Bridger Bay Beach

Yes, you can swim in Great Salt Lake at Antelope Island, and Bridger Bay Beach is where Utah State Parks says to do it. The water is so salty you float, and the beach has restrooms plus indoor and outdoor showers to rinse off the salt, along with a pavilion, picnic areas and the Island Buffalo Grill (open March 1 to November 1). Dogs, horses and fires are not allowed on the beach. Utah State Parks lists no lifeguards, so you swim at your own risk.

What Swimming in Great Salt Lake Is Like

Great Salt Lake has no outlet: water leaves only by evaporation, so minerals concentrate, about 2.2 million tons of them flow in each year. That is why you float so easily and why the lake can't support fish. Expect salt to dry on your skin and in your hair; the showers at Bridger Bay are there for that.

The lake's size and depth change a lot with evaporation and precipitation. At its average level Great Salt Lake is about 75 miles long and 28 miles wide, covering 1,700 square miles, with a maximum depth of about 33 feet. Utah State Parks currently lists the island's main boat ramp as closed because of low water.

The Sand

Look closely at Bridger Bay's sand. Much of it is oolitic sand, small perfectly round grains formed when calcium carbonate builds up in layers around a tiny nucleus, the way a pearl forms. It is one of Great Salt Lake's unusual features.

The Smell

On some days the lake smells like rotten eggs. Utah State Parks explains that bacteria breaking down organic matter in the lake give off hydrogen sulfide. The smell is usually strongest along the Davis County Causeway and fades once you reach the island.

Bugs on the Beach

Brine flies swarm the shoreline in mid-summer. They don't bite, they move out of your way, and they disappear once you wade in. Biting gnats are the problem in spring (April to June); a fine-mesh head net helps. Mosquitoes are around all summer.

Beach Rules

• No dogs or horses on the beach. Service animals are allowed.
• No fires on any beach on the island.
• Park only in designated areas, never along the road.
• Nothing natural may be taken: the sand, rocks and plants are protected by law.

Food and Facilities

The Island Buffalo Grill, a park concession at Bridger Bay Beach, serves buffalo burgers, hamburgers and fries from March 1 to November 1; phone 801-897-3452 or check its Facebook page for hours. Drinking water is available at the beach facilities. Bridger Bay Campground is next door if you want to stay for sunset and the dark-sky stars.