Antelope Island State Park

This definitely is a great state park to visit (only within 1 hr of SLC). There are several great lookout points and trails that you could easily spend a few hours. The south end of the Park is a ranch which really shows the history of ranching in UT, especially when the Mormons settled in SLC.
Park admission is $ 10 and there is ample parking all around the park, as well as plenty of bison to see along the way. I will caution you that the Salt Lake stinks (it is really bad), so just be warned. I guess it makes more sense now why so many people don’t actually go in the lake (although I am sure you could during the summer months).

As you approach the park you have to cross seven miles over a causeway that seems to go on forever. When you finally arrive at the park you are greeted by a hilly area that may seem barren but interactions with nature of all kinds await you. Antelope island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake and is about 28,000 acres.
At the park you will most probably see American Bison but did you know that Antelope Island is also home to other animals as well? In the park you may also encounter antelope which were actually reintroduced to the park in the early 1990’s. There are also bobcats, coyotes and deer that you may encounter on your visit as well as numerous types of birds. There are currently about 600 bison on the island.
The park has limited facilities including drinking water, restrooms and hot showers. There is also a visitor center, an area for camping, a picnic area with picnic tables and a marina. When the weather is nice there are beautiful white sandy beaches as well as the salty water of the Great Salt Lake. The salt water of the lake is several times more salty than the water in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This extra salt makes the water more buoyant and makes it easier for you to float! If you come to the park it is a great experience to float in the lake if you have never done it before.
There are trails for biking and hiking as well as for horses. While we were there we saw several people on horseback who were on the trails. We only saw one group of people on bikes but it looks like a great place to bike. There is also the Fielding Garr Ranch with exhibits with another way to connect to the history of the island.
When you hit the beach you will also enjoy the experience of swimming in the Great Salt Lake and its salty water, which is several times more salty than the ocean. Because it is so salty, the water is extra buoyant and people float easily on its surface. Even though people can float in the salt lake make sure that you do not let people who cannot swim enter the lake without the proper equipment to protect them from drowning.
There is a restaurant on the island and concessionaires provide other limited goods and services but they are not open all year. Make sure you check at the gate when you enter to find out what services are available. I suggest that you bring some food and drinks with you since you will probably spend several hours here and once you get onto the island and travel down the roads, it will take a long time to get back out. If you bring food and drink with you, you will be able to spend more time.
Once you encounter several cars pulled over that’s usually a good sign that there is wildlife present. Generally you will find wildlife in many places on the island so do not think that just because you have seen a small group or even a large one that there is no more to be seen. You can encounter pockets of wildlife throughout the park. When you arrive at the gate ask them where you will have the best chance to encounter the bison. They have always been good with giving us tips where to find them.
We were fortunate to see not only adults but also babies when we came. It was great because I came with a friend visiting from Korea and he was very excited to see live bison for the first time in his life. It is a great experience when compared to seeing an animal in a cage. These animals are free to roam around the island and it offers a more realistic experience for the visitor.
* Pets are allowed so bring your four legged friends but make sure you keep them on their leash. My pug was fascinated by the buffalo!
* Bridger Bay Campground has a $ 13 camping fee per site.
800−322−3770 Toll-​free from outside the Salt Lake City area.
801−322−3770 From within the Salt Lake City area
* If you are interested in Horseback tours of the island you can get information and make reservations by calling 801−726−9514.

We had an awesome time here. Fantastic views of the Salt Lake, heaps of Buffalo’s, ducks, antelopes, we saw a porcupine in a tree & a coyote from a distance!
There’s a neat visitors center with heaps of information & a good shop that sells a lot if salt things like taffy & ornaments.
It’s $ 10 to get in, a bit less than an hour drive north of the city & allow a good 2 hours to drive around the island & find the animals, take in the views.

This is a wonderful spot. There is something exciting about seeing buffalo with a vast body of water in the background. I saw a number of bison and one Pronghorn (antelope).I saw a great many birds including a vast number of different kinds of duck and a few magpies. I visited the ranch at the end of one of the roads and toured its buildings and talked to the horses. The outstanding thing about the island is the interplay of light and shadow caused by the microclimate of the island and the Great Salt Lake. One of the pictures below gives you a hint and I might have put up to something on my own. As for swimming, well I was dubious and didn’t do it and don’t regret it .But it might be fun but i don’t think that’s the main reason to visit. It’s a beautiful place.

