Antelope Island State Park

An aerial view of the desolate landscape of Antelope Island State Park.

Biking is popular at the park.

A chukar partridge in the park.

Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake. From the mainland, its 28,463 acres appear barren and deserted.

However, it is the undisturbed home of some 600 American bison, as well as mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, bobcats, upland game birds, waterfowl and antelope. The park also is a regular stop for many migratory birds.

Before the Great Lake's historic rise in 1983, the island was connected to the mainland by a 7.2-mile modern two-lane road. The island was closed for several years until the causeway was rebuilt in 1993.

Mormons raised livestock on the island for two decades. The historic Fielding Garr Ranch on the island is the oldest Anglo-settler-built structure in the state still on its original foundation. The ranch operated for 133 years until the state purchased the entire island in 1981.

Thirty-six miles of trails open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, is available.

Rangers discourage the use of canoes and other small craft, but those with sail boats and larger boats will be comfortable on the lake.

Mormons raised livestock on the island in the mid-1800s. The stock was sold to finance the journeys of Mormons traveling to Utah from the East.