Hike: Frary Peak (Antelope Island)

This is an out-and-back trek to Frary Peak the high point on Antelope Island, at 6,596-feet. Plan on hiking 3.25-miles each way for a 6.5-miles RT event on well-defined trails. Our itinerary is to climb 2,100 feet to the summit, regrouping along the way, and then return. In as much as this is an out-and-back event, enthusiasts can go as far as time permits with no obligation to summit. In the past, summiting groups have averaged between 3.5 to 4.5-hours on the trail, plus shuttle time across the causeway.

Antelope island presents a fun change-of-pace to hiking Wasatch Mountain trails. The island features an entirely different landscape and contains some of Utah’s oldest known rocks – the same age as those found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, dating over 1.7 billion years old – along with some very old trees near the top.
On a clear day Frary presents wonderful 360-degree vistas, and on a windy day, a great place to fly kites.

The island hosts an intriguing mix of wildlife including bison, deer, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, bobcats, badgers and an assortment of birds including owls, hawks and falcons; we’ll be lucky to see a few of them. This adventure should be relatively bug-free, but it is always wise to carry insect repellent on Antelope. No dogs.

Meet Elliott at the Antelope Island causeway parking lot located immediately before of the State Park entrance station on the south side of the road at 9:00 am. We’ll carpool/caravan to the trailhead. Bring money (DOLLAR BILLS) as a vehicle fee may be required to drive across the causeway to Antelope Island, and to help offset gas expense for those driving carpool vehicles.

Trailhead: Drive I-15 to Layton and exit on Antelope Drive (Exit #332) or drive the new West Davis Highway and exit on Antelope Drive. Drive west on Antelope Drive (SR 108) to the causeway parking lot located on the south side of the road just before the toll booth. We will rally in the large parking lot. Look for a white Subaru Outback. There are restrooms at this location.