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Quick Details:
Length: 2.7 Miles. 5.4 out and back.
Trail Type: Out and Back, Connector Or you can do a loop by coming down via White Rock Loop Trail.
Difficulty: DR3 There was some up but it wasn’t too bad. The trail is mostly flat.
Elevation Gain: About 500 ft.
Restroom: Not at the TH but quite a few in the White Rock Bay Campground.
Dogs? Yes, however must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
Other Info: Fee Area: $10.00 per car.
To Get Here:
Quick: Head to the SW corner of the White Rock Bay Campground. Take the westernmost trail from the kiosk.
Detailed: Take the Antelope Drive exit 332 in Layton. Head west.for about 6.8 miles to the fee booth. After paying your fee go across the causeway. Go about 7 miles across the causeway take the left at the T. Go about 5/10ths of a mile, and continue forward. Continue another mile and head left. Go about 200 feet and turn right. Go all the way to the bottom about turn left. Note, This will be a dirt road, however any car should be fine. Go all the way to the end, you can either park in the parking lot there, or go left about 200 feet and park across from the TH. Take the westernmost trail from the kiosk.
The Trail:
Notice about the sick sheep from 2018 and if you see any to call them. Problem is, they replaced the herd just a few weeks ago. So, I think this is obsolete and you probably don’t have to call if you see one. Although, it would remind them there is a sign here haha.
Trail kiosk.
Yikes. Look at all the dust the wind is kicking up!
This isn’t the trail we used, but I included it to show the loop option you have. We used the red trail just to the right of the green loop.
The trail is an old dirt access road so it’s plenty wide and fairly flat for the first 2 miles.
Bison off in the distance.
Aside from the wind, it’s an absolutely beautiful day.
White Rock Bay. This trail follows most of it. And offers a view of it the entire way.
From Elephant Head to Buffalo Point, I think that is the entirety of White Rock Bay.
Rocky peak.
Enjoying the nice flat trail.
The white rock of White Rock Bay. By the way, that is closed to the public due to being a sensitive nesting area.
Odd pointy rock. This is the start of a little rock garden that is about halfway ish.
Another panoramic.
That little rock spire again.
Into the rock garden. This one is neat, but the ones along the nearby Lakeside Trail are a little more fun.
I think this is about the closest you get to the white rock too.
Another panoramic.
Elephant Head.
More fun rock formations.
After the rock garden you will descend into the next little valley. It is really pretty!
I have been thinking that was Frary Peak before, but it seems a little too far north. Looking at the map on the kiosk, I now think that is Stringham Peak, and Frary Peak is just to the right and looks a little shorter than Stringham from this vantage.
The bay.
Dooley Knob. That one was a little tougher but really fun.
Panoramic. Dooley Knob, Stringham Peak (I am fairly confidant that is Frary Peak in the background and to the right, otherwise Stringham is blocking it) and Elephant Head.
A couple spots though this section are beach sandy which isn’t particularly fun to hike through. Luckily they are pretty short.
Dooley Knob again.
Really pretty though here.
Another panoramic.
Amazing clouds.
Some bison off in the distance and you can just barely make out Beacon Knob poking up over the ridge.
I can now see where the trail works its way up the hill.
Dooley Knob again.
Heading for the hills.
Beautiful clouds.
Entering a sage area.
The white rock again.
Dooley knob is really a neat peak.
More trail.
Neat crack on Elephant Head.
At about the 2 mile mark the trail starts working its way slowly uphill.
Another rock spire on the tip of Elephant Head.
The bison off in the distance again.
Fun rock formations on Elephant Head.
Looking back down towards the bay.
The last half mile is where you will gain most of the elevation. It’s not that bad though.
Dooley Knob again. I just love this little peak. It almost looks like an old volcano from back here.
Little run off channel.
It’s a little frustrating being able to see the destination and not feel like you are getting any closer to it haha.
Tiny gully.
The home stretch.
Looking back towards the bay.
The neat rocks on Elephant Head.
Dooley Knob again.
Almost to the top.
We made it to the junction! Right will head towards Elephant Head and Split Rock Loop. Left will head towards Beacon Knob and White Rock Loop.
Panoramic showing the fun rock formations.
The view below.
Panoramic. Elephant Head to Buffalo Point with White Bay and White Bay Loop in between.
Dooley Knob.
Beacon Knob.
Elephant Head.
Like I said, I was hoping to make it to Elephant Head, but we didn’t have another 1.2+ miles in us today. Maybe another time. Time to head on back.
The bison below the ridge White Rock Loop goes around.
Elephant Head again.
Heading back down with a nice view of White Rock Bay.
Elephant Head again.
The bay again.
Heading across the grassy valley.
Tiger beetle. I saw one of these in Killyon Canyon and couldn’t figure out what it was. Then a random, long faded sign I saw at Decker Lake mentioned them so I learned it was a tiger beetle. Funny how sometimes silly curiosities get solved.
Buffalo Point.
Looking back at Elephant Head.
The white rock with some great clouds.
The bison under Dooley Knob.
The ridge White Rock Loop goes around.
Clouds above the grassy hills.
White rock again.
Looking back at the peaks.
Back to the worst section of beach sand.
The clouds over Stansbury Island.
White rock.
Last look at Elephant Head.
Another panoramic from the rock garden in the middle.
Buffalo Point.
Rock spire again.
The white rock.
Lots of these black beetles scurrying about, I think they are stink beetles.
Now we have rounded the point for White Rock Loop, into the next valley. Still a ways to go.
Great clouds over the grassy valley.
Buffalo Point.
The overflow lot is filling up. The island is ridiculously busy today. We did see a few people on the trail today, but not a whole lot so I feel like we were still safely socially distant.
Back to the trail head.
When we got back to the car we realized someone with the next year model of our exact car had parked next to us.
This hike has no real end prize, however one can be added with a little more mileage. However it has great views and offers a chance to see some wildlife. Considering how crazy busy the island was today, this trail wasn’t too busy so that is a plus. It’s also a great way to explore the west side of the island. Going with 8 squirrels today.
As for difficulty, As I mentioned the first 2 ish miles are pretty much flat and easy going. The last .7 miles is a bit of a climb, but not too bad. Couple of spots that are beach sand as well. DR3.
Dogs are allowed, but must be on a maximum 6 foot leash.
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