Helper City River Parkway photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
The Price River Parkway winds its way through Helper following the Price River. Along the Parkway you will find quiet places to sit, beautiful natural areas and pieces of history. Located along the Parkway in downtown Helper is a pavilion with a sand volleyball court. You may reserve the pavilion by calling Helper City.  A nice riparian habitat dominated by cottonwood and willow lines the river providing great habitat.  The actual walking path along the river starts at Martin Road on the northwest end and goes to Janet Street at the south.  This walking path is 3/4 of a mile one way.  From here you can keep going north on Martin Road for .6 miles till you reach a large pond on the east side of the road lined with cattails and surrounded by some open fields before rising to the cliffs on the east side.

Birding:
There has been a decent amount of visitors to the area for the first half of the year, but only one checklist after July.  Species typically found here include AMERICAN ROBIN, MALLARD, COMMON RAVE, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, HOUSE FINCH, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE and the more common introduced urban species typically found in cities.  Some of the more notable reports include FRANKLIN'S GULL, AMERICAN DIPPER, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, VESPER SPARROW, and several reports of EVENING GROSBEAK.  Like most desert riparian habitat in Utah lots of birds are attracted by the plentiful food associated with this habitat, so anything can show up.  PINE SISKIN and CASSIN'S FINCH have been reported as well as HERMIT THRUSH, an BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.  During spring and fall migration this stretch of river might see some good migrants moving through along he natural corridor of the river.  If you are passing through Helper this is absolutely worth a quick stop to see if anything interesting is around.

Directions:
From Main Street in Helper take US-191/6 north for .3 miles and take the exit onto Martin Road on your right. This is where the pathway heads southeast from (not sure about parking but you can probably park along the street).  If you continue north another .6 miles you will reach the pond on your right.

Lower Price Canyon photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
The lower portion of Price Canyon in Carbon County follow US-6 along the Price River along the floor of the canyon.  The sometimes steep cliffs are interspersed with canyons, ravines, and in some places rolling hillsides covered with a  variety of habitats including: shrubsteppe, mixed oak woodlands, juniper woodlands, and various coniferous woodlands, dominated by Ponderosa pine.  Some small deciduous patches of aspen and cottonwood may be found along the river along with willow for some riparian habitat.  Most birding int he canyon is done by car, with few birders stopping to explore along the road.  It can often be loud making for a hard time hearing birds.  You can venture into some of the side canyons for more dense habitat and to get away form traffic.

Birding:
There are only a handful of checklists form the canyon.  This lower stretch is often hard to bird in, but if you make your way into a small side canyon you might be able to find a few things.  Species like ROCK WREN can be found on the cliffs, and CANYON WREN are probably also present.  Along the river during the summer months FOX and SONG SPARROW along with YELLOW WARBLER might be tracked down.  There are probably AMERICAN DIPPER in the river, but there are no reports.  Various waterfowl have been reported, but I think some of this is actually from higher up the canyon in a different county where the river flows across wide open spaces littered with beaver dams making large ponds.  The habitat in the canyon in Carbon County doe not have nay of this.  COMMON RAVEN and RED-TAILED HAWK are seen on a regular basis as are BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE and AMERICAN ROBIN.  GOLDEN EAGLE may be seen soaring over the ridge year round, while BALD EAGLE are present in the winter months.

Directions:
From the on ramp at Exit 240 on US-191/6 in Price, head north on US-191 for 8.4 miles till you reach the mouth of the canyon.  From here you can continue another 9-10 miles in Carbon County in the lower portion of Price Canyon along US-191/6.

Wellington Cemetery photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
The tiny Wellington Cemetery serves the community of Wellington to the south and east.  The small cemetery sits on a bluff int he northwest of town primarily surrounded by arid desert.  Some shrubsteppe can be found on the rolling dirt hills as well.  The cemetery is comprised of three small lawns.  The entire cemetery perimeter is just 1,500' and can be walked in a few minutes.  Small deciduous trees in the north edge, while a small row of trees going north-south are found on the east side of the parking lot.  The west edge of the lot is bordered by private property. In the southwest corner a large grove of trees is very promising migrant habitat and the most notable birding feature.  On the cemetery grounds two large rows of deciduous and coniferous trees are found on the eastern 1/3 of the area.  Two smaller rows of trees on the western 1/3 are mostly just on the north half.  There is also a small line of trees bordering the east edge. Given the barren surroundings this is inadvertently a bit of a migrant trap.

Birding:
I was surprised that I had never hear reports form this great little piece of habitat before we checked it out in mid-April.  It really is one of the most dense habitats in the area--and the number of trees and their size makes it a target.  I can imagine it sees a fair number of migrants given the prominent position on the bluff above town.  When we visited even in bad weather and early in the season, YELLOW-RUMPED and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were present.  A late TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen in the trees on the west side of the property, while LARK SPARROWS were using the grounds on the east.  The conifers are potentially going to attract finches, titmice, and other birds typically associated with them in the winter months or during migration.  Birding here I would spend most of my time along the southwest corner where the wild patch of trees grows downhill off the property.  You can easily bird here, and walk the loop quickly back through the bigger trees in the cemetery.  I would surmise that in mid-May or September you could find a decent number of migrants here.

