Antelope Island State Park: The Best Salt Lake City Day Trip

I never planned to visit Antelope Island State Park. 

But at the end of a three-night/two-day stay in Jackson Hole, WY, my friend Lisa was kind enough to drive me the four hours to the Salt Lake City airport before an early morning flight. While she needed to get home to her family that evening, we had a little downtime to get out of the car and explore the Salt Lake City area before we parted ways. But what does a person do in Salt Lake City, UT? I’d focused all my trip planning energy on Jackson Hole. I knew next to nothing about Salt Lake City attractions.  

Since I’d driven through the city once before, I’d already seen the Temple . . . albeit from a distance. But it didn’t make sense to get any closer to a building we couldn’t go inside.  

We talked about visiting Red Butte Gardens near the Natural History Museum. But it was early April. It felt unlikely much would be green, let alone blooming.

 “I just kind of want to see the lake,” I said. I’d flown over the Great Salt Lake on my way to Jackson three days earlier and had been fascinated by this salt rimmed body of water nestled in sand and mountains. So we made one of the best decisions of the whole trip . . .  we headed to Utah’s Antelope Island State Park.

Can’t stick around? Pin now to at Antelope Island State Park to your Utah travel itinerary.

What is Antelope Island?

Antelope Island is the largest of 17 named islands in Great Salt Lake. This long and skinny island covers 42 square miles and stretches 11 miles from tip to tip. The entire island is a state park.

If you look at a map, Antelope Island might look more like a peninsula than an island. That’s because the Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, is currently at record lows. The lake usually covers an average of 1700 square miles. As of April 2022, when we visited, the lake covered only 950 square miles. In these low water conditions, sandy expanses now connect the island with mainland. However, the only way to reach Antelope Island remains a seven-mile causeway.

You’re more likely to see bison than antelope on Antelope Island these days. In fact, antelope as well as bighorn sheep had to be reintroduced to the island in the 1990s. The island has been home to people since the Paleolithic times and has probably had many different names throughout the millennia. However, when white settlers John C. Fremont and Kit Carson stumbled upon the island in 1845, they found large pronghorn herds and dubbed the island “Antelope Island.”

Although no one lives on Antelope Island today, in the 19th century several Mormon settlers called Antelope Island home. For over a century – until 1984 – Antelope Island hosted an active cattle ranch. You can visit remnants of the Fielding Garr Ranch, including the oldest Mormon house still on its original foundations, on the island’s southeast end. The northern portion of the island became a state park in 1969. Since 1981, the entire island has been run by the Utah Department of Natural Resources as Antelope Island State Park.

How To Get To Antelope Island State Park

Antelope Island sits only about 18 miles as the crow flies from Salt Lake City. However, the state park is located 43 miles, or just under a one-hour drive, northwest of downtown Salt Lake City. You access the state park via a seven-mile causeway (built in 1992) that delivers you to the island’s northern tip, right near the visitor center.

Driving directions to Antelope Island State Park

From Salt Lake City take Interstate 15 north for 25 miles. Take exit 332 and drive another 15 miles to reach the island. You’ll pass the state park entrance pay station right before you enter the causeway.

What To Know Before Visiting Antelope Island State Park

• There’s a $15 per vehicle fee to visit for the day. Camping costs $20 – $40 per night depending on which of the state park’s five campgrounds you opt for.

• We were lucky enough to visit on an absolutely idyllic day. The sun was shining, the flowers were blooming, and blessedly, the bugs weren’t biting. But if you visit during warm weather months, be prepared for bugs. From mid-April until the fall, you’ll find insects ready and willing to bite. The biting bugs start with gnats (also known as no-see-ums) from mid-April into June while mosquitoes linger into fall. If you’re sensitive to bugs, throw in some bug repellant. The gnats don’t respond to bug spray, so bring bug nets for an early spring visit.

• In the summer, you’ll also encounter brine flies at Antelope Island. Similar in appearance to house flies, these non-biting flies swarm the island’s shores. They fly off when you approach, so they aren’t threatening, just unsightly. 

• As you probably expect, there aren’t many amenities available to Antelope Island visitors. Make sure you have a fun tank of gas and all the groceries and snacks you need before crossing the causeway.

• There’s a water bottle filling station in the visitor center.

• During high season (March 1 – November 1), you can grab a meal at Island Buffalo Grill on the Bridger Bay Beach near the visitor center. The grill generally opens at noon and closes by 6 p.m.

• With no trees to speak of, unless you’re in the lee of the islands’ mountains, there’s essentially no shade on Antelope Island. Pack sunscreen!

Why Visit Antelope Island State Park

I figured I’d enjoy our quick stop at Antelope Island, but I absolutely fell in love. I don’t think the Salt Lake City area gets enough credit for being stunningly beautiful. If you want to get a good look at the Great Salt Lake like I did, this is the perfect Salt Lake City day trip. You’ll also get great views of Salt Lake City and the Rocky Mountains.

The park offers more than a dozen hiking trails of varying difficulty. Trail length ranges from less than a mile to over 11 miles. Whether you’re looking for a short leg-stretcher or an all day hike, this state park’s got you covered.  

