15 Aug 5 Best Hikes on Antelope Island State Park in Utah

My two favorite destinations near Salt Lake City are the Bonneville Salt Flats and Antelope Island State Park. Antelope Island sits on the southern edge of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. People flock to the park to engage in a variety of activities, for example hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, stargazing, camping, swimming, and more. However, the Antelope Island hikes often steal the show. Imagine this – you just reached the end of a trail and now have 360 degree, unobstructed views of the state park, Great Salt Lake, and Wasatch Front. Want to experience even better views? Plan to hike during sunrise or sunset.

While there are a lot of hikes available on Antelope Island State Park, I narrowed it down to the top five (in my opinion) to help make your decision a bit easier. Choose one of the longer hikes or even two or three of the shorter ones.

Contents:

A) 5 Best Antelope Island Hikes:

1) Buffalo Point Trail (at Sunrise)

2) Frary Peak Trail

3) Dooly Knob Trail

4) Lake Side Loop Trail

5) Lady Finger Trail

B) Other Park Information:

6) Location and Directions

7) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

8) Best Time to Visit

9) Recommended Items to Bring

10) Words of Caution on the Wildlife

11) Additional Park Attractions

A) 5 Best Antelope Island Hikes

There are over a dozen different hiking trails on Antelope Island. However, I narrowed it down to the top five for you. They all have incredible views, so you truly cannot choose a bad trail. Moreover, some of the hikes below are longer while others are shorter, some have a lot of elevation gain while other have minimal elevation gain, etc.

Please, please, please bring bug spray. I cannot tell you how many reviews I read of the below Antelope Island hikes where people mentioned the bugs. Additionally, bring a mosquito head night and wear clothing to cover all of your skin if you hike from the months of April through June to avoid getting bit by the no-see-ums. More detailed information on recommended items to bring on the Antelope Island hikes is in section eight below.

Please respect the hiking trails as well as the park in general. It is prohibited to remove any resource, no matter whether cultural or natural, from the park. Additionally, dogs and horses are only allowed on certain trails. Be sure to check the signs at the trailheads for each hike you plan to complete. Furthermore, you can only fly drones from December to February in the park, and you must have a permit to do so. You can always find more information on the FAQ page for Antelope Island State Park or by contacting them directly.

1) Buffalo Point Trail (at Sunrise) – Best Antelope Island Hikes

The Buffalo Point Trail is a one mile (~1.6 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 260 feet (~80 meters) in elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the trail in 35 minutes. It is a moderate trail due to the amount of elevation gain over such a short distance. Additionally, it is located in the northern section of the park, just below Bridger Bay Campground.

The trail is essentially a path of dirt and gravel. When you visit, you might notice there are multiple different paths once you get close to the top. It appears people forged their own paths up the mountain, though do your best to stay on the official trail. Moreover, there are a few benches along the trail if need a break or just want to stop and appreciate the view.

At the top you can enjoy 360 degree, panoramic views of Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake. There is plenty of room at the top of the trail to walk around and view the park from all angles. For even better views, I recommend you visit at sunrise. We did this hike at sunrise, and the views were stunning. However, to be at the top for sunrise around 6:20am (in the month of July), we had to enter the park exactly at 6am, make our way straight to the trailhead, and then begin hiking immediately. The sun just started to peak over the mountain when we reached the top of the trail.

The Buffalo Point Trail takes the number one spot on my list of the best Antelope Island hikes because it offers incredible views, is a moderate trail, and is one of the best spots in the park to watch the sunrise.

Sunrise at the top of the Buffalo Point Trail

2) Frary Peak Trail

Second up on the list of the best Antelope Island hikes is the Frary Peak Trail. The Frary Peak Trail is a 6.9 mile (~11.1 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 2,330 feet (~710 meters) in elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the trail in four and a half hours. It is a difficult trail due to the amount of elevation gain and the mileage. Additionally, it is located closer to the middle of the park, just slightly north of Frary Homestead.