Directions:
From Exit 243 on US-191/6 in Price head south on US-191 for 3 miles. Turn left onto Cemetery Road and continue .3 miles--stay right at the fork and go another .4 miles till you reach the cemetery on your right. Turn in and drive along the north side of the cemetery parking on the west end in the dirt parking lot. Alternatively from the intersection of US-191 and Center Street in Wellington, head north on Center Street for .4 miles.  The road will turn into Old Wellington Road and after another .2 miles, turn left onto Cemetery Road and go .1 miles till you reach the cemetery on your left.

Horse Canyon Road looking west photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Horse Canyon Road passes through descent shrubsteppe and a great patch of juniper woodland and is easily accessible from US-191 via the Horse Canyon Road Rest Stop turn off.  The dirt road is graded and easy to drive out to Horse Canyon and back--its about 10 miles round trip.  I prefer to bird it as part of the loop starting on SR-123 to the north coming out of Wellington and birding the Sage Flats, the East Carbon WTP, Sunnyside Park, and the foothills and junipers along SR-124 before heading back to US-191 on Horse Canyon Road.  You shouldn't see a ton of vehicles out here and can bird along the road, or even in the habitat off road or via side roads.  With a backdrop of the Book Cliffs to the east and a good patch of trees here, it might be worth a check if passing by to do a little exploring.

Birding:
Keeping this one short--the junipers along the road are the reason to visit this site.  Since it can be included as part of the loop mentioned above, its worth a few minutes stop to look around.  JUNIPER TITMOUSE and BEWICK'S WREN can be found here, while in the breeding season MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, CHIPPING SPARROW, and a host of other species are possible.  Since this location has generally not been birded in the past the actual species distribution knowledge here is limited.  I suspect SCOTT'S ORIOLE, GRAY VIREO, GRAY FLYCATCHER, and PINYON JAY among other may be found.   During migration 100's of DARK-EYED JUNCO might be seen passing through the habitat which despite being dry is surrounded by barren desert making it the lesser of two evils.

Directions:
The most direct way to get here is from the on ramp at Exit 243 on US-191/6 in Price head south on US-191 for 24.4 miles till you reach a turn on your left for Horse Canyon Road.  Turn here and you are on Horse Canyon Road for 4.9 miles till it intersects with SR-124. Alternatively if you are driving the loop from US-191 out to East Carbon and back you will hit Horse Canyon Road after driving 7.9 miles along the foothills on SR-124 from East Carbon.

East Carbon Sage Flats photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
SR-123 goes west to east for almost 7 miles from US-191/6 to the town of East Carbon.  The sagebrush flats along this road range form stunted and mixed with greasewood to huge patches of Big Sagebrush.  The open, and arid habitat is ideal for sagebrush specialists, and easy to bird on the way to the East Carbon WTP.  If making the loop from US-191 out to East Carbon, and Sunnyside Park, then down SR-124 through the junipers and foothills, and eventually on to Horse Canyon Road and back to US-191, there are several nice stops along this road on the side roads.  About 1/2 way to the WTP there is a road on the south side that goes over the railroad track before dead ending at private property in some tall sagebrush.  This is a great place to spend a few minutes early or late in the day looking around.  The road has a 65 MPH speed limit, and there aren't wide shoulders, so finding a pull off is advisable for birding here.

Birding:
During the breeding season there are a few easy to get sagebrush specialties here. SAGEBRUSH SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, and SAGE THRASHER are all possible.  Keep an eye on fence posts and power poles for GOLDEN EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK and other raptors.  WESTERN MEADOWLARK and COMMON RAVEN are present in decent numbers and will probably be the majority of the birds you see.

Directions:
From the on ramp at Exit 243 in Price, head south on US-191/6 for 13.3 miles. Turn left onto SR-123.  For the next 6.9 miles you are in the Sagebrush Flats.

East Carbon Junipers photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Driving south out of East Carbon on SR-124 you will find yourself in rolling hills covered with Juniper woodlands and shrubsteppe.  The rarely traveled road is ideal for birding, with wide shoulders, and side roads to access the various patches of trees.  Large intact tracts of juniper like this in an unbirded area provide an opportunity to wade into uncharted waters. Status and distribution of even common species are often assumed based on available habitat--but actual status of many species is unknown.  Then take into account the less common species using the habitat--what species are found in this area of the state?  The almost 8 mile road can be driven in about 10 minutes--so an hour birding here  can easily be fit into a trip.  Out of Price taking the loop on SR-123 to East Carbon, you can bird the Sagebrush Flats on SR-123, the East Carbon WTP, Sunnyside Park, this road, and then Horse Canyon Road on the way bay to SR-191/6.  The whole loop make for some great birding in an otherwise desolate area.

Birding:
New to birding this area looked ideal for juniper specialists--and it made making a loop out to East Carbon worth while on the drive form Price to Green River.  During the winter months it may be very quiet out here.  DARK-EYED JUNCO roam the hillsides, but not a whole lot else is around.  During migration things pick up, and species using the foothills to move north might be encountered.  Arriving breeders include MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, CHIPPING SPARROW, and SAY'S PHOEBE.  In the more open areas, keep an ear out for BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, along with other shrub land species.  You might hear ROCK WREN, WESTERN MEADOWLARK and others along the road. Some year round species that might be encountered include JUNIPER TITMOUSE, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, and SPOTTED TOWHEE.  The large tracts of habitat are probably home to PINYON JAY as well.  Breeding season potentially holds some of the best birds--based on similar habitat in the eastern part of the state SCOTT'S ORIOLE, GRAY VIREO, BUSHTIT, GRAY and DUSKY FLYCATCHER, and BLACK-THROATED GRAY-WARBLER are probably found here.

