Antelope Island Sunset Wildlife Expedition Great Salt Lake Tour
Description
This tour combines wildlife, history, and stunning scenery in one experience. You’ll see free-roaming bison, pronghorn antelope, deer, and more than 250 bird species in their natural habitat. We visit Fielding Garr Ranch — Utah’s oldest preserved building — where pioneer stories come to life. For active travelers, an easy hike to Buffalo Point reveals panoramic views of the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountains, followed by one of Utah’s most beautiful sunsets. You’ll also discover the island’s ecological wonders — from tiny brine shrimp to crystal-clear night skies, considered among the best in the USA for stargazing. Small-group travel (max 13 guests) in a comfortable Mercedes Sprinter, a professional guide, and convenient pickup in Salt Lake City and Utah County ensure a seamless, personalized, and unforgettable adventure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The tour begins with a short introduction to the history of Utah and its unique natural environment. On the way, you’ll see a changing landscape — mountains on the horizon, wide valleys, and the shimmering surface of the Great Salt Lake. As the sun gets lower and the colors become warmer, even the drive feels like a small adventure, with the panorama of Antelope Island slowly appearing ahead.
Antelope Island — the largest of the Great Salt Lake’s islands — welcomes visitors with dramatic geology, wide-open landscapes, and a uniquely rich ecosystem. From here, our exploration of the island unfolds.
Our first stop reveals the birthplace of the island’s unique brine shrimp industry. These tiny creatures — thriving in water saltier than the ocean — form the foundation of life in the Great Salt Lake. Their incredible ability to survive in such extreme conditions has made them both an ecological treasure and an important economic resource for Utah.
A short walk takes us to the Lady Finger Trail Overlook, where the island’s beauty opens up in full view. As the afternoon sun softens the sky, the Great Salt Lake glitters like glass, seemingly melting into the horizon — a stunning and unforgettable introduction to Antelope Island.
We take a peaceful walk along Bridger Bay Beach to the water’s edge, where the lake feels calm and quiet, and the atmosphere brings a sense of tranquility and connection with nature. The sand here is unlike any other — you’ll notice its little secret the moment you touch it.
Antelope Island’s open plains, hiking trails, and shoreline are home to an impressive variety of wildlife. Here, animals live freely in their natural environment, offering a rare and unforgettable opportunity to observe them up close. One of the most remarkable sights is one of North America’s oldest surviving wild bison herds — more than 500 animals roaming the island.
The highlight of our tour is a visit to Fielding Garr Ranch — the first permanent settlement on the island and a key part of its history and preservation. Here you’ll hear fascinating stories about the early pioneers, their daily life, and the challenges they faced while building a community in a remote and unpredictable wilderness.
To conclude the tour, we visit Buffalo Point Overlook, where you’ll learn about the island’s geology and the origin of the Great Salt Lake — a remnant of prehistoric Lake Bonneville that once covered much of western Utah. For guests interested in light activity, we offer an easy 25-minute hike along a 5,300-foot trail (1.6 km) with a gradual elevation gain of 216–249 feet (66–67 m). From the summit, a sweeping panorama opens over the shimmering lake, distant mountain ranges, and peaceful island landscapes. This is the perfect spot to experience the sunset — considered one of the most spectacular in all of Utah. As the sun meets the horizon, the sky fills with warm shades of gold and red, and the lake reflects the changing colors. It’s a calm, unforgettable moment — a chance to enjoy the quiet beauty of nature as the day comes to a close.