If you have heard of one trail in Antelope Island State Park, then it was probably this one. Frary Peak is the highest point on the island, offering unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape. However, you do have to work for that view. This trail is longer and has more elevation gain than any other trail mentioned on this list. Furthermore, the last portion of the trail is said to be the most difficult. The trail is steep and not in the best condition past the weather station.

Definitely bring along ample water and sunscreen if you hike Frary Peak in the summer, for there is no shade along the trail. Moreover, I recommend you start hiking early to avoid the midday and afternoon heat.

Frary Peak is another great option for a sunrise or sunset hike due to its unobstructed views. Just be sure to plan ahead as it will take you a good two and a half hours to reach the top.

Map of the hikes within Antelope Island State Park

3) Dooly Knob Trail – Best Antelope Island Hikes

The Dooly Knob Trail is a 2.4 mile (~3.9 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 700 feet (~213 meters) in elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the trail in one and a half hours. It is a moderate trail due to its moderate amount of elevation gain over a short distance. Additionally, it is located closer to the middle of the park, just slightly north of Frary Homestead.

The trail begins at the same location as the Frary Peak Trail mentioned above. You can thus easily do both trails within the same day if you love hiking. After about a half mile or so, the Dooly Knob Trail and Frary Peak Trail diverge from one another, so you have to make a choice at that point. If you want a shorter hike with less elevation gain, then the Dooly Knob Trail is the one for you.

The trail is generally made up of dirt and gravel. While this is not a problem on the way up, some people noted difficulties on the descent, specifically slipping on the gravel. I recommend wearing a pair of hiking shoes to make the descent easier.

At the top of the trail are beautiful views of the Great Salt Lake as well as the Wasatch Front. If you are unaware of the Wasatch Front, it is a portion of northern Utah that has U-shaped canyons from the Wasatch Mountains.

4) Lake Side Loop Trail

The Lake Side Loop Trail is a 5.1 mile (~8.2 kilometer) loop trail with approximately 320 feet (~98 meters) in elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the trail in one hour and 45 minutes. It is an easy trail due to its minimal elevation gain. Additionally, it is located in the northern section of the park, specifically in the southwestern corner of the White Rock Bay Campground.

The trail begins slightly inland but quickly makes it way to the water. Therefore, you can enjoy hiking right alongside the Great Salt Lake for the majority of the trail. While the three trails above offers views from above, this trail offers a view from ground level.

If you wish, you can even make a side detour off the trail to the beach at Bridger Bay and go for a swim. However, please note that the beach can be a bit dried up in the summer months. The sand part of the beach is quite large when this is the case, so you might have to walk a couple of minutes to reach the water’s edge.

It is possible to see bison on any of the Antelope Island hikes. However, I saw more comments about running into bison on this trail compared to all of the others. If you see a bison along the trail, do not approach them. Give them space. Either turn back round or hike in a wide arc around them.

View of the Great Salt Lake from Antelope Island

5) Lady Finger Trail – Best Antelope Island Hikes 

Rounding up the list of the best Antelope Island hikes is the Lady Finger Trail. The Lady Finger Trail is a 0.4 mile (~0.6 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 15 feet (~5 meters) in elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the trail in 10 minutes. It is an easy trail due to its short length and minimal elevation gain. Additionally, it is located close to the northern tip of the park, just down the road from the visitor center.

If you are looking for an easy and short trail with good views, then this is the trail for you. The trail is more of a walk than a hike, but sometimes that is exactly what you want. Moreover, you can even hike Lady Finger as a cool-down trail after hiking one of the more difficult trails such as Frary Peak.

Please keep in mind the trail is pretty rocky at points. While some people love climbing over the rocks and view it as an adventure, others do not want rocks on their hiking trail. Make sure you know your preference so that you are not surprised or disgruntled by this trail. You do not have to scramble over any large boulders or anything like that along the trail, but rather you just need to watch your footing around rocks on the trail.

Additionally, Lady Finger Trail is one of the best Antelope Island hikes for sunset. Once you reach the end, find a spot to sit down and enjoy the views.

