Antelope Island State Park: The Best of The Great Salt Lake
Post Topic: Things to Do in Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is an island on Utah’s famous Great Salt Lake. The park is only 25 miles north of Salt Lake City and is the best place to see and enjoy the Great Salt Lake. The island is over 28,000 acres and has many hiking trails, beach access, and lots of wildlife. The island is known for its heard of Proghorn Antelope and American Bison.
Antelope Island is a perfect outdoor escape from the big city of Salt Lake City. The scenery at Antelope Island is so impressive. There were many times I was reminded of scenery I’ve seen in Alaska or pictures I’ve seen of Scotland. The snow-capped mountains and the large expansive of lake and wildflowers along the trail are so picturesque and you will not be disappointed.
There are so many things to do and see on the Island, so keep reading for my list of 7 things to do in Antelope Island. But first, here’s a few things to know about Antelope Island:
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Antelope Island and National Park Status
Antelope Island is currently protected as a State Park of Utah but did you know that it was once considered for National Park Status?
Starting in the early 20th century, there was talk surrounding the idea of designating Antelope Island as a National Park. In 1959, Senator Frank E. Moss of Utah petitioned the National Park Service to designate Antelope Island as a National Park. Ultimately, the National Park Service concluded their study with high praise for Antelope Island but concern for the State of Utah’s lack of development planning and the fact that the state was allowing the Great Salt Lake to be used as a dumping ground for municipal and industrial waste. Thus, Antelope Island was never given National Park Status.
Later the conversation shifted to nominating Antelope Island as a State Park. And in 1969, 2000 acres on the northern end of Antelope Island was purchased by the State for the formation of Antelope Island State Park. Later, in the 1980s the remainder of the island was added to the State Park and it became the Antelope Island State Park that is known today.
When to Visit Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island is open year-round but there are a few times of year that are more enjoyable than others. I highly recommend visiting in early spring before Mid-April or late summer after July to avoid the horrific bugs that infest Antelope Island during the spring months.
The park is also open during the winter months but you can expect cold temperatures with a wind-chill.
I recommend visiting in early-April or August-October for best weather with minimal bugs.
A Warning about the “No See Ums”
During the spring months (April-June) on Antelope Island, many of the insects, including the infamous No See Ums, start to hatch. These No See Ums are a type of biting gnat and frankly, they’re the worst. We visited May 1 and they had completely overrun the island. And the worst part is that insect repellant is almost completely ineffective against these horrid pests.
So what does help protect against the No See Ums? The park authorities recommend that you use a head net that is specifically made for No See Ums. You can find one, here. I also had a family member suggest (after the fact) that vanilla extract serves as a good repellant against No See Ums, but I haven’t tried this approach. Let me know in the comments below if you have any insight about this.
Things to Do at Antelope Island State Park
1. Check out the Hiking Trails
There are many different hiking trail options on Antelope Island. You can find a trail of any length and difficulty. Here are a few of the trails that I recommend that you check out during your visit:
Frary Peak
If you’re gonna hike one trail in Antelope Island, hike this one! Frary Peak is the highest point on the island and provides the most impressive 360 degree views of the island and surrounding mountains. Look closely and you can also see Salt Lake City from the top.
In addition to incredible views of the mountain peaks, if you hike the trail in spring, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful wildflowers on your ascent to the top. Look for red, yellow, and blue flowers along the trails.
But I’m not gonna lie, this trail is a real leg burner. You’ll climb roughly 2,100 feet in 3.5 miles to the top. Making this a 7 mile round trip hike. Although the trail is quite steep, it’s a well marked and maintained trail most of the way.
Dooly Knob Trail
If you’re not up for the full ascent to Frary Peak, consider hiking up part of the way to Dooly Peak. Dooly Peak also boasts incredible views of the surrounding mountains and Great Salt Lake. This hike is only 1.4 miles one-way but also has quite a bit of elevation gain in a short distance. Although it may be short, it’s a real calf-burner.
Buffalo Point
If you’re looking for a shorter hike, consider the 0.4 mile (0.8 miles RT) hike up to Buffalo Point. This hike was such a nice surprise! We were not expecting the incredible views from the point. Expect to see a lot of red granite rocks with 360 degree views of the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island.