Return to Salt Lake City with drop-off at convenient locations.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We’ll pick you up directly at your hotel’s main entrance or lobby. Look for our distinctive Mercedes Sprinter — your guide will be waiting for you. Hotel pickup takes place at two available times: • Morning tour: 8:00–8:30 AM • Afternoon tour: October–March: 2:00–2:30 PM / April–October: 3:00–3:30 PM After booking, we’ll contact you to confirm your exact pickup time and location. Please be ready 5 minutes before your scheduled pickup. The tour includes both pickup and drop-off within the Salt Lake City area. Attention: If you don't see a pickup location that works for you, please let us know during booking. We can also pick you up directly from your accommodation in Salt Lake City or Utah County — just send us the address and we'll confirm the pickup point.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(35)
If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience in Salt Lake City, the Antelope Island Tour with Matei Travel is a must! Our guide, Dmytro (Dima), truly set this tour apart with his exceptional passion and knowlege. Over the course of 5+ hours, Dima provided us with fascinationg insights into Utah’s history, geology, and ecology, making every moment captivating. We were lucky enough to spot a variety of wildlife, including burrowing owls, barn owls, pronghorn antelope, bison, mule deer, horses and even a procupine nestled in a tree! His enthusiasm turned Antelope Island into a vibrant living narrative. One of the highlights was learning about Utah’s role as a prominent filming location. Dima shared fascinating tidbits about famous movies shot in the area, like Westworld, Independence Day, and even Indian Jones. We had no idea Utah was such a versatile hub for film production, with its storied history dating back to 1923 with The Covered Wagon. Dima kept the atmosphere lighthearted and engaging, incorporating video footage on his tablet that shed additional light on the region’s rich cultural heritage, including its Native American history, pioneer stories, and the influence of Mormons. This unique private tour truly proided our group of four with a deeper appreiation for the stunning beauty and significance of Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake. Our experience on June 17, 2026, was nothing short of remarkable, and we wholeheartedly recommend this tour for anyone looking to explore the hidden gems of Utah. You won’t just learn about the area; you’ll experience it in a whole new light!
My boys and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Antelope Island with Dima from Matei Travel. The tour was amazing. We saw lots of wildlife close up and beautiful scenery. Dima has a wealth of knowledge and is enthusiastic and energetic, always sharing his knowledge and making the trip comfortable and enjoyable. We will always have fond memories of this trip and highly recommend it!
Dima was great! Very willing to go out of his way to make everyone happy, such a long tour and he provided snacks and drinks, that we didn’t plan for but it was definitely appreciated!!
It was absolutely amazing from spectacular views to up close encounters with the animal I have never experienced anything like it! Our guide was fantastic kept things, lighthearted, and fun and went above and beyond for all the guests!
We had an amazing time! Our guide Dima made sure we saw everything that the island had to offer - and more! He’s extremely knowledgeable about history and had many interesting stories to share. Bonus points - great photographer!
The Antelope Island Sunset Great Salt Lake Tour was a fun and adventurous tour. Our tour guide, Dimo was very knowledgeable and entertaining. He is definitely the porcupine hunter, so if you take this tour be ready to go on the hunt for some porcupine on the Island. I would definitely recommend this tour for anyone who is just visiting Utah for the first time. It's fun and educational!
Our guide Dima of Matei Travel was superb and gave us a delightful adventure. He enthusiastically shared his knowledge of the Park, the history, the best spots to explore and his humor and kindness (and yummy snacks + water!) made for a special day. He even helped me climb a challenging trail so I could watch a beautiful Sunset on the Great Salt Lake. An incredible experience and warm memory. Am so glad we had an exceptional Tour Guide who made an effort to give everyone a great time! Saw bison, pronghorn, many birds, a long-billed curlew, rabbits, snakes (at a safe distance!), lizards, beetles, and a peaceful sunset that I’ll never forget. Bless you Dima, and thanks!
This is a must do for travelers. Guide, Dima, was superb! He took us everywhere on the island optimizing our wildlife encounters and views. Later, when the sunset was getting ready to happen, he escorted us to the best site and was always on hand to make sure we safely made it to the top of the ridge to see the incredible view.
I did both national park trips with Matei Travel: Antelope Island State Park and the Bonneville Salt Flats. Dima (our guide) was amazing. He picked everyone up directly from our hotels, knew exactly where to go and at what time, and was very attentive in ensuring everyone could safely and comfortably climb, hike, and do everything needed to get the best views. He actively searched for wildlife on the island, and we were able to see brown horned, bison, owls, porcupines, and more. He also took pictures for everyone who wanted them. The whole experience was fantastic! He knows a lot about the history of Utah, Salt Lake City, and the surrounding region. He shared a lot of interesting information about the places we visited, the history of the city, and the local wildlife. He also provided free snacks and water, was very open and happy to answer questions, and always made sure to let us know when it was the last restroom stop and how long it would be until the next one hahaha. I highly recommend their tours. Thank you so much, Dima!
Dima was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Really enjoyed the wildlife viewings and spectacular sunset.
