Silver Island Mountains Backcountry Byway

Getting Oriented

The Silver Island Mountains Backcountry Byway is a 54-mile loop encircling the Silver Island Range in Utah's West Desert, immediately west of the Bonneville Salt Flats. The byway is BLM-managed and accessed from Interstate 80 at Exit 4 near Wendover, on the Utah-Nevada border. The loop traces the perimeter of the range, providing access to the historic Hastings Cutoff, several rock-art sites, and views east across the salt flats.

The Hastings Cutoff was an unproven shortcut promoted by Lansford Hastings in 1846 as a faster route west to California. The Donner-Reed party followed the cutoff that summer, lost weeks crossing the Wasatch and the Salt Desert, and reached the Sierra Nevada too late in the season. The delay is widely credited as the reason the group became stranded at what is now Donner Pass.

Trail Overview

The loop is unpaved gravel and dirt for its full length. Surface conditions are generally easy in dry weather, though wet conditions can render sections slow. The route is unsigned in places; carry a topo map or download the BLM byway map below before driving.

The full circuit takes three to four hours when stops are minimal. Common stopping points include the Donner-Reed Pass interpretive site, the Volcano (a 19th-century rock-pile monument left by passing emigrants), and overlooks toward the Bonneville Salt Flats and Pilot Peak.

Points of Interest

• Donner-Reed Pass interpretive site. Marker explaining the Hastings Cutoff and the 1846 emigrant crossing.
• The Volcano. A historic stone cairn left by 19th-century travelers as a navigation marker.
• Pilot Peak overlook. Views northwest toward the 10,716-foot peak that emigrant parties used as a landmark to find the Pilot Peak springs.
• Bonneville Salt Flats overlooks. Eastern sections of the loop offer views back across the salt flats.

Where to Camp

There is no developed campground on the byway. Dispersed camping is permitted on BLM land along the loop, subject to standard Leave No Trace practices. Water, restrooms, and full services are available in Wendover.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

• Carry the byway map. The route is unsigned in places. Download the BLM byway map (linked below) or carry a topo before driving.
• Carry supplies. No fuel, water, or food along the loop. Wendover, three miles east of Exit 4 on I-80, is the only nearby service.
• Plan for heat. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F (38°C) on the salt flats with no shade. Carry extra water.
• Wet weather changes the surface. Sections of the gravel cross alkali soil that becomes difficult after rain.
• Cell coverage is minimal. A satellite communicator is sensible for solo trips.