Antelope Island State Park

Just minutes from the northern suburbs of Salt Lake City is Antelope Island State Park.  We visited during March 2012.  There is a $9 fee per vehicle that includes the Davis County causeway fee.  Once we crossed Farmington Bay on the causeway, we stopped at the very nice visitor center with a small gift shop.  Antelope Island is the largest of eight islands in the Great Salt Lake and is the only one accessible by car.  

View of the causeway from the visitor center

Wasatch Range beyond Farmington Bay

Bridger Bay from the visitor center area

There are miles of hiking trails in the park, but we skipped most of those as weren't prepared to hike in the snow that was falling.  Instead, we drove up to the parking lot at Buffalo Point to see more of the island and the lake.  We thought about taking the trail on up to the top of the ridge, but the wind was so strong that we decided against it.

Trail at Buffalo Point

Snow draped bison from the trail

White Rock Bay

Leaving Buffalo Point, we drove past the buffalo pens that are used in the annual roundup and then headed south to Fielding Garr Ranch.  Along the way, we saw several bison up close and almost too personal.  Returning, we turned up the only side road to a gravel parking area with great views of the Wasatch Range and the suburban cities of Layton and Bountiful.

The road to Fielding Garr Ranch

Bison herd with the Oquirrh
Mountains in the distance

Squall line obscures Layton

The park website is at http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island.