Directions:
From the on ramp at Exit 243 in Price, head south on US-191/6 for 13.3 miles. Turn left onto SR-123 and continue 8.6 miles.  Turn right onto SR-124 south.  For the next 7.9 miles you will be in the junipers and foothills till you reach Horse Canyon.

Lower Price River Road photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
The road follows the Price River for about 3.5 miles across open desert before hugging the river and following it another 4 miles into the book cliffs at the canyon bottom.  Eventually the road hits the river and you can either go north up Trail Canyon, or cross the river and go south on another dirt road.  For birding purposes I suggest probably turning around here and heading back.  The combination of habitats can make for a descent morning of birding with the sparsely vegetated desert hitting marsh and wetland along the river--and a riparian habitat with cottonwood and willow.  As you hit the canyon the the desert turns to rocky hillsides, and cliffs bordering the riparian habitat of the river.  To the south several hillsides have juniper woodlands as well.  This area has been mostly ignored by birders and potentially could be a worthwhile stop along the way from Price to Green River.

Birding:
This one really might be a gem in the desert.  I've only stopped here twice on a whim to see what might be around.  The open desert for the first couple of miles of road isn't overly productive int eh early spring.  But things like SAY'S PHOEBE, ROCK WREN, and HORNED LARK can be found along the road with ease.  MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD are in the area, and notably BLACK-THROATED SPARROW can be found.  The are along the river is probably best during the spring and fall but some interesting breeders might occur here.  YELLOW WARBLER are probably the standard, but Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak, Willow Flycatcher, and other riparian specialists probably use the habitat in the canyon.  The wetland areas along the river on the flats can attract waterfowl, and possibly waders, shorebirds, and other waterbirds.  In the canyon look to the cliffs for CANYON WREN and WHITE-THROATED SWIFT.  In the skies above TURKEY VULTURE and other raptors can probably be found regularly. This stop could end up being a great hot spot one day, it just needs some attention.

Directions:
From the on ramp at Exit 243 on US-191/6 in Price head south on US-191 for 35.4 miles till you reach a dirt road and turn off on your left.  Turn here and you are on Woodside Lower Price River Road which continues 7.7 miles into the Book Cliffs.

Daniel's Summit from Google Street View

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Description:
Daniel's Summit has become a popular winter destination for snowmobilers, with the Summit Lodge catering to this niche.  During the summer months OHV and horse riding is a popular activity replacing the winter sports here.  A restaurant and gift shop are available if you have any food or drink needs.  The Uintah National Forest can be accessed to the south and north here, while Lodge Pole Campground sits just down canyon.  Aspen and mixed conifer forest dominate the habitat here, with mountain meadows and various montane riparian habitat.  At the summit the lodge sits on the southwest side of the highway while a number of private residences sit to the northeast.   A wet pasture at the lodge is the extent of the other habitat here.  There is a forest service road accessible about 1/4 miles south that follows Hobble Creek to the west  behind where the lodge is.  The habitat here is shrubsteppe with forest rising off to the sides of the meadows and flats.  Various forest roads can be accessed from the area providing great opportunities to get away from the main road.  If you are headed to Strawberry Reservoir you will pass the summit--so it might be worth a short stop to check things out!

Birding:
Birders typically don't trek here in the winter.  I'm not sure if there are feeders, but if there were, they could attract some good high elevation species in search of food.  Summer is the ideal time to visit to get away form the hot valleys and enjoy the mountains.  The summit is really a tourist destination for OHV users, but the surrounding forest provides plenty of birding opportunities.  Form June through September you will be able to find the species typical of the aspen habitat in the area like: RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, DUSKY FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO, HOUSE WREN, HERMIT THRUSH, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, CHIPPING SPARROW, and WESTERN TANAGER. In the meadows and sage flats you can expect to see MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, SAGE THRASHER, VESPER SPARROW, and BREWER'S SPARROW.  If you make your way into the forest where there are pine you will come across PINE SISKIN, CASSIN'S FINCH, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.  The area is really great for birding and fairly typical of most similar habitat in the area.  If you  are looking to explore some place new, the side roads here might make a good day trip.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Streets in Heber, follow Main Street / US-40 south for 17.4 miles up Daniel's Canyon till you reach the summit and lodge on your right.

Comb Wash photo by Google Maps User

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Description:
Comb Wash is a valley in southeastern Utah that runs from Elk Ridge in the north approximately 35 miles to the south, where it merges with the San Juan River at an elevation of about 4200'. The eastern edge of the wash forms steep cliffs of Navajo Sandstone, rising in places to 1000' above the valley floor. On the western edge of Comb Wash is a series of canyons draining Cedar Mesa. To the north is Arch Canyon, which has Texas Canyon as an upper tributary. In the central section are Mule Canyon, Dry Wash, and the combined outlet of Fish and Owl Canyons. To the south are McCloyd's Canyon (containing the Moon House ruin) and Road Canyon. Scattered throughout these canyons are cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans.  State Route 95 crosses the northern part of Comb Wash, while U.S. Route 163 crosses further south. Running along the wash is a primitive road, often impassable after floods. Nearby are the Natural Bridges National Monument, the Grand Gulch Primitive Area, the Valley of the Gods scenic area, and Goosenecks State Park.   Tha habitat in the wash bottoms is desert riparian dominated by Fremont Cottonwood and and understory of willows.  Shrubsteppe borders the floodplain which leads to some juniper woodlands and then the cliffs.

