Well, Antelope Island is a memorable place, but what I won’t forget is the mosquitoes.
I was lucky to be able to go to Layton, Utah, for the annual blogger Everything Food Conference this past April. Layton is 30min north from Salt Lake City International Airport, where I landed coming from Miami, Florida.
I would say I didn’t know much about Salt Lake City besides been a beautiful ski destination on the Great Salt Lake edge and the headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I booked a free day before and one after the conference to explore.
After a bit of research, I discovered that the hotel I was staying in Layton was only a few minutes drive to Antelope Island. You know me, can’t pass a nature reserve. The Island is the home of a large heard of bison, birds and other wildlife, situated on the Great Salt Lakes.
So I was out of the plane, the weather was beautiful and 22˚C, got my rental, and on the way to the hotel, the car thermometer started to show a little drop on the temperature. By the time I got to the hotel it was 10˚C and snowing. I dropped my bags at the hotel and decided to hit the shopping mall since it would be a warm place to spend a couple of hours. Layton mall is nothing to write home about but found the fashion quite pleasing in contrast to the shops I know. The local shops had more modest outfits, different but interesting to see.
Once I was out of the mall, the snow had stopped so I decided to go check out Antelope Island. At the gate, there was a USD $15 fee, and the ranger reminded me that the park was open until 10 pm.
I started driving the causeway that connects the Island to land and was gobsmacked! It is beautiful! Really a work of art. With no wind, the water was a mirror to all the snow-capped mountains, birds gliding over the still water creating a photographer’s dream. I was not sure if you could stop on the shoulder to photograph but since there were no cars behind, I stopped, and that’s when I saw them!!
Mosquitoes! Tons and tons of mosquitoes! They clung to the car window and mirrors. I was too afraid of opening the windows because if I did it would mean they would eat me alive!! I’m a mosquito magnet: if there is one within 10.000km it will find me and bite me. So needless to say how terrified I was. I usually have repellent with me, but I had left it in my suitcase at the hotel, since it travels in my checked-in bag.
I turned the car on and started moving, but they didn’t seem to want to leave the windows. When I looked ahead and I noticed that on the base of the lake there were clouds of them. I never saw that. Like in the movies when the big cloud of grasshoppers come to attack! I was really, really worried whether I would survive the experience!
At the end of the causeway there was a bison statue that I wanted to take a selfie with, you know, the “I’ve been here selfie” Ahaha. But nothing was going to make me open the car door. I could not comprehend how it wasn’t a big sign about the mosquitoes as we enter the national park!
As I started to follow the path in the Island, I notice I could not see the murderer mosquitoes clouds and my heart rate started to come down (drama much? ).
Finally, when I got to the top of the Island, I saw a couple out of their car. So I thought I was safe. As I got out, there was a little breeze, so definitely fewer mosquitoes, but they were still around.
As I got back to the car, I felt it. Right on my forehead and my cheek. A big bite.
The one thing I’ve got to say, the bite made a lump for a few minutes and disappeared and no itching. I survived…
How much does it cost to get into Antelope Island?
It costs USD $10 per car, and USD $3 per bicycle. I paid USD $15 for the annual pass since I plan to visit the park more than once. There is a carpark just before the causeway you can leave your car if you like to pedal the road. For more fee details, visit the Antelope Island State Park website.
Can you drive to Antelope Island?
Definitely, at Syracuse, you can get the causeway to the Island. Here is a google maps link to the entry.
What time does the Antelope Island Open?
The Island is open daily from 6am to 10pm except for Christmas and Thanksgiving . So you can definitely plan sunsets and sunrises shoots depending on the time of the year.
Is there camping in Antelope Island?
Yes, and if you are planning to take advantage to photograph some Milky Way the city is mostly south of the Island so you should not get the city light leak. I have not tested, so let me know if you do.
What to take to Antelope Island?
I’m Mrs Mitchell and in the last few years, I have been blessed to be able to explore and photograph some interesting place. I thought I share my experience and some tips with editing etc.