There are buffalo running free!!! It was amazing to see them so close by. It is a beautiful place. Do not get lunch there though. Bring one instead,

Antelope State Park is a true gem! It is only 20 miles or so from the bustling city of Salt Lake and is a great way to see the Great Salt Lake. You can drive around the island, or park and take hikes. These are some of the highlights:
–Easy access! Plug this location address into your GPS and it will take you to the entrance/​beginning of the road that leads into the park. It’s $ 10 per vehicle. They are very relaxed and our entering of the park was quick and easy. Just make sure you have gas as the drive can get long (you’ll want to keep going and seeing the sites!!!). No need for a 4WD, all roads are paved.
–Great for all ages and interests! The park offers ace nice driving routes around the island and also offers scenic hike routes. They will give you a map when you enter. Our park lady gave us recommendations based on the time we had and how far we wanted to go.
–Bison. There are bison (also called buffalo) everywhere!!! Stay in your car… But we were able to get feet from the herds as they are used to bikers and cars passing by them. These are all wild animals, so it was pretty cool seeing them in their natural environment!
–The views. Just entering the park is breathtaking! Wait till you drive south east towards the «old ranch»! We took the hike to the «Dooley knob trail» (.6 miles… But felt like at least 1 or 2) and the view of the city, mountains, and lake to the east and north was amazing!
–Amenities: there are are bathrooms and showers at the visitors centers, restaurant, and beach areas. All pretty clean and large!
–Buffalo Island Grill. This is the only restaurant on the island. It is simple but good! They serve «buffalo» burgers as well as chicken sandwiches etc. The ladies in the kitchen were amazing! They catered to my paleo diet and made me a plate of the delicious buffalo meat and tomatoes/​lettuce/​onions/​mushrooms! Everyone else’s fully loaded burgers also looked amazing tho! They also had nuts, chips, and apple sauce snacks, along with sodas/​gatorades.
Definitely a must if you are in the Salt Lake City area!

I came to Park City and Sundance for fall colors but I had plenty of time before my flight so I might as well stopped by this famous lake! It was a breathtaking view from distance in car but it was pretty smelly…;(but it’s definitely worth coming. I love animals and was lucky to see some bisons for the first time in my life. That was great.

This was awesome!
We almost didn’t go because of all the morons that have never been in nature that have a mental meltdown and scream about seeing a fly in the great outdoors. My mom was spooked thanks to these idiots and we didn’t bring our swimsuits because of them. *shakes a fist* They’re even more whiney on TripAdvisor, btw.
We leave up the windows while driving down the causeway, concerned about the «horrendous smell of death.» On the way back, we kept the windows rolled down. Toward the end of the causeway, there was some odor, but nothing worse than having a gassy friend in your living room. If you’ve never been around a person who farts or do not fart yourself, I could see this being a surprising smell.
We went to the beach on the west end to start. The sand was warm so my mom wore shoes to walk out. I only had flip-​flops so I eventually took them off and dealt with it. It was about a third to half-​mile walk to the water and there is a large area of pebble and other natural debris in the sand. Wear shoes, preferably legit water shoes or tennis shoes, not flip-​flops.
The brine flies are extremely dense about 4 feet from the water’s edge. There are so many that it’s fun to run around and switch direction and watch their swarm maneuver. The brine flies will not bite you. We set our stuff on the beach and walked out into the water to enjoy the view and look at brine shrimp. It was peaceful.
We drove south on the eastern road. We saw a few bison at first, a mule deer… then there were suddenly bison everywhere. They were in groups of 20 – 40 wandering around with their babies. As the sun went down, they all headed toward the hills, crossing the street en masse. We parked the car and just watched them. The view of the hills with the sun setting and the bison all around was beautiful. There are about 700 bison on this island and I don’t see how it would be possible for somebody not to see them unless they didn’t drive around. There’s maybe 15 miles of road on this island, so you might as well drive the whole thing.
If you have to go to therapy over seeing a fly, crawl into a plastic bag and stay away from people that actually live their lives and are capable of seeing the good in life.
A few days later, I ended up swimming at the Marina just west of SLC. Depending on the time of year and conditions, Antelope island’s water entrance on the west side or the marina are the best entries. You can call either office and find out which is your best bet. It was a very unique swimming experience and I definitely recommend it.