Birding:
Comb Wash is another area that could be considered the Beaver Dam Wash of southeast Utah.  It's remote, and few birders go there, so the species list is still relatively small.  But the potential for major rarities during migration seems high.  The desert habitat makes the tree line in the wash a bit of a migrant trap, and the whole area somewhat of a migrant highway. Birders that have visited generally are between April and October when the tourist season is at its height here.  If you are passing between Natural Bridges and parts east you pass through the wash so its worth even a quick stop. As with most riparian strips in southeast Utah this is a good and reliable location for LUCY'S WARBLER. Two other warblers are also rather common with YELLOW WARBLER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT being found on most summer visits.  BLACK-THROATED SPARROW inhabit the river bottom here and can often be heard singing along the road.  BLUE GROSBEAK and LAZULI BUNTING can both be found usually, and I suspect there might be localized Indigo Buntings here given their prevalence at such sites in southern Utah.  Other common breeders include: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, PLUMBEOUS VIREO, and ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER.  ROCK, CANYON, and BEWICK'S WREN are all found here year round.  Occasionally things like BUSHTIT, PINYON JAY, and CASSIN'S KIGBIRD are reported. Fall migration definitely brings migrants through with early to mid September looking like a real good time to visit.  Some migrants recorded here include: ORANGE-CROWNED, MACGILLIVRAY'S, and WILSON'S WARBLER; BREWER'S, VESPER, LINCOLN'S, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW; WESTERN TANAGER and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.  During the summer at night you can find COMMON POORWILL, and possibly COMMON NIGHTHAWK which are occasionally seen during migration.  WESTERN SCREECH-OWL are year round residents of the wash as well.  I like birding south of the highway where some very thick patches of cottonwood can be found.  There are also great sites to the north though.  You could spend days here and not cover all the great spots as there is lots to discover.  Birding can be done form the road, or by walking int he river bed; or a combination of both.  The road can become impassable after flash floods, so keep that in mind when visiting.

Directions:
From the intersection of Center and Main Streets in Blanding head south on Main Street for 4 miles.  Turn right onto SR-95 and go 14.1 miles dropping into the wash.  Here you can turn left and follow a dirt road south through the wash.  Alternatively you can continue .1 mile west then turn right and take a dirt road north in the wash.

Cedar Hills Golf Club from Google Street View

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Description:
Cedar Hills Golf Club is an interesting location nestled against a juniper covered hillside on the east, along the foothills at the base of the Wasatch Mountains.  The north side of the course is bordered by the American Fork River, while subdivisions pop up to the south and west.  Just a hop away from the mouth of American Fork Canyon, the mouth of which can be seen form the course, providing looks at the cliffs and some riparian habitat.  The open course has some shrubsteppe to go along with the juniper, but it really is mostly open fairways.  The rocky river bottom lack any substantial riparian habitat along the course except int he northeast corner.  There are 5 ponds on the course, of which most can be viewed from public roads.  While the majority of the holes are in the northwest section, the back 9 do a loop along the mountain then south around a large neighborhood before wrapping back west to the club house. This strange triangle shaped subdivision is essentially an island surrounded by golf course.

Birding:
I've only been birding here once, while golfing a number of years ago--but I remember the birding was good.  On the various ponds aside from the CANADA GEESE and MALLARDS there were a good mix of late April waterfowl migrants still present including GREATER SCAUP, CANVASBACK, and COMMON GOLDENEYE.  Looking skyward here you will probably see TURKEY VULTURE and RED-TAILED HAWK along the mountains.  SWAINSON'S HAWK are present in the summer and during migration you could see any number of raptors soaring past.  WESTERN KINGBIRD and WESTERN MEADOWLARK roam the open fairways here, while WARBLING VIREO, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and SONG SPARROWS keep to the fringes where oak and other deciduous trees are more prevalent.  Along the river in the open areas BREWER'S, VESPER, and LARK SPARROW were present, while in the northeast corner where the best riparian habitat is, FOX SPARROW can be found, along with BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, and YELLOW WARBLER.  Migrant songbirds can be found in this area too, and WESTERN TANAGER, as well as other warblers might be seen.  Although not in eBird I know there are reports of YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT from the river at the mouth of the canyon.  In the summer look for COMMON NIGHTHAWK in the evening feeding over there area.  If you like birds and golf, I highly recommend playing a round here in late April through May or in the fall.  If you just want to birding you can do a lot on the edges, including scan the ponds and some of the open habitat.

Directions:
Form I-15 Ext 284 at Thanksgiving Point head east on SR-92 for .2 miles.  Take the slight right onto the SR-92 express lane and go 7.1 miles.  Right before the mouth of the canyon, take a right onto Canyon Road and go south .8 miles. Turn right onto Bayhill Drive and go .3 miles.  At the traffic circle take the 1str exit onto Nielsen Blvd. After about 250' turn left onto Clubhouse Drive and continue .2 miles to the parking area.

The West Desert from Google Street View

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Description:
Pilot Mountain Road follows the historic west shore of the Lake Boneville and now the Bonneville Salt Flats.  Currently the road is in a vast wasteland with dry lake bed stretching for miles to the east, and shrubsteppe and desert stretching to the west. The long road is miles from any services and can often wreak havoc on tires.  Rattle Snake are a common sight during the heat of the day basking on the road surface--scorpions, and tarantulas can be found under rocks and shrubs, and Pronghorn are occasionally seen grazing near the road.  The main reason for using the road isn't for birding, but to get to Lucin quickly for birding purposes.