The island also offers amazing bison viewing opportunities. You can answer all your questions about the Great Salt Lake in the Visitor Center. If you’re visiting with kids, check out the park’s Junior Ranger program.

Things To Do at Antelope Island State Park

Watch bison

Although bison probably always came and went from Antelope Island, white settlers established the current herd in 1893. Between 500 – 750 bison live on the island. The park does an annual round-up and auction each fall to keep the herd at a manageable 550 head.

We saw bison almost as soon as we drove onto the island. Although the herd wanders all over the island, they tend to congregate on the east side. If you see bison during your visit, remember that they always have the right of way. Give them a wide berth, change course if they’re blocking a trail, and let them clear the roadway on their own time. 

Wildlife viewing

Bison aren’t the only critters who call Antelope Island home. You’ll also find pronghorns (aka antelope), bighorn sheep, mule deer, and more. The park’s also known for its bird habitat, especially (but not surprisingly) shorebirds.

Camp

Antelope Island State Park offers five different campgrounds. Facilities range from drive-in sites to hike-in backcountry sites. Both Bridger Bay and White Rock Bay campgrounds can accommodate RVs and tents, while Ladyfinger Campground is limited to tents. Hikers can reserve one of the park’s four backcountry sites on the Split Rock Loop.

Soak up the views

You can’t beat Antelope Island’s views. This steep little island provides sweeping views of both the Great Salt Lake and the Rocky Mountains. It doesn’t hurt that we visited on an absolutely magical spring day when purple phlox had burst into bloom on all the island’s hillsides.  A hike up into the island’s mountains only improves the views.

Have a beach day

Did you know you could have a full-on beach day in Utah?

Obviously, I knew that the Great Salt Lake was full of salt water, but I kind of put it in the same category as the other large inland lake I know well – Lake Superior. I figured that if the Great Salt Lake had beaches, they wouldn’t be, well, that “beach-y.”

But if it weren’t for the Rocky Mountains in the background, you’d be forgiven if you thought you were in Florida when you step out onto Bridger Bay Beach. This sandy expanse complete with picnic pavilions is located about a ¼ mile hike from the parking area. With the current low lake levels, you’ll need to wade out for quite a bit if you want to swim. Afterwards, rinse off the salt in the shower facilities located in between the beach parking lots.

Learn about the Great Salt Lake at the visitor center

The Antelope Island State Park visitor center provides a concise overview of the island’s ecology: from wildlife to the Great Salt Lake itself. For a deeper dive into the park’s history, you can watch a 20-minute film in the theatre. Don’t worry, there’s a gift shop too! I especially enjoyed the “stay salty” merch. 

Hike

An extensive network of hiking trails covers Antelope Island. You’ll find 15 different hiking trails totaling 45 miles. Some of the trails (like Ladyfinger Point and Frary Homestead) are so short, they barely qualify as hikes. But while many of Antelope Island’s hiking trails are relatively flat and easy, hikers looking for a challenge can find one by heading into the mountains. With backcountry camping sites available on the Split Rock Loop, you can even do a multi-day hike.

Bicycling

You can’t bike on Antelope Island State Park’s roads, but the park allows bikes on hiking trails. Any hiking trail that you can properly ride on bicycle on that is . . . . The state park estimates that of the island’s 45 miles of hiking trails, about 25 miles are accessible to cyclists. Antelope Ebikes, located right at the island’s northern tip, can hook you up with a bike. They also offer tours and shuttle service.

Learn about the island’s human history

Both Lisa and I grew up on a steady diet of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie books, so we made a beeline to Frary Interpretative Homestead Site. Located on the island’s east side, interpretative signs tell the story of the 1890s Frary family homestead. The site spells out the harsh reality of trying to eke out a living in a less than forgiving environment. Most notably, the site contains Alice Frary’s grave.

If you continue down the Main Park Road past the homestead, you’ll reach Fielding Garr Ranch. This ranch dates back to 1848. Its location was chosen because of its proximity to a natural spring – one of about 40 springs on the island. Although the ranch no longer operates, we can thank it for the island’s impressive bison population. Many of the old buildings and ranching equipment still stand.

Go boating or kayaking

I didn’t notice any boats out on Great Salt Lake during our brief visit, but Antelope Island has long been a destination for boaters. Launch your boat at the marina right at the end of the causeway as you enter the island.

The one thing you can’t do while boating on the Great Salt Lake? Catch fish. The lake is simply too salty to support any aquatic life other than flies and shrimp.

Is Antelope Island State Park worth visiting?

In a word: yes! I loved our all too brief visit to Antelope Island State Park. It really made me reconsider Salt Lake City as a vacation destination. With wildlife viewing opportunities, stunning views, and plenty of amenities and hikes, you can easily base an entire camping trip around a stay on this island.

I’d love to return some day to fully explore the hiking trails and maybe even camp a night or two. While I realize we possibly saw the state park at its absolute best – bluebird skies, blooming flowers, no bugs – I really think this is such a special spot. It has just the right mix of human history and outdoor adventure.  And I’m not sure I’ll ever get over the fact that you can go on a beach vacation in northern Utah!