Mountain biking Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake

October 30, 2:02 PMSalt Lake City Outdoor Recreation ExaminerJared Hargrave

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Mountain biking on Antelope Island is like riding on another planet. The strange landscape, covered in rocks over a billion years old, surrounded by a dead, salt filled lake, is an other-worldly place to pedal a bike. This fact alone is reason enough to make the drive to the Great Salt Lake and explore Antelope Island by bike.

• View a slideshow of Antelope Island

Although the trail doesn't provide the most fun ride in Utah, (mainly due to horse hooves that soften the dirt) the loops do have many positive qualities. First, Antelope Island can be biked year round. Spring and fall are the best times of the year because of mild temperatures, though mosquitoes and biting flies are a nuisance in the spring. Summer is usually too hot to ride as there is no shade or water, but cool days open up the opportunity to get out there. And although it gets cold in winter, the lack of snowfall on Antelope Island allow hardcore mountain bikers a chance to ride here during the winter months.

There are two loops plus an out-and-back ride that can be done, either individually or connected as a long day ride. The White Rock Bay loop begins the ride from the parking lot and has a short side-trail that goes out to an overlook at Elephant Head. It is worth taking the detour out there for the view of Split Rock Bay and the Great Salt Lake spreading out into the distance.

After Elephant Head, the Split Rock Bay loop begins. It starts as a fast, dirt road that straight-lines down near the shore, then rises back up to the ridgeline. After winding through rock outcrops and passing an old horse corral made of stone, the trail meets back up with the White Rock Bay loop where the second half can be continued to make a figure-eight ride that ends at the parking lot.

There are other trails on Antelope Island, including the East Side Trail, which is a singletrack ride on the eastern shore, as well as the Shoreline Trail where technical rocky sections are the highlight.

Overall, the mountain biking on Antelope Island isn't anything to write home about, but the views, scenery, and fast descents on packed, dirt roads make it a worthwhile outing that many riders make the trip for at least once a year. To get a better sense of what to expect, watch the video below and check out the slideshow.

If you go: Antelope Island State Park is located at the end of Antelope Drive in Syracuse. Just follow the signs off I-15 that direct you there. There is a $9 fee per-car to enter the park. Park at the White Rock Bay picnic/camping area where the trail begins.

For more information: visit http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island