Lady Finger Point
Another shorty but goody is Ladyfinger Point. Located on the Northwest side of the island, you’ll get views of Egg Island which is preserved as a bird sanctuary. Egg Island is actually reachable from Ladyfinger Point when the water levels are low, but it’s actually off-limits to hikers in order to preserve the safety of the birds that nest on the island.
2. Swim in the Great Salt Lake
Did you know that you can effortlessly float in the Great Salt Lake because of its high salt content? That’s right, you can!
Visiting the first weekend of May, we did not bring swimwear because we were certain that the water would be too cold. But actually, it wasn’t! We were able to wade in a little bit and although it was a bit chilly it would have been fine to swim in (and that’s coming from a Texas gal, so you know it’s true). Next time we’ll take our swimwear and jump right in!
Whether or not you decide to swim, make sure you take a walk on the beach. The beach access is located near the visitor center and you might even have to share the beach with the local bison.
3. Catch a Sunset at Antelope Island State Park
There are so many amazing places to watch the sunset from on Antelope Island. If you’re wanting to stick closer to the car, watch the sunset from the beach or Lady Finger Point.
If you’re wanting an epic sunset hike, consider Buffalo Point, Frary Peak, or Dooly Knob for great west-facing views of the Great Salt Lake that will not disappoint with sunset views.
4. Rent an E-Bike
If you’re looking for a way to be active that’s alternative to taking a hike, consider renting an E-Bike. E-Bike rentals are available at the Marina near the entrance to the island. Rates are $80 an hour/per person and biking would be a great way to see the island.
If you’re visiting on a busy weekend, consider making a reservation ahead of time from Antelope E-Bikes.
5. Wildlife Viewing at Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island is home to many different species of wildlife. Visitors are just about guaranteed to see wild Bison on their visit to the island.
Shortly before leaving the island, we were lucky enough to spot one Proghorn Antelope – a first for us! We’ve seen thousands of bison over the years but this was the first antelope!
Other than Bison and Antelope, coyotes and mule deer also make Antelope Island their home. The birding opportunities on the island are super popular too.
Please keep Wildlife wild. Do not approach or feed wildlife. Bison are very dangerous and can charge you without a warning. Bison may look docile at first, but trust me, they are not! Keep your distance.
6. Explore the Fielding Garr Ranch
Before Antelope Island was established as a State Park, the island was first occupied by Fielding Garr. Garr was sent to the island by the LDS Church to establish and maintain a ranch for the “church tithing herds”. The LDS Church maintained ownership of the ranch until the 1870s.
The new addition of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 opened up the rest of the uninhabited island to new settlers, although by 1900 none of these settlers had been successful other than the Fielding Garr Ranch. Later, the island & ranch was purchased by John Dooley Sr. who is responsible for the introduction of the bison herd on the island.
In its history, the ranch has been home to both cattle herds and one of the largest industrial sheep herds in the west.
There’s lots of interesting history that took place at the Fielding Garr Rach – so make sure you stop here on your visit to learn more about the history of Antelope Island.
7. Camp at Antelope Island State Park
There’s so much to see at Antelope Island, so why limited yourself to one day? Stay a night in Antelope Islands campgrounds and you won’t be disappointed! The views from these campsites are so impressive.
Antelope Island has been designated a Dark Sky Park, this means that when weather conditions are just right, the night sky views here are insane. Antelope Island is one of the best places in Northern Utah to see the Milky Way or spot a shooting star. All the more reason to spend a night on the island.
The State Park has three main campgrounds available:
White Rock Bay Campground
White Rock Campground is the bigger of the three Campgrounds not just with the number of sites that are available but also the size of the campsites. Each drive-in campsite is technically double-capacity and has room for at least 2 tents and I believe they allow 12 campers per site.
Near your campsite, you’ll find a pit toilet & fire pit with no running water or electricity. But the views are so worth it!
Since these sites are consider double-capacity, there’s twice as expensive as the other sites. It’ll cost you $40/night to stay at White Rock Campground (unless you’re able to score an “overflow” price by purchasing your same-day site at the front gate). We stayed at White Rock Bay and only paid $20 because our desired site of Bridger Bay was already full.
Bridger Bay Campground
Bridger Bay is another campground not too far from White Rock Bay but with smaller (and cheaper) drive-in campsites. These sites only accommodate 6 people to a site. You’ll also find great views, fire pits, pit toilets, no running water, no electricity at these sites.
To stay at Bridger Bay it’ll cost you $20/night.
