Antelope Island State Park

Fifteen-mile-long Antelope Island is the largest of the Great Salt Lake's 10 islands. Although its southern tip is just a few miles west of Salt Lake City, it seems a world away. Its rocky slopes, rolling grasslands, marshes, sand dunes, and lake views lend to its remoteness and rugged beauty. The island, which is accessed by a seven-mile-long causeway at its north end (not far from Ogden), is the best place to really experience the Great Salt Lake. Take a swim, if only to check out how easy it is to float in the salty water, and explore the island's trails on foot, bike, or horse. Be sure to bring binoculars to spot shorebirds, waterfowl, ...

Fifteen-mile-long Antelope Island is the largest of the Great Salt Lake's 10 islands. Although its southern tip is just a few miles west of Salt Lake City, it seems a world away. Its rocky slopes, rolling grasslands, marshes, sand dunes, and lake views lend to its remoteness and rugged beauty. The island, which is accessed by a seven-mile-long causeway at its north end (not far from Ogden), is the best place to really experience the Great Salt Lake. Take a swim, if only to check out how easy it is to float in the salty water, and explore the island's trails on foot, bike, or horse. Be sure to bring binoculars to spot shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, chukars, bobcats, coyotes, reptiles, antelope, and bison. A few bison were introduced to the island in 1893, and the herd now includes more than 500 animals. The best place to see the bison is along the island's eastern edge, on the road leading to the historic Fielding-Garr Ranch, which now operates as a museum.

About the Expert

Judy Jewell and W.C. McRae are frequent collaborators: together they have written Moon Handbooks to Montana, Utah, and Zion-Bryce and updated the Moon Handbooks to Oregon and Coastal Oregon. Judy wrote the Compass American Guide to Oregon.