My out-​of-​state friend, Jenny, and her children came for an impromptu visit last weekend. She wanted to swim in the Great Salt Lake. She even mentioned it being on her Bucket List. I did some online research and found information about going to a swimming access beach on the nearby Antelope Island. They had showers, covered picnic areas, what could go wrong? Answer: Everything.
So let me walk you through the Hell of Swimming in the Great Salt Lake:.
NOT SEEING WILDLIFE — We paid to get into Antelope Island State Park and I promised the kids visions of Antelope and Buffalo and all sorts of majestic wildlife roaming the open plains. Yeah, we saw nothing.
THE 2 MILE WALK TO THE WATER’S EDGE — We started down the small hill from the parking lot to the sandy edge. I looked out towards the water’s edge and realized that the very dry winter we had made the trek to the water a long, long, walk.
THE BOILING HOT, LOOSE, SAND — Mere moments after stepping foot into the sand I was in pain. Our family was wearing flip-​flops and the sand was tortuously hot and very loose. I was basically Rocky Balboa training for the fight with Dolph Lundgren, but in sand instead of snow, carrying two babies, a beach bag, and a beach chair. Which I don’t think Rocky could have handled for a second.
THE SMELL OF DEATH — Oh my gosh, you guys. The Great Salt Lake smells like a stanky, wet dog’s butt. It is awful. The fumes assailed us immediately.
THE FLIES! OH HEAVENS, THE FLIES!!! — All of the kids were starting to melt down, but the water’s edge was finally in sight! The beach sand was almost black right by the shore. It beckoned us with a promise of the end of this most torturous walk of my life.
Remember the part in Start Wars: A New Hope when Obi-​Wan says «That’s no moon. That’s a space station.» as they approach the Death Star for the first time? This is exactly how this part of our Hellish journey played out. My 10-​year-​old daughter, who had run ahead of me, returned with a terrified look on her face and said, «That’s not wet sand. It’s FLIES!» I have never seen anything like this in my life. There was such a thick blanket of black flies that it looked like the ground until you walked through them, and then they attacked. They swarmed up, landing on every part of you. They blanketed everything. I set down the baby carrier with my baby inside and she was instantly covered with flies.
This is when the collective sobbing of all of the children began. Like a Mother in an action movie who has just glanced over her shoulder to see the Godzilla/​Aliens/​Tidal-​Wave heading towards them I screamed, «RUN! RUN TO THE WATER!!» I dropped our stuff, grabbed the baby carrier, and ran to the water’s edge.
THE SALT WATER ON EVERY CUT YOU HAVE — Once in the water there was temporary relief from the flies before you realized that every cut, every hangnail, every scrape you have is being assaulted by the saltiest water you have ever experienced. The sobbing intensified. We turned right around and decided get the hell out of there.
THE WALK BACK — As if the walk to the water wasn’t bad enough. Now we headed back. But this time all the children were crying and hot and their cuts and there eyes were stinging. We DID see a dead cat/​squirrel carcass while walking back to the car. There’s the majestic wildlife I promised my kids would see.
THE SALT AND DESPAIR STICK TO YOU — Once we returned to the car we assessed the damage (emotional and physical) the trip had taken on us all. Turns out that the salty sand destroys shoes. Turns out that the water is so salty that it sticks to you like a hard crust. Turns out the stinging eyes don’t feel better when flushed with fresh water.
We all agreed, as a family, that we are NEVER going back there. I may seek therapy for PTSD. If you’re reading this and you’re considering taking a dip in the Great Salt Lake… DON’T DO IT! Save yourself! Please, learn from me! Only sadness and despair can come from such a journey.

Beautiful park. Only $ 10 to get in. You can drive around, hike, walk, or sit and enjoy the scenery. We saw many bison roaming around, lots of HUGE spiders, a snake, and LOTS of bugs. There were picnic tables in lots of areas, so it might be nice to sit down and enjoy lunch here. There’s also a campground if you and your family are into camping. The water does smell pretty gnarly and it hits you pretty hard. The lake is beautiful but is only filled with brine shrimp and algae, no fishing here. It is a beautiful view and I’m glad we decided to stop by.