Birding:
I didn't create this hot spot till years after my last visit to Lucin.  Although I would love to visit here every spring and fall, there just aren't enough weekends to make it happen.  Driving the road at night or day there will be different things worth seeing.  At night during the spring through fall it is not all that uncommon to see COMMON POORWILL sitting on the road.  SHORT-EARED OWL and BURROWING OWL may also be perched on the roadsides and flush as you pass.  During the day species like WESTERN MEADOWLARK, HORNED LARK, SAGEBRUSH SPARROW, LARK SPARROW, and SAGE THRASHER are found here.  There are actually quite a few more species you might come across so its worth submitting a list if you ever find yourself going to Lucin.

Directions:
From I-80  exit 4 just before you reach Nevada, go north on Leppy Pass Road toward the Bonneville Speedway for 1.9 miles.  Take a slight left to stay on Leppy Pass Road and continue 2.4 miles.  After the pass the road will split at a small building.  Stay to the left here.  The road will loop west out into Nevada before arching back to the east and into Utah.  You will be going 19.5 miles until you reach TL Bar Ranch on your right--the hot spot continues on this road from here for 24 miles to Lucin.  The road is dirt and can be hazardous if you go too fast.  Stay under 40 to avoid any serious issues with your tires, and make sure you have a spare.

Sparks Spring from Bing Birds Eye View

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Description:
Very little information to go on about this location.  It appears to be on the Locomotive Springs Loop Road, so in most cases is probably entered as part of the hot spot. The small spring provides open water, and some wetland habitat in an otherwise shrubsteppe surrounded desert in just about the middle of nowhere.

Birding:
Currently the location list has just 5 species.  TUNDRA SWAN, NORTHERN HARRIER, COMMON RAVEN, HORNED LARK, and notably SAGEBRUSH SPARROW--all from a single mid February Checklist.

Directions:
Getting to this location take some planning and choosing the best route to suit your needs.  Instead of trying to list out step by step directions, we have created a a Google search with 3 different options for driving here: View Google Map and Directions.  Good Luck!

Mountain Dell Canyon from Google Street View

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Description:
For 5.2 miles Mountain Dell Canyon follows Clear Creek along SR-65 from Little Dell Reservoir to Big Mountain Pass.  The canyon bottom is a lush riparian habitat dominated by cottonwood and other deciduous trees.  The shrubsteppe and mixed oak covered hillsides line the canyon walls extending up into the hills on both sides.  As you ascend past the Affleck Park Campground about 1/2 way to Big Mountain Pass, the road becomes windier with several switchbacks.  The habitat also changes when large stands of Aspen become a dominant part of the south side of the canyon.  Small patches of coniferous trees dot the landscape, while some cliff habitat joins the scenery on the north side.  There is often some confusion with regards as to what Mountain Dell Canyon actually encompasses.  The area has been referred to as East Canyon, Upper Emigration Canyon, and Mountain Dell Canyon in the past.  Maps show Mountain Dell Canyon starting below Little Dell Reservoir, but don't specifically list a name for the area above the reservoir.  Over time this name has fallen into place, and may or may not be geographically correct.

Birding:
Mountain Dell Canyon is a beautiful short drive on the way to Big Mountain Pass.  The birding isn't phenomenal, but it can be very good.  There are a few very specific species that you will find on almost any trip birding here in the summer months.  Both HERMIT and SWAINSON'S THRUSH can usually be heard at dusk, while YELLOW WARBLER is a common sight.  Both GREEN-TAILED and SPOTTED TOWHEE are expected, and CHIPPING SPARROW are in no short supply.  SONG and FOX SPARROW can usually be turned up while a colorful contingent of species are often encountered including: WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTING, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.  Almost any trip here will produce that list of species, while with a little work you may turn up ORANGE-CROWNED and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER--and even VIRGINIA'S.  GRAY CATBIRD have been reported, as have AMERICAN DIPPER on the creek. DUSKY FLYCATCHER are occasionally encountered higher up, while RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER might be found in the aspen patches.  The canyon is also particularly good for owling.  FLAMMULATED OWL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL can often be found in the summer months with some searching.  GREAT HORNED and LONG-EARED OWL have both been observed as well.  COMMON POORWILL can be heard at night, but are much harder to pick out.  The road is closed from mid-November, usually till about May.  It depends on how much snow is present.  The canyon can often be a popular evening drive so it can be busy in the summer, but usually not too bad.  It is a popular spot for bikers, and at night deer are often on the road coming to water, so be very careful on the windy road.

Directions:
From I-80 exit 134 take SR-65 north for 2.9 miles past Little Dell Reservoir.  Once you pass the reservoir you enter the canyon.  It continues another 5.2 miles till you reach Big Mountain Pass.

The Canyon Course from Google Street View

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Description:
Mountain Dell Golf Course is one of the few northern Utah courses you can go birding at and not have to be golfing.  Now if you were to go golfing there would be more habitat accessible, but you can effectively bird the course edges year round, and actually bird on the course during the winter months.  This 36 hole course sits at 6,000' and is bordered on the west by Mountain Dell Golf Course/  The northern perimeter is formed along Parleys Creek, where a trail on the north side of the creek allows for the best birding opportunities here.  Following the riparian habitat to the south, and a mixed oak and shrubsteppe hillside to the north, eventually the trail leaves the course and meanders to the northeast up a small canyon.  There are a few small ponds on the course, but they aren't much for birds given the nearby reservoir.  The south side borders I-80--while the course is mostly open fairways, the mixed oak woodland is the predominant habitat bordering the holes. There are also some deciduous and coniferous trees mixed in.  In the middle of the course is George Washington Memorial Grove--and the Washington Terrace Picnic Area.  This road is accessible year round and passes through some great habitat.  If you are a golfer, try an early tee time on the mountain course in mid-summer--the birding is spectacular while you golf!