View of the Great Salt Lake from Antelope Island

B) Other Park Information

Now that we have gone over the five best Antelope Island hikes, it is time to talk about some general park logistics. While this information may not be as exciting, it is equally as important for you to know so that you can have the best visit possible.

6) Location and Directions

Antelope Island State Park is located in northeastern Utah. Moreover, it is only an hour drive northwest of downtown Salt Lake City. Therefore, you absolutely must plan a visit to the state park when you are in town. You can plan an entire day trip or a visit for just the evening. No matter which you choose, you should have time in your itinerary for at least one of the best Antelope Island hikes mentioned above.

For reference, Antelope Island is approximately five hours north of Zion National Park in southern Utah. If you head there anytime soon, consider adding one of Zion’s most difficult hikes to your itinerary.

Directions to the Island

It is important to note that there is only one entrance (as well as exit) for Antelope Island State Park. Therefore, all traffic must enter and exit through this entrance. Antelope Island Causeway Tollbooth is the name of the entrance, and it is located on Antelope Island Road in the town of Syracuse, Utah. Moreover, this is where you pay to enter the park. More information on that in the next section.

Furthermore, the Antelope Island Causeway Tollbooth is located at the northern end of the park. You might think the park is just a short drive from Salt Lake City when looking at the map. However, do not forget there is only one entrance, and it is located at the northeastern tip of the park.

Once you pass through the entrance, you then drive across the seven-mile long causeway. The causeway connects Antelope Island State Park to the town of Syracuse on the mainland. The end of the causeway signals that you made it onto the island!

When looking at a map, you can see there is one main road that leads from the northern to the southern end of the park. Moreover, there are a bunch of other side roads on Antelope Island that lead to different attractions, for example some of the hikes mentioned above. The park is incredibly scenic, and wildlife are roaming everywhere. I recommend you take time to just drive along the road, even if you do not have a specific destination. We drove down the road for about 10 minutes past our final destination, and we saw a few lone bison as well as an entire herd.

Causeway leading from the mainland to Antelope Island State Park

Parking on the Island

Parking is quite easy on the island. Just about every single attraction, including the Antelope Island hikes mentioned above, has their own designated parking lot. I have visited the island twice, once in May (in the afternoon) and once in July (in the early morning). I did not have any issues finding parking either time.

Moreover, it is quite common for people to pull off on the side of the road for a couple of minutes when they see wildlife, for example bison.

Nearby Airports to the Island

The closest international airport is the Salt Lake City International Airport. It is located one hour southeast of the state park. Additionally, there is the Ogden-Hinckley Airport 45 minutes northeast of the state park. However, this is a regional airport and is thus fairly small.

There are no public transportation options from either airport to the state park. Ride share services such as Uber are also probably not the best option since you would then have no way to get around the park once they drop you off. Therefore, your best option is to rent a car from the airport.

Lodging on the Island

If you want to stay close to the park, then look for hotel options within the town of Clearfield, Utah. Clearfield is only a 15-minute drive from the tollbooth before the causeway. For a trip on a budget, book a room at the Days Inn by Wyndham Clearfield or the Ameri-Stay Inn and Suites. While they do not have high reviews, they are the cheapest options.

On the other hand, you can stay the night in Salt Lake City if you want to explore the city a bit. As you can imagine, there are a ton of hotel options in the city. For a luxurious stay, book a room at the Marriott Salt Lake City Center or the Grand America Hotel.

Furthermore, you can even book a campsite within Antelope Island State Park if you want to truly take advantage of your time and complete as many hikes as possible. There are three campgrounds within the park: (1) Ladyfinger Campground (2) Bridger Bay Campground (3) White Rock Bay Campground. All three of them are located right by the water in the northern section of the park. Moreover, they have different camping options, for example cottages as well as sites for groups, tents, partial hookup, etc.

