As avid hikers, we occasionally want easier trails to explore where we can take our time and it’s not a race to the finish line. When we first came to Utah, we discovered these hikes at Antelope Island State Park.

In my opinion, Antelope Island is the best kept secret for laid-back trails with not only a view, but that immerses you into a feeling of complete isolation. We always joke that it’s like entering Jurassic Park – considering we’ve only ever experienced it thus far in the winter where snow, wind, and fog overtakes the scenery – it’s not too far of a stretch!

All You Need to Know

Antelope Island State Park is about 45 minutes North of Salt Lake City, a very easy commute if you want to go a little further off the beaten path of the valley hiking spots. It’s a small peninsula within the Great Salt Lake and is unbelievably private.

It’s obscure on your way there, cutting through your average town scenery, then farm land, and coming to the gates. It does cost $10.00 for entrance into the park, and while there is parking before the gates, I highly recommend paying the entrance fee.

Beyond the gate is at least 2 miles of land-bridge road going towards Antelope Island across the lake, so you would be hard-pressed to walk it. If you are biking – then great! Considering though that the nearest trail-head within the park is an added mile or two onto the island, you would be worn out by the time you made it there!

Where is Everyone?

While I can’t speak for summer, in the winter it’s very desolate in the park. Which makes for great hiking and enjoying yourself without the pressures of keeping up with a crowded trail.

The majority of what you will see hiking is a lot of wildlife, as there are free-roaming Bison throughout the entire island. We’ve also come across numerous species of birds, rabbits, deer, and a fox.

There is such a vast majority of wildlife that you feel very immersed in nature and it’s the best possible excursion.

The Most Laid-Back Trail

Antelope Island is much larger than you would assume, hosting nine trail heads and many trails splitting off from those trail heads. Each one will give you spectacular views, with scarce foliage, lake views all around, plains and dense rock formations.

The most recent trailhead we ventured on at Antelope Island State Park was the Lakeside Trail Loop, a very laid-back trail with beautiful views and plenty of Bison along the way.

Of course, when we entered the trail on our most recent venture, we didn’t realize that the trail head entrance we started at (the Bridger Bay Campground) was removed as an entry point due to high impact on the campground.

So, we went onward unassumingly.

Adventuring Back to the Car

Imagine our confusion when we realized as we exited our “loop trail” at the White Rock Campground to discover that we could either go back the way we came or finish the loop off by going by road back to the car.

We opted for taking the roads back to our entry point, which was more than likely the same distance, if not worse because when we build roads it doesn’t matter the incline …

At this point of exiting the trail, it was also snowing profusely, so we trekked back to the car in heavy snowfall following the roads back to our parking area. It more than made up the proposed 4.8 mile loop trail shown on the map, check out our official stats below!

Our Best Advice

1. Honestly, read the trailhead signs and adhere to them!

2. Be cautious around the bison, there are signs everywhere saying not to approach them.

As the trail we did was relatively easy, with minimal inclines other than a brief detour up the face of the mountain to photograph a grazing bison, it’s the best-kept secret for easier hikes in the off-season.

You will also find a Visitor’s Center that is still open during the winter, and at all the trail heads there are restrooms open as well.

If you want to see the bison more closely, there is a ranch if you follow the roads for Park Headquarters where they have pens and closed fences to see some of them up close and personal. Although, I still prefer to see them roaming free around the park!

The Best Attire Preparations

Even though the trails are easier, the weather in the off-season is very windy and cold as a result. Each time we have been it has snowed, and the wind chill requires you to bundle up, specifically your face and hands.

Although you can use a scarf to bundle up around your neck and face, I highly recommend adding a neck gaiter to your winter hiking gear! They are great for heavy wind conditions but easy to manage because wrapping a scarf constantly can be a nightmare.

Any windbreaker attire would be the best for the winter here as well, the wind will bite your skin if you aren’t well-prepared.

Final Thoughts

While I love Antelope Island hikes for easy days, it truly is the best-kept secret for winter hiking trails that don’t need too much gear preparation. If you’re in the Salt Lake City area, you should definitely venture to Antelope Island and do any of the trails.

I can’t wait to see the difference in the scenery when Summer comes around!