Antelope Island: A Hidden Gem and the Wild Bison Roundup
If you were asked to picture an island with dramatic mountains, diverse wildlife, colorful flowers, and sweeping views of a vast body of saltwater, you might imagine Hawaii, the Mediterranean, or Southeast Asia. But what if I told you this island is in Utah? Just 30 minutes north of Salt Lake City, you’ll find Antelope Island State Park, an unexpected oasis in the American West.
Burrowing owl
Western meadowlark
A drive down W Antelope Drive takes you past quaint farms and a small residential area before arriving at a toll booth. From there, a six-mile causeway leads you to the island itself. Spanning 42 square miles, Antelope Island features rugged mountains, expansive grasslands, and tranquil salt marshes. It’s home to a diverse array of wildlife, including pronghorns, mule deer, porcupines, bighorn sheep, and coyotes. But the island's most notable inhabitants are its bison herd, which numbers between 500 and 700.
Long-billed curlew
Northern harrier
The island’s location in a migratory bird corridor attracts over 200 species of birds, from songbirds to waterfowl and birds of prey. What makes Antelope Island particularly special is its peaceful, uncrowded environment, providing an ideal setting for wildlife photography and observation.
However, there's one day each year when the island is teeming with activity: the annual bison roundup on the last Saturday of October. This event draws over 200 volunteers on horseback, who work to herd the bison from the southern end of the island to the northern corrals. The roundup is crucial for maintaining the island’s bison population, and the bison are sorted and some are sold or transferred to various recipients, including Native American tribes.
My introduction to this event was unexpected. While visiting Salt Lake City in late October, Genesis and I decided to catch the sunrise on the island. We arrived around 5 a.m., only to find a line of cars waiting. After a brief encounter with a wildlife officer, who informed us we’d need to wait until 8 a.m., I persuaded him to let us through to the visitor center for sunrise photos with the condition I strayed no further into the island until after 8am.
Rios Pacheco a member of the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation
For some unknown mysterious reason we just never could find the visitor center. Oops. We ended up at the rally point at Fielding Garr Ranch, where riders were preparing for the roundup. Amidst the hustle of horse trailers and riders, we blended in with local photographers and news agencies, capturing the scene. We watched as riders received a safety briefing and a blessing from a Shoshone spiritual leader.
As the roundup commenced, we followed the action along the island's roads. The riders skillfully guided the bison up the island, corralling them into the northern pens. A few bison evaded capture, slipping past the riders, but were quickly redirected. The day ended with a final ride, where the riders thanked the spectators for their participation.
Antelope Island’s combination of natural beauty, wildlife, and unique events like the bison roundup make it a remarkable destination—one that offers an authentic taste of the American West.
