East Entrance looking west from Google Street View

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Description:
The east entrance of the park is remarkably drier than the Zion Canyon side. Most open mesas, canyons, and plateaus, riparian habitat is in the minority here.  Some juniper woodland can be found but this is mostly open desert and cliffs

Birding:
The eastern stretch of the park doesn't get birded as much as the Zion Canyon area, as there isn't a ton of riparian habitat.  The view and scenery are a more popular draw on this end.  That's not to say there aren't birding opportunities.  Like many areas of the park this area has been a good location to listen for SPOTTED OWLS at night.  For diurnal birding the species typical of the drier parts of the west side are found here as well. JUNIPER TITMOUSE, CANYON and ROCK WREN, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER can all be found here. If you pass through this side of the park take a few minutes and bird some of the roadside stops and see what you might find.

Directions:
All Zion National Park hot spots directions in Zion Canyon, or to the east will originate from the visitor center parking lot for consistency. Anything in the north and west sides of the park will come from the nearest major intersection. Exit the visitor center lot and go north .1 mile to SR-9.  Turn right here and follow the road 6 miles as it switchbacks up the canyon and goes through the tunnel.  Once you exit the tunnel the road continues 6 miles till you reach the East Entrance.