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Description:
Welcome Spring is a tiny spring in the Beaver Dam Mountains just north of the Beaver Dam Slope.  The spring provides water to a small canyon/ravine into several tanks for cattle and wildlife.  Due to the year round water source both cottonwoods and willows are found here as well as other  deciduous plants and bushes.  The rest of the hillsides are barren desert with some Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands, and Joshua Trees as well. This creates a migrant-trap on the mountainside in an otherwise desert wasteland.

Birding:
Birding the spring is pretty straight forwaard--hike up the trail along the creek through the "canyon" and check out the cottonwoods and other trees.  Birds from the surrounding desert and pinyon-juniper woodlands make their way to the water as well so the bird life can be varied.  Some of the species typical of spring include CANYON WREN and BLACK-THROATED SPARROW.  BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, BUSHTIT, and SPOTTED TOWHEE are all seen here on a regular basis.  A number of rarities have been observed here including PAINTED REDSTART, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and a flyover BROAD-WINGED HAWK. The spring can be birded year round but is a popular spot to check out during migration and the winter.

Directions:
From St. George take Bluff Street north to Sunset Blvd.  Turn left and take Sunset through Santa Clara where it turns into Old Highway 91.  Continue for about 19 miles on Old Highway 91 until you reach some cliffs on the left side of the road.  At the end of the cliffs on the opposite side of the road to your right is Lytle Ranch Road and the Beaver Dam Slope. Turn here and continue for 1.9 miles till you reach the fence line and cattle guard.  Turn right and follow the dirt road up the mountain 1.8 miles to the tanks and parking area at the mouth of the canyon.