Me, My Camera, And A Lone Bison On Antelope Island

When it comes to outdoor spots I love to visit, photograph, and blog about, three places always come to mind, The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Logan Canyon, and, of course, Antelope Island.

There are others for sure, but my top go-to spots for getting outdoors with a camera are always the same, and for good reason, I might add. There is almost always something unique and interesting to experience and photograph at all of these locations throughout the year, and yesterday was certainly no exception.

My elderly mother and I take a couple of trips to Antelope Island almost weekly throughout the year. We buy the annual Utah State Parks pass and it’s definitely put to good use with about 90-100 trips to the island per year on it.

One of the sights we hope to see on each and every drive to the island is the bison.

Now, bear in mind, we have seen the bison countless times, but much of our bison encounters are naturally from quite a distance away.

Sometimes these large beasts are up on the hillsides grazing or way down on the mudflats lounging around, and it is quite common to get at least some form of bison sighting on our trips somewhere on the drive around the island.

But once in a while, the bison make themselves available for close-ups along the paved roadways, situations I rarely get to photograph because there is so much land and open space on Antelope Island, and finding the bison right next to the road isn’t as common as we would like, but sometimes it does indeed happen.

Yesterday, in fact, was one of those days where a lone bison made itself present and quite available, I might add, for a close but brief encounter before it wandered off back into an endless sea of dried grass and sagebrush.

Before I go on, let me strongly emphasis that approaching a wild animal like a bison is never a good idea. These large herbivores might seem gentle, but they can be extremely dangerous and could charge if they feel threatened, possibly causing bodily injury or worse.

They can certainly be viewed, photographed, and enjoyed, but just keep your distance and don’t provoke these giants. I have seen people taking senseless risks from bison selfies close-up to trying to actually touch a resting bison, both situations where the bison ended up charging the individuals in question.

It’s never a good idea to approach a bison for any reason, so just keep that in mind.

On this occasion, however, the lone bison was very close to the road, causing me to stop and take advantage of the situation with a few images.

I had my 75-300mm lens on the camera, so I was able to keep right next to the vehicle and not disturb the bison as I took a few pictures from what I considered a safe distance.

Most of the time, I don’t even leave my vehicle to photograph the bison, but on this occasion, I wanted to get a little bit of a different viewpoint so I made the decision to get out of my vehicle and photograph just off the edge of the road where a nearby open car door was awaiting if I felt any sense of danger from the situation arise.

After a few moments of staring at each other, the bison took a quick roll in the grass and lifted up its massive frame, once again reminding me why I never venture far from my vehicle to photograph these most intimidating but mesmerizing animals.

The whole episode only latest about 3-4 minutes or so, but moments like this are what compel me to visit places such as Antelope Island on a very regular basis. These are such incredible and massive animals and a real treat to see so up-close and personal like today.

I am an outdoors type of person, an extremely outdoorsy kind of fella if truth be told. I actually hate being confined by walls and a roof, except, of course, on days like today where it is cold, windy, and snowing and these confining structures do serve a good purpose.

But, all in all, I would rather be outside exploring nature than inside enjoying the comforts of home because, for me, at least, the outside world is my home and where I would rather be 99% of the time.

Moments in nature I get to experience and photograph, such as this one with a bison, are why I feel we need to get away from the hustle and bustle of suburban life and just enjoy nature for a few moments.

There are times in life when we all need to decompress, turn off technology, and just enjoy the world around us as it was meant to be enjoyed, wild and free.

Antelope Island is one of those places, at least for me, that is, where this can be done. It is close enough to civilization where a trip can be taken at the drop of a hat, but yet you feel society is a hundred miles away or more with all the openness, beauty, and serenity the island offers the willing visitor.

If for nothing else, the hundreds of bison that call the large island home are reason enough to for me make weekly treks with my camera. The bison are free-ranging and roam over the entire island and exposed mudflats.

Take it from me, it is quite a sight to see hundreds of bison crossing the road just a few yards ahead of you, which does happen on occasion if you are in the right place at the right time.

Where is Antelope Island?

Antelope Island State Park is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake and is located in Davis County, Utah. According to Google maps, Antelope Island is about a 60-mile drive from downtown Salt Lake City.

The easiest way to get to Antelope Island is to take Interstate 15 until you reach the Antelope Drive exit and head west. You stay on Antelope Drive until you come to the toll booth for the island, which is, according to Google Maps, about a 15-mile drive or so from the interstate.

I’ve included this map listing from the intestate as a reference point, depending on where you might be coming from if you decide to visit.

How much does visiting Antelope Island cost?

At the time of this writing, the daily entrance fee for Antelope Island State Park is $15, payable at the toll booth as you approach the causeway which takes you across the Great Salt Lake and to the island itself.

Is Antelope Island open year-round?

Antelope Island is open year-round, except for the Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays. Normal hours for the island itself are from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm daily. The island visitors center is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and the Garr Ranch facilities are open from 9:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Check the park’s website for any changes to these hours or any closures if you are planning a trip.

Is there camping on Antelope Island?

One of the most interesting amenities on the island, at least in my opinion, that is, is the opportunity to camp on the island. There are several established campgrounds, including a new one being built as we speak, which allow for a comfortable yet full camping experience on the island.

I have not yet personally used these facilities since I live close enough, it’s just a short drive for me to get to the island, but someday I hope to take in the full island experience by taking it all in by camping for a few days or more at the park.

I can only imagine what it is like to wake up early in the morning and see wild bison grazing nearby just as the sun creeps over the Wasatch mountains.

What kinds of wildlife are on Antelope Island?

One of the two top reasons I love and visit Antelope Island so often is the wildlife. The island has a vast array of animals to view and photograph, including bison, pronghorn, coyote, bighorn sheep, mule deer, prairie falcon, western meadowlark, orb-weaver spider, and porcupine, just to name a few.

There are quite a lot of birds on the island and bird watching is quite popular on the island, especially at the Garr Ranch where large trees stand and attract a great variety of birds throughout parts of the year.

Is Antelope Island worth visiting?

From both photography and exploring standpoints, Antelope Island is well worth visiting at least once. There is so much to do on the island, including visiting the historic Garr Ranch, hiking, mountain biking, wildlife photography, camping, bird watching, and, of course, one of my favorites, sunset photography.

All in all, I am a huge advocate of Antelope Island because of all the outdoor recreation, scenery, and wildlife it has to offer so close to home.

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