Birding:
I often visit the riparian area along Parley's Creek during the summer months.  It provides a nice easy to bird area, with some great habitat and birds.  Right at SR-65 it is possible to get GRAY CATBIRD, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and FOX SPARROW alongside the more common YELLOW WARBLER, LAZULI BUNTING, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.  On the hillside to the north SPOTTED TOWHEE can usually be heard, while GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE occasionally pop up.  HOUSE WREN are usually hear trilling below, and BELTED KINGFISHER occasionally appear along the creek. More than 50 species have been recorded along this stretch, but these are just the notables.  During the winter months NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL are occasionally reported form the course--and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, CASSIN'S FINCH, and other high elevation species might be found along the road to Washington Terrace.  EVENING GROSBEAK flocks have been reported from the course occasionally as well. The walk along the creek is an easy way to bird and get the most out of the area.

Directions:
To get to the course take I-80 Exit 134 for Sr-65 north.  As soon as you exit the freeway there will be a frontage road on the right following the north side of the I-80.  If you turn here you will reach the club house in .7 miles, and the turn off to Washington Terrace on your left in 1.3 miles. To access the riparian area along Parley's Creek, don't turn on the frontage road and instead go .3 miles north on SR-65 till you reach the pull out on the right.

No Photo At This Time photo by Utah Birders

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Description:
Managed by the BLM, Montezuma Canyon is situated in San Juan County about 6 miles east of Monticello, and 13 miles east of Blanding.  There are no officially established trails, campsites, or other facilities in Montezuma Canyon. For the most part, the graded dirt road is suitable for 2 wheel drive vehicles however, after a rain or snow storm it can become impassable in some locations. The canyon is about 38 miles long from north to south, and the Montezuma Creek drainage eventually flows into the San Juan River near Aneth.  The creek is intermittent and lacks water most of the year outside of spring run off and during flash floods.  The canyon is dry desert and cliffs, with a wide flat bottom in most places desert scrub covers most open spaces.  Greasewood and Rabbitbrush are common, while along the creek huge Fremont Cottonwood follow the canyon bottom for its entire length.  In some places the trees are very thick while in others they can be sparse.  Willows and other understory can be found in may places--there are seeps and springs that produce water at a number of places in the canyon year round--even when the creek isn't flowing.  Numerous side canyon jut off the main canyon and any can be worth exploring.  The are also several large ponds and dams creating small bodies of water at various points in the canyon--some are large enough that wetland and marsh habitat is present.  Various small ranches and farms dot the landscape and oil pumpjacks can be found randomly throughout the area.  Notably the area is home to numerous rock art sites, cave dwellings, and native artifact dumps.  This varied location is currently split into 4 hotspots:

Montezuma Creek Rd -- Lower
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Middle
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Upper
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Ranch & Pond

Remember to take plenty of water. Watch the weather and stay on the designated roads if you visit in the summer months.  Spare tires, and emergency supplies are always a good idea in remote locations like this where you may potentially not see another person for several days if you end up on a back road or deep in a side canyon.

Birding:
In working to create more valuable data by splitting the canyon into sections we can have more specific data.  The lower stretch of the canyon is more open, has fewer trees, and is by far the driest section. This means the species found here are going to differ slightly than what's up canyon--mainly in respect to the riparian species.  I need to go break some older lists out, but I know BLACK-THROATED SPARROW and both ROCK and CANYON WREN are easy finds here.  HORNED LARK are often seen along the road, while RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, and other raptors can often be seen hunting the open areas.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Streets in Blanding head south on Main Street for 1.8 miles.  Turn left onto 1800 South/Browns Canyon Road. After 1.1 miles turn right onto Perkins Rd/Rte 2416/Universe Road. Follow this for 4.2 miles then keep right at the split on CR-206/Around the World Road for 14.3 miles till you reach Montezuma Creek Road. The lower section is everything south from here to Hatch Trading Post for for 9 miles.

No Photo At This Time photo by Utah Birders

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Description:
Managed by the BLM, Montezuma Canyon is situated in San Juan County about 6 miles east of Monticello, and 13 miles east of Blanding.  There are no officially established trails, campsites, or other facilities in Montezuma Canyon. For the most part, the graded dirt road is suitable for 2 wheel drive vehicles however, after a rain or snow storm it can become impassable in some locations. The canyon is about 38 miles long from north to south, and the Montezuma Creek drainage eventually flows into the San Juan River near Aneth.  The creek is intermittent and lacks water most of the year outside of spring run off and during flash floods.  The canyon is dry desert and cliffs, with a wide flat bottom in most places desert scrub covers most open spaces.  Greasewood and Rabbitbrush are common, while along the creek huge Fremont Cottonwood follow the canyon bottom for its entire length.  In some places the trees are very thick while in others they can be sparse.  Willows and other understory can be found in may places--there are seeps and springs that produce water at a number of places in the canyon year round--even when the creek isn't flowing.  Numerous side canyon jut off the main canyon and any can be worth exploring.  The are also several large ponds and dams creating small bodies of water at various points in the canyon--some are large enough that wetland and marsh habitat is present.  Various small ranches and farms dot the landscape and oil pumpjacks can be found randomly throughout the area.  Notably the area is home to numerous rock art sites, cave dwellings, and native artifact dumps.  This varied location is currently split into 4 hotspots:

Montezuma Creek Rd -- Lower
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Middle
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Upper
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Ranch & Pond

Remember to take plenty of water. Watch the weather and stay on the designated roads if you visit in the summer months.  Spare tires, and emergency supplies are always a good idea in remote locations like this where you may potentially not see another person for several days if you end up on a back road or deep in a side canyon.

