Return to Antelope Island – Salt Lake City, Utah

A place like Antelope Island deserves a number of visits. 

After my experience at Onaqui Wild Horse Herd, I drove back to the Layton area and had a few places I thought I could go. Not much far north there was a bird sanctuary but unfortunately it was closed for another week. So I decided to get back to Antelope Island. But to not to worry,  this time I was prepared: tropical strength repellant. 

When I got to the park office, I showed my pass and asked about stopping in the causeway. Since it was a one-lane stretch I wanted to make sure it was legal, and the ranger said it was fine but to stay close to the car. 

The causeway is where you can get amazing reflections from the snow cap mountains on the lake, so I could not miss the opportunity. I opened the car, and the mosquitos were still around. But I left the repellent open, hoping the smell would deter them. And I think it worked. 

I took some shots, but what ended up exciting me more were the little birds on the water. I could have spent hours just there.

I crossed to the island, and I did the obligatory selfie with the Bison. What a difference some repellent make!

And I did the drive to the ranch again just to be told that since the tide was low, the bison herd was at the water’s edge. So we could only see them by far. Even from a distance, they made some lovely images.

The weather was supposed to change, but I thought I would hold around for sunset. I found the perfect spot. I found a seat to wait for the 2hrs I still had to sunset. By 7 pm, my quiet and solitary spot started to get very busy, which made me think I had picked the place to watch the sunset on the island. By 8 pm the weather changed and a lot of wind came over. The good thing, no more mosquitos, but with the sun going down the cold started to pick up. 

I was ready for my shot, and if the sun had picked under the clouds, I would have had the most fantastic colour, but it was not to be. Still, it was a dramatic landscape. 

I discover on my way out that the ranger is closed from 7 pm after that most locals know they can enter for free.

Sadly once the sun was down, I started driving to the hotel. It was time to pack and start the track home.