Antelope Island, Utah: Day Trip Guide
This is your day trip guide to Antelope Island! Here are 5 things to know before you go! Or skip down to the bottom to get the high level overview and logistical details.
1.There are over 45 miles of trails on the island! Take your pick of over a dozen hikes that span across the island. The map of the island shows you a just how many trails there are — whatever kind of hike you’re in the mood for (length/dificulty), I guarantee there’ll be one for you.
John and I did the Buffalo Point Trail and saw great 360 views of the grassy plains, the bay, and mountains. We also did the Gravel Pit Trail and saw views of both sides of the island: Farmington Bay and White Rock Bay.
2. CAUTION: BUGS BUG BUGS!
Whatever you need to do… either drown yourself in bug spray or wear clothes to cover every inch of skin… prepare to battle the bugs! They were so bad while we were hiking that we actually turned around to head back to the car, after only hiking one mile. The next day, I had bug bites covering my entire back, both arms, and back of my legs. It was brutal! However, important to note, that the bugs weren’t too bad on the beach!
3. Watch out for bison! As you’re driving around the island, you’ll see herds of bison roaming the grass. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch some lone bison wandering off and getting rather close to the road. One bison started walking right towards our car— I kinda got freaked, telling John “DRIVEEE!!!” But it made for some really awesome up-close shots! Check out the video to see the action footage!
Some quick fun facts about bison:
1. Bison can run up to 40 MPH. No you can’t outrun a bison.
2. You can tell a bison’s mood by its tail. If the tail is standing straight up…BEWARE.
3. Bison are the largest mammal in North America. Males can weigh up to 2,000 lbs and females 1,000 lbs.
4. You can swim! ~or float rather!~
Bridger Bay Beach is a perfect place to get in the water and is one of the popular swimming holes in SLC! There’s plenty of parking in the lot and easy beach access with multiple entrance points to get down down to the beach. If you plan to get in the water, there are free public showers for you to use to wash off the salty water. John and I only went about knee-deep into the water because it was getting chilly — but we fully plan to go back next summer to actually swim!
A few late notes: 1) There’s a marina with boat access, but it was so dry there was no water and the boats were all docked up at the beach. 2) There’s a weird sulfury smell by the water…we’re not totally sure what it is — but just don’t freak out if you are getting weird wafts.
5. Extend your day trip and stay the night! There are four campsites on the island:
Bridger Bay Campground has 25 units for tents and RVs + allows 8 people per site. $20 camping fee per
White Rock Bay Campsite is larger and allows for bigger groups of 16 and you can set up tents and RVs! We drove through this area and there were a few bison roaming around the RVs!
Lakeside Group Campsite offers campsite for a capacity of 80 people. $180 camping fee per site.
Ladyfinger Campground is right by the entrance of the island. It offers small tent sites for up to 4 people per site. $20 camping fee per site.
Call here to reserve your campsite: 800-322-3770
Overview + Logistics
Getting there: Easy drive - 40 minutes from Salt Lake City
Address: Antelope Island State Park | 4528 West 1700 South Syracuse, UT 84075
Contact Info: (801) 773-2941 Entrance Gate | (801) 725-9263 Visitor Center
Entrance Fees:
$15 Day-Use per vehicle
$10 Day-Use for Utah senior residents
$3 Cyclists and Pedestrians
$75 Annual Day-Use Pass (causeway pass is separate)
$35 Senior Adventure (annual) Pass
I hope this helps you plan your trip to Antelope Island! Check out this quick video from our day on the island. Enjoy!
-Megan