Took my parents here last time I was in the area. Before that, I went by myself and had a great time hiking around the island. The views are fantastic and searching for the animals are fun!

Great place! The drive to the island is great and the island is spectacular! Dennis at the ranch was incredibly knowledgeable and he’s a veteran. We saw real buffalo and antelope. The park is incredibly clean and well taken care of. The visitor center staff were courteous and knowledgeable also.

We didn’t do much because we ended up trekking out to the actual lake water and it was like a 30 min trip, back up a sand hill. Tiring. After that, we didn’t want to do much more but we did go to the visitor’s center and got some things from the gift shop.
The water itself was surprisingly unsalty smelling and the beach was surprisingly smelly and covered with gnats.
I’d definitely go again but check out the rest of the island.

Just okay. The water has receded much, so it take a good walking to get to the water. FYI… when you park and walk down at least half way to the rocks, there are MANY mosquitoes and they are not your little normal mosquitoes that offer a little prick… imagine that prick 5 times as worse, because it hurts and they will welt up. When you get to the coast line, there are millions of gnats…100% harmless. In fact, as you walk through them, the gnats part like the waters parted for the children of Israel. The water was just okay… nothing to write home about.
We did see hundreds of bison, a fox and her two cubs (that I almost ran over), and a rabbit.

For a $ 10 entrance fee, Antelope Island is a great way to spend a day with the family. We are locals, and we decided to spend our Sunday Funday out at the island today with our kids, ages 11, 7, and 2. It’s a pretty drive on the causeway, and the recent rains seemed to raise the water level a bit since I had been out a few months prior so there was this picture perfect glassy water reflecting the gorgeous scenery.
We started out at the visitors center, there’s a lot to learn about the park’s history and ecosystem. I’ve always been fascinated with Lake Bonneville and there’s a cool demonstration of the water level in there, among all sorts of other things.
We then headed to Buffalo Point, where there’s a beautiful scenic lookout right off the parking lot, and a fairly short hike to the point. We made it about halfway in about 10 minutes and I, an out of shape mom who decided to wear flip flops, was only huffing and puffing a little bit.
The real jewel, I feel, is the Fielding Garr Ranch. The history and experience is really awesome. To be able to see and to give our kids a glimpse into what life was like in the 1800s was really cool.
We ended the day on the west side of the island at the beach, where we found cool rocks, soft sand, and lovely views of the sun glittering on the water. We did t make it in time to eat at the grill, but after peeking inside at the menu and prices, I felt okay with it. A bit on the steep side.
All in all, great afternoon. There were really only two «cons». First, the bugs. I assume they are gnats, they were everywhere. Big gross clouds of them, I definitely need to run through a carwash tomorrow, and they got in our hair and bit our scalps which is more annoying than painful. Then there’s the smell. It really does stink, almost like sewage. Neither of these things would keep me from visiting, though.
A guide at the ranch told us that 70% of visitors are from out of town and that having us very local folks was out of the norm. What a shame, this really great experience in the backyard that so many overlook! If you’re living in the area, take advantage!

Home on the range where the deer and the antelope play, where seldom is heard a discouraging word – do not step on a Bison turd – and the skies are not cloudy all day. Yup cowpokes! We’ve seen Bison on Antelope Island. There are about 600 Bison (12 introduced in 1893). During a 2-​day stay we saw at least a hundred Bison and a small herd of native pronghorn antelope. We are primitive camping ($ 13 per day) at Bridger Bay. The view through the Airstream window looks onto the Great Salt Lake.
There are 35 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails. We hiked to Dooley and Buffalo Points along moderate to steep trails. Each step was a continuous view of the Great Salt Lake and mountains. Very impressive! Yarrow were in full bloom. It’s chaparral desert with sage and bunch grasses. We walked along the salty shore. I tasted the salinity! Dah!
This is a get-​away! Serene! Wildlife & wildflowers! Sunny, cloudy and warm! Trails to hike with always a stellar sweeping view of (truly) a Great Salt Lake – an absorbing respite into Our Natural World!
Campground: cabanas, picnic tables, fire pits, pit «thrones,» spacious and all with views of the Great Salt Lake. Beware of gnats; call the park to see when gnats are swarming! Gnats were just starting to «P» me off! Showers and flush «thrones» ¼ mile away.

