offers additional amenities including showers and electric hookups for those seeking more services. Trail access from both campgrounds allows for day-long riding excursions across the island. Visitors planning equestrian camping should prepare for seasonal conditions, including periods of significant bug activity, particularly biting gnats during late spring and early summer. Fall and winter months provide more comfortable riding conditions with fewer insects while still offering the park's remarkable sunset views and wildlife viewing opportunities.
$20 - $200 / night
"One of our favorite state parks in Utah is only~45 minutes away from Salt Lake City! There are bison, antelope, deer, and many other animals that call this island home."
"By far one of my favorite stops through Utah ❤️ absolutely breathtaking views, along with scenic routes to see wildlife such as the bison."
$40 - $180 / night
"Hues of all different kinds of colors reflect off the perfect mirror surface of the Great Salt Lake and give you an endless sunset much like at the Bonneville Salt Flats. "
"A little buggy on the trails nearby, but no issues near the campsite. There were awnings for the picnic tables which was great, and it was a short walk to the Great Salt Lake!"
$30 - $40 / night
"Before we had kids, we would bike and hike along the different trails. There’s a short waterfall hike, but also a long hike that will take you up to Ben Lomond Peak & cut across to Willard Peak."
"Arrived around 2pm on a Friday and stayed at Cutler Flats. Didn't look at the other campgrounds so can't speak to them in particular. Drove up and down the loop and most were available at that time."
$28 - $358 / night
"Tucked in very back. Long ways to walk from car. Water spout next to car area. Will be sharing parking with 2 other sites. 2 lakes nearby. Fire pit with grill gate. Shaded area."
"Utah is such an amazing place to visit for the outdoors. My family and I come here once a year because we love hiking and being in the outdoors."
"This park is a great stopover on your way through Utah or weekend visit. The lake is clean and still very natural. The swans circling the water are something to see."
"This campground is right next to the I-15, and a set of train tracks that seem to see daily use."
"My family and I were driving through and needed a place to stay for the night. We camped the first night that lot camping was allowed (9/10) so it was quiet and peaceful."
"The location is beautiful, and full of deer. My partner and I are just starting out full time rv life and this was the first spot we stayed at."
$25 - $175 / night
"This campground was nestled in the middle of Lehi Utah and it was a great place for us to swing in for one night."
"We were able to get a spot next to the Jordan River under a beautiful tree. We brought our 16ft camper and didn’t need to back it in or anything."
"You can’t drive to the coordinates, you have to park at the uppermost parking lot for Silver Flat and hike up to a camping spot. Camping anywhere along that road will give you gorgeous views, though!"
"There were a lot of off road vehicles and people fishing. More crowded then we were expecting, but the views were amazing! Not a lot of shade, as in bring your own. Perfect place for dogs to play!"
LegendThis campground is well maintained and nestled into some nice pine trees in view of the backside of Mount Timpanogos, it is divided into 3 areas, one of which has horse corrals. While there are many campgrounds in Utah that rival it, this one is special because it's such a short drive after work.
GuideTimooneke is beautiful. High elevation(7400ft) campground up the popular Alpine Loop. Book EARLY- ita very popular. Near hiking trails and reservoirs(no motor sports) Equest sites can be used by people wIthout horses too.
LegendOne of our favorite state parks in Utah is only~45 minutes away from Salt Lake City! There are bison, antelope, deer, and many other animals that call this island home. On the west side of the island are extensive muds flats that give you one of the best sunset views in Utah. One of our favorite things to do on the island is hike Frary Peak which is the high point of the island. The top portion of the hike is a rocky scramble, but there are plenty of side trails to beautiful viewpoints during the hike.
As for the best season to visit the island, we are partial to winter due to the absolute lack of bugs and stunning contrast of the bison on fresh snow. Our 2nd favorite season is early spring before the bugs come out in full swarm! I wouldn't recommend visiting in late spring or summer as there are swarms of all kinds of biting bugs and the temps can be unbearable.
ScoutQuite area, lot of room. I stayed on site 58 (tent only). Enough room for 2 medium tents. Next/above stream. Tucked in very back. Long ways to walk from car. Water spout next to car area. Will be sharing parking with 2 other sites. 2 lakes nearby. Fire pit with grill gate. Shaded area. Full sun from 10am-4pm.