Birding:
The middle section of Montezuma Creek Canyon is in the heart of the best habitat here.  It is also the area that has been most visited by birders.  It's a shame that more birders don't trek out here to the desert--some good finds would inevitably happen in this riparian stretch, that I liken to the Beaver Dam Wash--just in the southeast corner of the state!  In January 2007 a handful of SCALED QUAIL were reported in this section of the canyon and many Utah birders traveled here and saw the birds.  I made several trips for this species and to conduct riparian counts here--and never found the quail; making it a Utah nemesis!  But the other birding here is fantastic.  BLACK-THROATED SPARROW are easy to track down along with both CANYON and ROCK WREN. I have flushed GAMBEL'S QUAIL on several occasions here, while WILD TURKEY are seen along the river form time to time.  GREAT HORNED and BARN OWL have both been seen, and WESTERN SCREECH-OWL are almost certainly present year round.  PRAIRIE FALCON is reported with some frequency while PEREGRINE have also been seen soaring over the cliffs.  Lots of flycatchers call the canyon home.  BLACK PHOEBE can be found here at various points along the river.  GRAY and DUSKY FLYCATCHER inhabit the juniper areas of the canyon, while ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER are common along the creek in the summer.  CASSIN'S KINGBIRD are also found here in small numbers.  PLUMBEOUS and GRAY VIREO have both been reported from the canyon. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, LUCY'S and YELLOW WARBLER nest along the creek, while BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER can be found on the edges where juniper meets riparian.  COMMON YELLOWTHROAT have been observed--there are several ponds and springs in the canyon where this species is easily found in the marsh edges.There are no shortage of sparrows with CHIPPING, BREWER'S, LARK, and VESPER SPARROW all in habitat various parts of the canyon and flats.  During the summer there can be some great color i the trees with both INDIGO and LAZULI BUNTING nesting here, and BLUE GROSBEAK being reported occasionally.  BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK are usually easy finds as well.  I have a feeling that SUMMER TANAGER probably nests here and would imagine the species list would be well over 100 given more attention from birders.  You can get here form the north via the directions below, or from the south via the directions on the Ranch & Pond page.  Either way the birding is easy and can be done from the road stopping at various points that look good for birding.  You can wander up side draws and canyons as well to explore a little bit.  No matter where you go here you will see something!

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Street in Monticello head south on US-191/Main Street for 5.1 miles.  Turn Left on to Montezuma Creek Road.  From here is is 5.3 miles till you reach the creek and are down in the canyon. From here the road continues 10.6 miles south in the "upper section" of the canyon.  At 10.6 miles you reach a small ranch on the west side of the road--this is the end of the upper section of the canyon.  If you continue south the next 18.1 miles are the "middle section" until you reach Around the World Road.

No Photo At This Time photo by Utah Birders

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Description:
Managed by the BLM, Montezuma Canyon is situated in San Juan County about 6 miles east of Monticello, and 13 miles east of Blanding.  There are no officially established trails, campsites, or other facilities in Montezuma Canyon. For the most part, the graded dirt road is suitable for 2 wheel drive vehicles however, after a rain or snow storm it can become impassable in some locations. The canyon is about 38 miles long from north to south, and the Montezuma Creek drainage eventually flows into the San Juan River near Aneth.  The creek is intermittent and lacks water most of the year outside of spring run off and during flash floods.  The canyon is dry desert and cliffs, with a wide flat bottom in most places desert scrub covers most open spaces.  Greasewood and Rabbitbrush are common, while along the creek huge Fremont Cottonwood follow the canyon bottom for its entire length.  In some places the trees are very thick while in others they can be sparse.  Willows and other understory can be found in may places--there are seeps and springs that produce water at a number of places in the canyon year round--even when the creek isn't flowing.  Numerous side canyon jut off the main canyon and any can be worth exploring.  The are also several large ponds and dams creating small bodies of water at various points in the canyon--some are large enough that wetland and marsh habitat is present.  Various small ranches and farms dot the landscape and oil pumpjacks can be found randomly throughout the area.  Notably the area is home to numerous rock art sites, cave dwellings, and native artifact dumps.  This varied location is currently split into 4 hotspots, but there will likely be more i the near future:

Montezuma Creek Rd -- Lower
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Middle
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Upper
Montezuma Creek Rd -- Ranch & Pond

Remember to take plenty of water. Watch the weather and stay on the designated roads if you visit in the summer months.  Spare tires, and emergency supplies are always a good idea in remote locations like this where you may potentially not see another person for several days if you end up on a back road or deep in a side canyon.