My friend and I wanted to ride our bikes somewhere on our day off and we ended up choosing Antelope Island State Park. It’s not terribly far from the Provo/​Orem area and the lure of seeing some scenic views and wild animals drew us in.
First off, if you’re wondering where the park is it’s one of the exits after Layton (Antelope Drive) and then you will have to drive through Syracuse to reach the entrance gate (we got the $ 3 admission because we were considered bicycles I guess). From there it’s the causeway and then some roads leading to different areas (visitor’s center and beach area or the road to the ranch and hiking trails).
We checked out as much as we could with the paved roads and hiked a little around the area where you can find egg island (off-​limits to go there apparently). Overall, it’s a nice park. There are indeed some nice views and some nice areas to hike. There’s a little grill and concessions place over in the beach area if you need some sustenance. The ranch area is interesting (try roping some «calves» and check out the historic buildings). The road quickly turns from paved to dirt after the ranch and I’m not sure if you’re allowed to go further in vehicles, but my friend and I went a little ways down to check out some buffalo we saw.
It was a little funny/​weird that we went there partially to see some buffalo (bison?) and then ended up eating some buffalo burgers at the grill.

This place is worth checking out if you are visiting Salt Lake City. It’s really one of the best places to experience the Great Salt Lake. My friends and I went here to camp. We stayed at the Bridger Bay camp sight for only $ 15 per vehicle.
You get your own camp fire fits, benches, shade, and table built into each campsite. The campgrounds itself are really incredible, it almost feels like a safari. We saw coyotes, bison, pronghorns, and jack rabbits extremely up close at different times. Super cool! There were a lot of flies, so be weary of that if that’s going to bother you. They also have bathroom pits in the campsite.
The sunset was gorgeous, the stars were surreal, and you could see lighting for miles. It was extremely windy at night. Overall, great camping experience!

If you aren’t a big fan of bugs, this definitely is not the place for you to go, at least during the summer months. There are a lot of gnats and giant spiders.
Bugs aside, Antelope Island is an a beautiful park, and such a fun (an inexpensive) place to camp! They charge a $ 10 entrance fee, but it only costs $ 15 to camp here, which includes the entrance fee! This was such an amazing deal. The drive through the island was absolutely beautiful. To get to the campsite, you have to drive down a long road that is completely surrounded by water. The campsites have their own driveways, and are elevated so you get an amazing view of the lake. Also, the campgrounds are equipped with firepits, a picnic table, and gazebo. The area for the tents are on little stones, so make sure to bring a sleeping pad if you are sensitive to that.
Here are a few things you need to know. One — they do not sell firewood at the entrance of the campground or anywhere on the island. If you want to make a fire, make sure to pick up some firewood before you enter. We had trouble finding some, but eventually found some at a grocery store gas station. Two — the gates close to the island at 10pm. After they close, there is absolutely NO entrance! When we were looking for firewood, we make it back to the entrance with 4 minutes to spare. Make sure you avoid that stress!

«OH give me a home, where the buffalo roam… where the deer and the antelope play»
That song must be about this place! I wish we had spent more time here. This is the place where time stands still. This is where you can see the great Salt Lake for miles and drive around the island for hours without a traffic light. The bison, deer, antelope, and other wild creatures really do roam here, so stay out of their way.
–45min drive from SLC
–plan for another 3−6hrs on the island
-$ 10 entrance fee per car before heading over the water onto the island
–we took the road towards Garr ranch and saw bison and antelope.
–Geocaching heaven! Lots of hikes and lots of caches! It was 35 degrees and windy when we went, but so pretty!
–Bison burgers, find them, the grill opens at lunchtime, can’t remember the exact time.
–great running trails on flat part of island
–no trees, so no shade
This place is not in the same category as the huge national parks like Zion and Bryce, but it has its own charm, and I actually liked it a lot. We had to choose between the Discovery Center or this place on our last morning in SLC, and I’m glad we came here. It’s unique, it’s QUIET, and just something we can’t see back where we are from. We had to catch our flight so we couldn’t stay long but if I ever go back to SLC, I’d come back here.