LegendHands down the best campground for sunset views on all of Antelope Island! The sunsets in the fall, and winter are the best as the bugs have gone down considerably and therefore you won't get eaten alive! Hues of all different kinds of colors reflect off the perfect mirror surface of the Great Salt Lake and give you an endless sunset much like at the Bonneville Salt Flats. I would have given this campground 5 stars if there was any shade whatsoever but there isn't any!
This campground is pretty primitive in that there is no drinking water available and only vault toilets available with picnic tables and a fire ring at each campsite. There are only 20 sites with 2 equestrian sites that go for 40$ a night. The closest drinking water is at Bridger Bay Campground and there is also a grill on the island that is open during the summer.
GuideThis park is a great stopover on your way through Utah or weekend visit. The lake is clean and still very natural. The swans circling the water are something to see. Lots of shade rustic but serviceable showed. A bit pricy at 30 a night but right off the highway and no real traffic noise.
LegendThis is one of the first campgrounds one comes across while heading north along Mirror Lake Hwy. Like some of the other campgrounds along the Hwy it is fairly close to the road and therefore traffic noise is an issue. There is a creek that runs between the campground and the road but it was such a slow flow it doesn't really do much to drown out the noise. The only positive to this slow moving stream is that beavers have taken up residence here and have created a pretty little beaver dam and pond! To get away from the noise of the Hwy one can take the nearby Shingle Creek TH to East Shingle Creek Lake or Big Elk Lake for some fishing. As with other campgrounds, water is not available due to the dry winter so bring all that you will need. To stay here you'll need to pay $18 a night for the campground and for the Mirror Lake Rec. Pass for $6 for 3 days and $12 for the week
LegendGoing into Antelope Island we had the voices of the critics in our minds: sand is too hot, it is too smelly, the brine flies etc; we were pleasantly surprised. I do believe that the circumstances can change, like the lake level, on a daily basis.
Badger bay is a no amenity, basic campground with a commanding view of the salt lake. There are vault toilets and shaded picnic tables. All of the sites accommodate small RVs, some of the sites may not provide a level tent pad. 2 was terrific! The sites are pretty roomy too.
We loved going for a dip in the lake. We went early on a late June morning before the sand became too hot, and walked the distance barefoot. We only noticed the wet dog smell as we entered the park—but that could change. The brine flies were actually pretty cool. They only hang out on the shoreline for a small distance. They don’t bite and they left our path in droves as though they were enacting the parting of the sea. Honestly, I find houseflies buzzing around my head to be more irritating. The water was smooth and partial buoyancy is cool. Swimmers would be advised to keep cuts out of the water. The brine shrimp don’t bother anyone and float around like typical lake debris.
There are showers at the swimming beach close to the campground. There are basic no-soap cold water rinse showers outside and private pay showers too; bring quarters.
GuideI stayed here for three nights (July 7-9 2021) and it was great!! I’m on a road trip to Chicago from California and this was the first place I stayed and I absolutely loved it.
The campsites are hidden but close together which I loved being a solo female traveler it made me feel so safe knowing people were on both sides of me.
The roads are really rough don’t think you’ll be able to do it without 4x4 or awd my Honda CR-V did great!!
One thing though, the camp sites fill up quick my first night was a Wednesday and I got there around 6pm and I found a spot just big enough to park my car for the three nights. It was just off the road and basically no privacy but I was just looking for a safe place to sleep and that’s what I got!
I spent one day exploring salt lake, which is about an hours drive from the campsite. And I spent another day only up near the site, there’s a trail head that leads off to about 3 or 4 different trails I did trail 173 it was 2.5miles and it took you up so you have an amazing elevated view of the mountains and lake and about 2 miles in it leads you to the opposite side of the lake that you drive up next to.
This is blm land so you can stay for free up to 14 days which was a big factor into why I chose to camp here!
Overall I loved it here I totally fell I love with Utah and I can’t wait to stop by on my way home and camp here again!
Oh also if you ride dirt bikes/atvs most of the trails are motor friendly and the lake is a great spot for kayaking!!
Camping options near Fruit Heights, Utah offer varied landscapes from island parks to mountain forests. Located where the Wasatch Front meets the Great Salt Lake Basin, the area features elevations ranging from 4,300 feet at the lake to over 9,000 feet in nearby mountains. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing while summer brings 90°F+ days, making fall and spring popular camping seasons.