Sunrise peaking through the bushes at the top of the Buffalo Point Trail

7) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

First, the opening hours of the park differ in the winter season compared to all other seasons. From November to February, the park is open from 6am to 6pm. From March to October, the park is open from 6am to 10pm. Moreover, the park is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Please keep in mind that the hours are strictly enforced. The Antelope Island Causeway Tollbooth entrance has a gate, and they close the gate when the park closes. Additionally, you cannot enter the park before it opens for the day as the gate remains down until 6am exactly.

The visitor center and Fielding Garr Ranch have slightly different hours than the park. From May 16th to September 15th, these two attractions are open from 9am to 6pm. From September 16th to May 15, they are open from 9am to 5pm.

Entrance Fee

There is an entrance fee to visit Antelope Island State Park, but it differs based on your status and mode of transportation. For example, the entrance fee is $15 for a standard vehicle with up to eight people. The fee is $5 for motorcyclists, $3 for pedestrians and bicyclists, and $10 for older individuals (per vehicle with up to eight people). Moreover, you can choose to purchase an annual pass to the state park for $65. Check out the Antelope Island State Park website for more information.

Furthermore, there is an additional fee if you are staying in a campground for the night. The fee differs based on the campground and the type of campsite.

8) Best Time to Visit

In my opinion, the best time to visit the state park and to complete one or more of the Antelope Island hikes listed above is during the early fall months, for example September or October. While the months of April through June have moderate temperatures, you have to deal with the no-see-ums (aka tiny flies that bite). Definitely wear a mosquito head net as well as long pants and long sleeves if you visit from April through June. The no-see-ums typically disappear by June, but then the hot temperatures of the summer begin to settle in for July and August. In the winters, you can expect to experience pretty cold temperatures as well as snow on the island. That being said, you can enjoy moderate temperatures and refuge from the no-see-ums if you visit in the early fall months.

I have visited in both May as well as July. The amount of bugs on the island in May was almost unbelievable, and I was not completely prepared for them. On the other hand, the temperature on the island in July was nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (~38 Celsius). It was not the ideal temperature to complete one of the longer Antelope Island hikes, for example Frary Peak.

Sometimes you are not able to control exactly when you visit the island, for example both of my visits were during road trips across the US. Nevertheless, if I was planning a specific trip just to Antelope Island State Park, I would make sure to plan it for September or October.

Herd of bison at Antelope Island State Park

9) Recommended Items to Bring

1. Water bottle: You need water if you plan on doing any of the Antelope Island hikes listed above. There is essentially no shade within the park, which means there is no shade on any of the hiking trails. Consider a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic waste. They also keep your water cooler due to their insulation – bonus!

Hygiene

2. Sunscreen: While this might not be as important on a cloudy day, it will be on a day full of beautiful clear skies. Walking around even for just 30 minutes can lead to sunburn if you have fair skin.

3. Bug spray: Mosquitos, gnats, and any other little type of fly can ruin even the best Antelope Island hikes. You cannot truly yourself if you are swatting away bugs from your face the whole time. Therefore, be prepared with bug spray or a mosquito repellent bracelet. I forgot to put on bug spray before my sunrise hike to Buffalo Point, and that was a mistake. As the sun kept rising in the sky, the bugs kept bothering me more and more. Do not worry, I put it on as soon as I got back to the car. 

4. Mosquito Head Net: I cannot emphasize enough that head nets are a necessity if you visit the park from the months of April through June. During these months, bugs known as biting gnats (or no-see-ums) appear, and they are everywhere. To make matters worse, bug spray is not effective in deterring these biting gnats. Therefore, you want to be prepared with a mosquito head net. Additionally, you might want to wear long pants and a long-sleeve shirt.

Hiking Apparel for the Best Hikes on Antelope Island

5. Hiking shoes: Hiking shoes will come in handy as you conquer the best Antelope Island hikes. I did not own a pair of hiking shoes for a long time. However, I finally splurged and bought myself a pair. Hiking shoes are generally not cheap, though I will say they are well worth the investment. They provide grip and traction to help keep you safe while hiking.