Birding:
Although I've never actually birded the upper section of the canyon, the species list appears to have many of the same species found further south in the area.  BLACK-THROTED SPARROW, LUCY'S WARBLER, CANYON and ROCK WREN, and WHITE-THROATED SWIFT are all species you would expect to find birding here in the spring and summer.  BLACK PHOEBE, BUSHTIT, and BEWICK'S WREN have all been reported in the upper section as well.  The riparian habitat in the upper section isn't nearly as thick as further south, but there is still plenty.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Street in Monticello head south on US-191/Main Street for 5.1 miles.  Turn Left on to Montezuma Creek Road.  From here is is 5.3 miles till you reach the creek and are down in the canyon. From here the road continues 10.6 miles south in the "upper section" of the canyon. At 10.6 miles you reach a small ranch on the west side of the road--this is the end of the upper section of the canyon.

No Photo At This Time photo by Utah Birders

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Description:
The Ranch and Pond hotspot in Montezuma Creek Canyon is just one of several private properties located in the canyon that provide excellent birding.  This notable location is just 1.6 miles north of Around the World Road on Montezuma Creek Road.  On the west side of the wash, a small abandoned home, with several out buildings sit on the west side of the road. Surrounded by cottonwoods and other trees and shrubs, the house is backed by cliffs and desert scrub.  On the north end of the property is a stable and old water tank.  On the east side of the road is a large pond lined with cottonwoods, russian olives, and various other shrubs and plants.  A thick marsh habitat often blankets part or most of the pond, depending on how low or high the water is.  The entire area is surrounded by dry desert making this a tiny oasis about 300 yards west of the creek and main treeline in the canyon.

Birding:
The ranch pond in Montezuma Creek Canyon has been a reliable spot for BLACK PHOEBE for a number of  years now.  Although this species occurs in the eastern part of the state, it is still sparsely reported.  I have seen pairs here on almost every trip hanging around the pond.  A small variety of waterfowl have been observed, notably HOODED MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and RING-NECKED DUCK.  Looking to the sky WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, VIOLET-GREEN, CLIFF, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS might be present.  There has been a GREAT HORNED OWL here in the past, and occasionally WILD TURKEY are seen in the vicinity.  BLACK-THROATED SPARROW are a permanent resident, as well as ROCK and CANYON WREN on the nearby cliffs.  Various other songbirds have been recorded here including LINCOLN'S SPARROW, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE.  Birding is best here between April and June, and then probably not to shabby during fall migration.  I like to park along the road and just walk the entire length of the property checking out the trees and shrubs, and giving the pond a good look.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center Streets in Blanding head south on Main Street for 1.8 miles.  Turn left onto 1800 South/Browns Canyon Road. After 1.1 miles turn right onto Perkins Rd/Rte 2416/Universe Road. Follow this for 4.2 miles then keep right at the split on CR-206/Around the World Road for 14.3 miles till you reach Montezuma Creek Road.  Hand a left and continue north 1.5 miles to the ranch and pond.

Southbound Rest Stop from Google Street View

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Description:
Lunt Park is the name of the rest stop on I-15 at mile marker 88 between Beaver and Paragonah.  There are both north and south bound stops.  The north bound stop on the east side of the highway is predominantly open grass with just a handful of trees, mostly on the south end.  The southbound stop on the west side of the highway has a similar amount of grass, but has at least 8 very large trees creating a migrant trap in the desert.  The surrounding areas are mostly degraded grassland, some farm land, and shrubsteppe.  Like most rest facilities bathrooms are present, and during the tourist season these stops can be quite busy.

Birding:
There is just one checklist from here, at the moment--I know I have stopped here several times in the past and had birds.  If you are headed to St. George, I think it might be worth checking the southbound side.  The northbound side doesn't look as good so it may not be worth your time coming back.  In the summer WESTERN KINGBIRD are often seen here.  LARK SPARROW, BREWER'S SPARROW, and SAGEBRUSH SPARROW use the nearby shrubsteppe habitat, while SAGE THRASHER and HORNED LARK are also found.  In the winter raptors can occasionally be seen here, some times perched in the trees. BALD EAGLE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, and PRAIRIE FALCON are all possible.

Directions:
If you are traveling out of Beaver, from exit 109 southbound it will be about 20  miles till you reach the pull out to the rest stop on your right. Alternatively if you are headed north from Paragonah at I-15 exit 82 it will be about 4.7 miles till you reach the pull off on your right to the north bound rest stop.

16-16 Pond Fields from Google Street View

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Description:
Just north off 2200 South along 1600 West in Logan there are a couple of ponds, and a river.  One pond sits about a block east closer to US-89 with a  canal running west then south to the intersection of 2200 south and 1600 west.  At what would be about 2000 South a creek goes under the road with a marsh/wetland and riparian habitat bordering it.  This loops to the west creating a long "pond".  South of the is a larger pond which is completely surrounded by farm fields.  I am not sure what access is like to the actual ponds, but the riparian and marsh area at 200 south on 1600 west is along the public road and can be birded easily.

Birding:
Not nearly as popular or well known as nearby 20-20 Ponds, 16-16 access appears to be more limited with the actual ponds in the area all being back from the roads and not visible without permission to enter the private property surrounding them.  However, there is no public information on birding here, so this is just an assumption.  From 1600 West as mentioned there is a creek, and riparian habitat visible along with the obvious farm land.  WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE are all found here relatively easily.  It looks like most visits happen form fall through spring.  MARSH WREN, BELTED KINGFISHER, and MOURNING DOVE are also reported frequently while variety of waterfowl and a small number of other species are occasionally seen here.

Directions:
From US-89 at 1000 West south of downtown Logan, go south on US-89 for .4 miles. Turn right onto 2200 South and go .3 miles.  Turn right onto 1600 West and continue .3 miles till you reach the pond.