Ladyfinger Campground
Located on the far north side of the island, Ladyfinger only provides Walk-In Campsites. There’s a main parking lot found at the Ladyfinger Point Trailhead, from here you’ll have to carry your camp supplies to your campsite.
The Ladyfinger Campground also has a pit toilet but not every campsite is nearby, so you may have to walk a bit to the toilet if needed.
Pack These for a Trip to Antelope Island State Park
1. Good Hiking Shoes
Utah has some of the most beautiful hiking in the country, but it’s also got some pretty rocky trails.
When hiking around Utah, it’s super important to wear sturdy hiking shoes or sandals on the trails. I wear brands like Merrell Moab 2 Mid Ventilator, Teva Universal Trail (trail sandal), and Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof. My husband, who is very prone to ankle injuries, wears Salomon X Ultra Low GTX and swears by them.
I love being able to switch between a solid hiking boot and a trail sandal with excellent traction on the easier hike. I’m very prone to blisters and having different shoes to change into makes a world of difference.
2. Water Bottle & Hydration pack
Most of Utah is a desert, so it’s important to stay hydrated on hiking trails. Especially if you’re traveling during the hot summer season!
To keep your drink extra cold, go with a Hydroflask, which is vacuum-sealed and keeps your liquids cold for up to 24 hours. If you’re looking for something a bit more lightweight, go with the traditional Nalgene.
On longer hikes, fill up your Ospry Hydraulics Reservoir to keep your water easily accessible & hands free. My favorite day pack that accommodates a hydration bladder is the Osprey Mira 22 Hydration Pack.
3. Trail Snacks
A lot of the popular National Park trails in Utah are day-long hikes, so make sure you bring enough energy-boosting food to get you through the day.
Some of our favorite trail snacks are the traditional PB&J, grapes, trail mixes, Go Macro Bars, and RX Bars.
4. Sunscreen and Insect Protection
The sun in Utah is INTENSE. Protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen. This Sun Bum sunscreen is so light and easy to fit in your pack. Also, it’s super protective against the sun. It’s also reef friendly, so save it for your next trip to the beach!
In addition to sunscreen, make sure you protect your face with a sun hat. I really enjoy wearing this Vintage Style Cap from Amazon. It has tons of colors to choose from, I’ve been loving the yellow.
Sunglasses are never a bad idea, either.
The bugs on Antelope Island can be rather pesty so protect yourself from the mosquitos with this Plant-Based Bug Repellant which smells more like lemons and less like deet. Unfortunately, insect repellant isn’t effective against the No-See-Ums so plan to wear loose-fitting clothes and bring a No-See-Um Head Net – I can’t emphasize enough how helpful these were against the super annoying No-See-Ums.
5. Lightweight & Moisture-Wicking Clothes
Make sure to choose moisture-wicking clothing (aka NOT cotton), to pull the sweat away from your body and stay cool and dry while hiking.
These Icebreaker T-Shirts have been a favorite of mine recently, they’re excellent at keeping you dry. And the best part is that they don’t stink even after a long sweaty day on the trail!
6. Lots of Layers
Depending on when you visit Utah, you may encounter cooler than expected temperatures. Especially during an early morning or late evening hike. Don’t forget to pack a jacket for your trip to Utah.
7. Essential Camping Gear
If you’re planning to camp on Antelope Island there’s a few camping essentials that you’ll need, starting with a tent. We use two different tents, this 6-person Kelty Discovery Dome Tent when we can drive up to our campsite and this 2-person Marmot Tungsten Tent when we have to hike to our campsite.
Sleep is so important to us, even when we’re sleeping in a tent. In order to get the most comfortable sleep we can, we use the Winner Outfitter Sleeping bag, REI Flash 3-Season Sleeping Pad, and Therm-a-rest ProLite Plus Sleeping Pad. If you don’t want to bring you pillow from home, consider the Coccon Ultralight Air-Core Pillow which is super lightweight & it’s super comfortable.
A campfire is essential when camping at Antelope Island, so don’t forget to bring firewood (firewood is not available on the island, but fires are allowed) and a fire starter. These Coleman Rugged Telescoping Cooking Forks are super helpful for roasting marshmallows or cooking hot dogs.
Don’t forget a cooler to keep your food cool. We love our Coleman Steel Belted Cooler and take it with us on just about every adventure. It’s been all around the country with us.
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