Antelope Island State Park includes two campgrounds that accommodate horses, though none have dedicated horse corrals. White Rock Bay Campground offers equestrian sites for $40 per night with primitive camping facilities including vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings but no drinking water. The bugs can be extremely bothersome during certain seasons, with many visitors reporting being swarmed by biting gnats, particularly in spring and summer. Bridger Bay Campground provides similar accommodations with the addition of electric hookups for RVs and access to the nearby beach area. Both campgrounds feature widely spaced sites that allow for horse trailer parking, though specific equestrian amenities are limited.
The trail system throughout Antelope Island offers extensive riding opportunities with views of the Great Salt Lake and opportunities to see the island's wildlife, including free-roaming bison that occasionally approach campgrounds in early mornings. Riders should plan to bring all necessary water for horses as drinking water is limited on the island. Fall and winter provide the most comfortable riding conditions when the notorious biting insects have subsided. The island's unique landscape offers diverse terrain for trail riding, though the primitive nature of the facilities means equestrians need to be self-sufficient with feed, water, and waste management. Horse camping reservations are recommended, especially during peak seasons when the limited equestrian sites may fill quickly.
$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 only bad part about this camp site is all the highway noise. It is close to the Provo river and there is lots of shade so that is nice. Great place to have a camp fire and cook some S'mores. "
"Close in to town, very pretty with Provo river next to it. Bike path and highway noise can be distracting."
"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!"
$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."
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.
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
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.
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.
LegendThis is a great place to pitch a tent or come up and stay for the day. The only bad part about this camp site is all the highway noise. It is close to the Provo river and there is lots of shade so that is nice. Great place to have a camp fire and cook some S'mores. The bike path is close so bring your long board or bike and go for a ride. This is withing walking distance from Bridal Vail Falls so that is a great day hike and see the falls. Also great fly fishing in the Provo river so do yourself a favor and bring your fishing gear.
Antelope Island State Park offers equestrian camping options near Farmington, Utah, with varying levels of amenities. The park sits at an elevation of 4,300 feet and experiences extreme seasonal temperature variations. The island's unique ecosystem includes salt flats, grasslands, and rocky outcrops that provide diverse terrain for camping and riding.
Horseback riding trails: Beyond the designated campgrounds, riders can explore Frary Peak Trail for challenging elevation changes with panoramic views. At North Fork County Park, visitors mention "There's a hidden waterfall you can hike too, and a river runs through the park" according to Debbie P.
Wildlife viewing: Fall camping offers opportunities to spot free-ranging bison safely. "The bison are free grazing all around and a few came right up to our campground in the early morning!" shares Steven M. from Bridger Bay Campground. Morning and evening hours provide the best wildlife sightings.
Lakeside activities: For those wanting water recreation beyond Great Salt Lake, Granite Flat offers "two reservoirs close by in Tibble Fork and Silverlake flat that are both beautiful" as Justin J. notes. These freshwater options provide alternatives to saltwater swimming.
Panoramic sunset views: The Great Salt Lake creates remarkable sunset views, especially from western-facing campsites. At White Rock Bay Campground, Alan B. describes "Hues of all different kinds of colors reflect off the perfect mirror surface of the Great Salt Lake and give you an endless sunset."
Winter camping solitude: December through February provides quiet camping experiences with minimal crowds and no biting insects. Susan R. from Bridger Bay Campground reports, "We traveled to Utah from California for our annual Christmas camping adventure. This was our first spot, and it was a wonderful place to start. We don't have to worry about the bugs, being it's December."
Mountain backdrop: Campsites with eastern views showcase dramatic mountain silhouettes at sunrise. The Cottonwood Campground offers "nice sunset over the lake and to the east were some beautiful mountains- wonderful views" according to Laura K.
Seasonal insect challenges: Beyond the established spring/summer gnat season, other times bring different insect issues. Georgia L. warns at Bridger Bay that "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."
Water access limitations: Many equestrian campgrounds restrict access to potable water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Caroline N. mentions White Rock Bay Campground has "Pit toilets were clean enough. Campsite was large & clean."
Wind exposure: Most camping areas near Farmington lack wind protection, creating challenges for tent campers especially. Patience C. shares from White Rock Bay Campground: "The campground is small, and mostly RV residents. We stayed in one of a small handful of tent sites... It was very pretty... Until the wind hit. I have never encountered such winds!"
Choose shaded sites: During summer months, prioritize campsites with natural or built shade structures. Alan B. notes at White Rock Bay, "I would have given this campground 5 stars if there was any shade whatsoever but there isn't any!"
Visit wildlife education centers: The Fielding Garr Ranch offers family-friendly historical exhibits and animal demonstrations. Steven M. explains, "There is a ranch on the far side of the island (Fielding Garr Ranch) which is adorable and definitely worth a visit."
Plan for off-season family camping: For the best overall experience with children, target September-October or April-May weekdays. Whitney K. describes Middle Fork Conservation Area as having "The campgrounds were very open with not many trees but a great view of the lake. We saw fox that came right up to our tent and lots of bison close by. Quiet place."
Select campgrounds with hookup options: Several campgrounds offer electric and water connections for RVs with varying amp services. From Willow Park Campground, Myrna G. advises: "Spent only one night but had the whole Campground to ourselves. Nice big level spot with fire pit and separate upright grill. Bathrooms clean with flush toilets, running water but no showers. No amenities such as electric sewer or water."
Book early for equestrian-friendly RV sites: Horse-friendly RV sites require advance reservations, especially during fall riding season. Availability is limited at most horse campgrounds near Farmington, Utah, particularly for larger rigs requiring pull-through access.
Check road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds may require high-clearance vehicles or 4WD depending on recent weather. Ethan H. warns about Silver Lake Backcountry: "You're definitely going to need 4WD and high clearance because the roads leading up to the campsite are filled with ruts and holes."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Farmington, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Farmington, 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 Farmington, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Farmington, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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