While browsing the Internet, my brother and I found a listing for a new geocache placed near the top of Castle Rock on Stansbury Island. Having never heard of Stansbury Island before, my interest was piqued. A little research revealed that Stansbury Island is a small chain of mountain peaks that jut into the south end of the Great Salt Lake. We figured that the geocache was as good an excuse as any to get out and explore the area.

Early in the summer we drove out to the island, hoping to be the first people to find the cache. The island is anchored to the mainland by a permanent gravel road. The road passes between vast red and white evaporation ponds, used for salt collection by AMAX Magnesium and the Morton Salt Company. The ponds are fenced in by a series of dikes to the south and west of the island.

On the west side of the island, about halfway between Stansbury Peak and Castle Rock, we spotted a ridge climbing up to the main backbone of the island. We followed a faint set of two-tracks towards the base of the ridge, until it faded away into the grass and the island's native gravel.

After finding a nice parking spot deep in the island's shadow, we gasped and panted our way up to the saddle. Upon reaching the top I was winded, but it wasn't enough to rob me of the adrenalin surge that accompanies cresting a high point. Glittering blue water expanded into the distance. Antelope Island was visible off to the North. Beyond that was nothing but sky and water.

Spring turned out to be the perfect time to visit the island. A lush carpet of grass sprouted between the rocks all across the island. Wild flax and other flowers bobbed their heads in the sun-drenched breeze. As I stepped out onto the highest ridgeline and surveyed our surroundings, it seemed more like I was in the Mediterranean than in Utah.

From there it was a short jaunt south to Castle Rock. Castle Rock may be slightly lower than Stansbury Peak, but with its wild wreck of mammoth-sized boulders, it's the more scenic of the two high points. Although no technical skills were required to reach the top, it was a steep scramble. I would recommend some caution: the rocks claimed a chunk of my brother's shin before we were finished.

If you're looking for expansive views of the Great Salt Lake, this is a great spot to catch them. Judging by the fact that a year after our trip we were still the only ones to have found the geocache, Castle Rock is seldom visited. Let's hope it stays that way.