Lakeside Trail Lollipop Loop, Antelope Island - February 28, 2026

scatman

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I headed back to Antelope Island with Katie and Sheila to complete a six mile lollipop loop hike on the northwestern side of the island this time. We started at the Lakeside Loop Trailhead and made our way along the shoreline of the island before heading up and over Buffalo Point. After dropping down the north side of the point, we hooked back up with the Lakeside Trail to complete the lollipop portion and then retraced our footsteps back to our car.

We saw and heard lots of birds on this trip. We were also fortunate enough to run into some bison coming off of Buffalo Point which is always a high point of any hike on the island.

Review photo
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Overview map. We took the purple dashed line over Buffalo Point and retuned back to the car on the light blue line

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We passed this bull on the way to the trailhead

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The north end of Frary Peak

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Deseret Peak in the Stansbury Range, viewed from the Lakeside Trailhead

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Gettin' ready to go - 35 degrees F at the trailhead.

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Signage at the trailhead

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Buffalo Point

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Castle Rock to the west, the high point of Stansbury Island

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Heading out

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Another shot looking back at the Stansbury Range to the southwest

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And a look back to the south with Elephant Head on the left, then the Oquirrh Mountains and at the right the Stansbury Range

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Beginning to make our way around Buffalo Point

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There were a couple of rock benches along the Lakeside Trail, just in case an old man needed a rest. :)

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Rock wrens were calling out to us

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As was a meadowlark

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Somehow I am ahead of the ladies

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Making our way along the southwest side of Buffalo Point

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I just couldn't stop taking pictures of all the meadowlarks along the way

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Posing for a shot on the Lakeside Trail

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My favorite shot of the hike

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And caught it singing out.

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This is where we left the Lakeside Trail to go up and over Buffalo Point

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Not too bad of a climb

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Sheila poses near the top of the hill with Stansbury Island in the distance

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Another meadowlark

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Dried up thistle head

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Once at the top of the hill, we had excellent views. Looking down at Ladyfinger Point to the northeast of us.

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Fremont Island across the Great Salt Lake with the Promontory Range behind Fremont. It almost looks like one range to me. You
can just make out another Castle Rock on the righthand side of Fremont, where Kit Carson carved a cross in a rock on the high
point of the island.

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Mount Ogden to the northeast

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Egg Island below

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Always interested in the golden dung fly. :)

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Altar Rock ahead

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Bikini Pose at the Altar! :D

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Bison vertebrae and hide on the ridge

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Uh oh @Rockskipper , Scatman on the Altar! A sacrifice to the Great Salt Lake Gods! :lol:

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A look down from Altar Rock on the photographer and her trusty helper.

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A look down towards the Visitor's Center

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Look who else climbed up on Altar Rock

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Another shot of Fremont Island and the Promontory Range from the Altar

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Zoomed in on Castle Rock on Fremont Island

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A couple of chukars down below

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Zoomed in on the one on the left

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On no, somebody is spying on the Scatman?

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Raft River Mountains to the north

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Common storksbill was blooming everywhere

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Interesting lichens

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Starting to make our way down off the point, with Bridger Bay Campground below

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A bull bison below

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It stood up as we passed. I couldn't get a good look at his face to see if he was perturbed or not.

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Then two more bulls showed up right on the trail. I told them both that we knew @TractorDoc , so the let us pass without incident.

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After the bison, a Rock Crowned Sparrow showed up as we were about to reach the Lakeside Trail again

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Back on the Lakeside Trail

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Not sure what this is. I should have headed down towards the shore to investigate, but I didn't.

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Couple of arches in this rock

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Break and snack time at the point of the point.

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The Canon EOS 50D was the workhorse for this hike

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Along with the trusty Canon PowerShot Sx530 HS

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A shot at the point of the point

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Frary Peak to the south comes into view again

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that would be White Rock out there in White Rock Bay

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A couple of riders passed us by

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And one last shot of a meadow lark back near the trailhead

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And back at the Sube.


The End.
 
Last edited:
An even more pressing question: How many buffalo would it take to make Antelope Island sink?
 
How many Bisons can Antelope Island support? Roughage looks sparse.

Were any sacrifices made at the altar? :)

I think they try to keep the herd around 550-ish animals.

Yes, a sacrifice was made to the Knee God, but unfortunately the God did not respond. :(
 
Why is it antelope island...... Should be Buffalo island
 

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