Wildlife viewing at Antelope Island: The island provides opportunities to observe free-ranging bison and pronghorn. "This place had the most amazing sunset. It was cool to drive around and see the wildlife," notes Adam G. about Bridger Bay Campground. Visitors often encounter various animals during morning and evening hours.
Mountain biking on backcountry trails: The area offers excellent trail systems for riders of all skill levels. "Had a great stay at North Fork. Camped in the canyon near the trailheaad for the waterfall hike... Excellent mountain bike trails also. Can't wait to go back and ride more of them," shares Rich J. about North Fork County Park.
Waterfall hiking: Several campgrounds provide access to waterfall trails. "There's a hidden waterfall you can hike too, and a river runs through the park. It's a must!" mentions Debbie P. about North Fork County Park. Most waterfall trails are moderate difficulty, ranging from 1-3 miles round trip.
Solitude in dispersed areas: Free camping options exist away from developed facilities. "We camped the first night that lot camping was allowed (9/10) so it was quiet and peaceful. It is down a dirt road in a valley surrounded by cattle and deer and elk. Beautiful sunset and moonrise," reports Janelle K. about Middle Fork Conservation Area.
Equestrian facilities: In addition to White Rock Bay's dedicated horse sites, other horse campgrounds near Fruit Heights, Utah provide basic amenities. "Gate doesn't open until Memorial Day weekend. Keep that in mind when planning a visit here. TONS of places to camp further up if you are in a tent," advises Nicholas A. about Dock Flat Campground, which accommodates riders seeking less formal settings.
Seasonal water access: Warm weather camping includes lake activities. "Nice level asphalt spots. Beautiful view of the lake. Saw bison and antelope driving in the park," comments James B. about Bridger Bay Campground, noting the combination of wildlife and water recreation possibilities.
Bug activity varies by season: Biting insects can be problematic during certain months. "Lovely scenery, water is currently off so no showers but has a clean pit toilet. Only downside was the no see um flys you can't for a walk without getting swarmed by them and bitten. Best to visit in the autumn when the flys have gone," warns Georgia L. about White Rock Bay.
Noise levels near highways: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise. "I-15 noise was horrible, no sleep even with a fan going and earplugs... It needs some serious trash clean up. The views of the mountains were nice, but the sound of the freeway kind of ruined it," reports Laura K. about Cottonwood Campground.
Variable road conditions: Access to some sites requires appropriate vehicles. "You're definitely going to need 4WD and high clearance because the roads leading up to the campsite are filled with ruts and holes. The views make the drive there worth it, though," advises Ethan H. about Silver Lake Backcountry.
Water recreation options: Several sites offer family-friendly water activities. "We've taken our canoe on many occasions and are close enough to portage from the campsite to the lake, and back, several times a day with no problem!" explains Derek E. about Cottonwood Campground at Willard Bay State Park.
Playgrounds and open spaces: Some campgrounds include developed recreation areas. "Has a playground, sand volleyball, boat launch as your near the Jordan River. Definitely will return..." notes Myrna G. about Willow Park Campground.
Wildlife education opportunities: Use animal sightings as learning experiences. "Beautiful island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. The bison are free grazing all around and a few came right up to our campground in the early morning! There is a ranch on the far side of the island (Fielding Garr Ranch) which is adorable and definitely worth a visit," shares Steven M.
Seasonal site availability: Some locations have limited operating seasons. "The campground is small, and mostly RV residents. We stayed in one of a small handful of tent sites. Bathrooms are clean and there are two showers. We never did meet any staff, nor residents," reports Patience C. about White Rock Bay.
Hookup locations: Note utility placement when setting up. "Hookups were in good shape, note the sewer is toward the back, not the middle so bring lots of sewer hose," advises Laura K. about Cottonwood Campground.
Gate closure times: Be aware of access restrictions. "Make sure you get camped and in because they lock the gate coming into campground at 11PM and you have to hike in," warns Brad B. about Granite Flat Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Fruit Heights, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Fruit Heights, UT is Bridger Bay Campground — Antelope Island State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 53 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Fruit Heights, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Fruit Heights, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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