6. Hiking poles: While hiking poles might not be a necessity for one of the shorter trails, they can definitely come in handy on one of the more strenuous trails listed above. A little extra support can go a long way.

7. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice along the hiking trails. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of shoes.

Sunrise at the mid-point of the Buffalo Point Trail

10) Words of Caution on the Wildlife

While there are a lot of interesting wildlife on the island, for example bison and pronghorns, there are also some pesky bugs. Make sure you are prepared to encounter any and all wildlife as you conquer the best Antelope Island hikes.

The BUGS

Let us start off by discussing the bugs. There are four main types of bugs that have their home on Antelope Island: (1) biting gnats (2) midges (3) mosquitos (4) brine flies. It it important to know details about each type of bug, especially when they appear on the island. You do not want to show up for one of the best Antelope Island hikes and then not be able to complete it due to the fact you were unprepared for the bugs.

First, biting gnats, also known as no-see-ums, inhabit the island during the months of April through June. They are exactly as their name indicates – tiny flies that bite. Unfortunately, bug spray does not repel the biting gnats, so you will have to take other measures. For example, you can wear a mosquito head net to protect your face and neck.

Second, midges inhabit the island from spring through early fall. They are tiny flies, though thankfully they do not bite. You might notice the midges swarming your car when driving along the causeway during the indicated months, especially if you pull off on the side of the road. Do not roll down your windows or you will have dozens of them in your car within seconds.

Third, mosquitos inhabit the island from the middle of spring through early fall. Definitely put on bug spray if you visit during these months to help repel the mosquitos.

Fourth, brine flies inhabit the island from summer through fall. However, they can generally be found along the shoreline at all times of the year. As a bonus, they do not bite. If you walk towards them, they will generally move out of the way.

Main road along Antelope Island State Park

Bison

Bison are often hailed as one of the main attractions of Antelope Island State Park. During any point in the year, the park can have anywhere from around 500 to 700 bison. Therefore, you are likely to see at least one bison (if not a whole herd) while driving or hiking on the island. As mentioned above, I read more reviews of people seeing bison on the Lady Finger Trail compared to any of the other Antelope Island hikes.

While bison are quite beautiful (in my opinion) and look fluffy, that does not mean they are friendly. They are wildlife after all. Here are a few important safety tips to protect yourself as well as the bison.

First, you are too close to a bison if it stops what it is doing and looks at you. You should then slowly back away. Second, stop for bison crossing the road and do not exit your vehicle. Third, do not walk closer to bison for a better photo. Simply zoom in and take a photo from your current location. Fourth, do not pass close by a bison if they are on or near a hiking trail. Instead, you should turn around or walk in a large arc to avoid the bison.

If you think you can outrun or fight a bison, you are wrong. Bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (~907 kilograms) and run at 35 miles per hour (~56 kilometers per hour).

Other Wildlife

Antelope Island State Park has a variety of other animals within its borders in addition to bugs and bison. For example, there are mule deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn. While pronghorns are not technically antelope, Antelope Island received its name from them. The individuals who named the island mistook the pronghorns for antelope.

While you can encounter any of these animals on one of your Antelope Island hikes, it is most likely that you will encounter a bighorn sheep or mule deer (in addition to the bugs and bison).

Bison on the side of the road at Antelope Island State Park

11) Additional Park Attractions

While the Antelope Island hikes are usually the main attractions, there are a few other places on the island you should make it a priority to visit. First, check out the Antelope Island State Park Visitor Center. There are informational exhibits here as well as a small gift shop. If you forget to bring mosquito head nets with you, you can purchase them here.

Second, walk along the beach at Bridger Bay. In addition to walking on the beach, you can also go swimming here. Third, stop by Island Buffalo Grill, which is right beside the beach area. You can even order a buffalo burger. Fourth, head a bit south on the island to Fielding Garr Ranch. This 19th-century farm is a historical landmark. Fifth, go for a bike ride around the island. During my last visit I saw at least 10 to 20 bikers when driving around the main road.

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