My son Lance and I planned a trip to Antelope Island State Park on the Great Salt Lake for March 10, 2024. Our research showed that the island can get quite warm and buggy in the summer so we thought spring would be a good time to visit. Although we have lived in Utah for over 20 years, we have never been to the Great Salt Lake. As it turned out, the day we chose was a perfect, bluebird day, with highs in the mid-50s.
From the Park City area, Antelope Island is about a 2-hour drive. That might seem like a long drive, but for those of us used to driving to Utah’s National Parks, which are 3.5 to 4.5 hours away, this State Park is very accessible for a day trip. The island is accessed by a 7-mile two-lane causeway over the Great Salt Lake. There is a $15.00 fee to enter the park, so bring cash.
Exploring Antelope Island State Park
Once on the island, you feel like you have really gotten away. The island is uninhabited by humans and home to free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn (antelope) and other desert animals. On our trip, the bison were everywhere. We saw huge herds roaming around, chomping on grass. There is something very grounding about seeing wildlife in their natural habitat.
Activities on the island include hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding on the park’s backcountry trails. There is even a small restaurant, e-bike rental company and horseback riding outfitter, and the remnants of old mining claims and the Fielding Garr Ranch are open to park visitors. If you camp or stay late, you will appreciate the dark skies.
We made our first stop at the visitor center, as our goal was to spend the day hiking. Whenever I visit a national or state park, my first stop is always the visitor center, as I like to get the ‘lay of the land.’ We spoke with a volunteer about the hike we wanted to do and the easiest way to get to the trailhead. The volunteer gave us some valuable information. He told us there were two parking lots and advised us to park at the higher one. This was great advice because we were glad we didn’t have any extra walking to get back to our car after our hike. The visitor center also has a gift shop and restrooms.
Antelope Island is mostly flat with beaches and plains at the base of the island’s mountains. These steep mountains are visible from most of the Salt Lake area, reaching a maximum elevation of 6,596 feet (2,010 m), which is about 2,500 feet (762 m) above the level of the lake. Frary Peak is the island’s highest point at 6,595 feet, and that was our destination. When I suggested this hike to my son, he asked “What’s the elevation gain?” I responded, “It’s 2,500 feet in 3.5 miles.” We both knew this meant the hike would be steep.
The Frary Peak trail is a 7.0-mile out-and-back trail. It is considered a challenging route. All Trails states it takes about 4.5 hours to complete. It took us 5 hours to complete because the conditions were extremely difficult (even for mountain people who are in good physical shape like my son and me). After we reached the halfway point, the trail was exceedingly muddy and covered with snow and ice. If I had read the reviews ahead of time on All Trails, I would have known to bring poles and crampons. But, I didn’t, so there we were with my trail running shoes and Lance’s tennis shoes and no poles.
The last quarter mile to the top was downright scary. It was full of ice and we had to traverse a narrow, icy trail, clinging to the rocks on the side of the mountain so we wouldn’t slip and fall. As a mother, I had to ask myself if I was crazy to put my 23-year-old son through this.
While the views of the mountains and water from the entire hike were phenomenal, the 360-degree view from the top was truly exceptional and made the trek worth it. On a side note, there was another hiker who had poles and crampons and asked if he could follow our path because he was scared. I’m not exaggerating. The conditions made our hike really challenging. We both slipped on the ice and fell more than once, but luckily we fell on the flatter parts of the trail.
For those less adventurous, the Dooly Knob Trail is only 2.6 miles. This is considered a moderately challenging trail and takes about an hour and a half to complete, according to All Trails. Buffalo Point and Lakeside Loop are even shorter trails, for those who want to enjoy the incredible views and wildlife but are looking for less of a physical challenge.
Antelope Island is open daily year-round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Check the website for hours and I recommend a visit on a warmer day in the spring before it gets too hot and buggy. As always, make sure you carry plenty of food and water with you.
Have you been to Antelope Island? What was your experience like?