Upper Falls Park from Google Street View

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Description:
Just up the road from Bridal Veils Falls, is Upper Falls Park.  The mixed oak woodland along the road borders the riparian habitat along the river.  The mountains to the south are covered in aspen and conifers, in between cliffs.  The falls are just to the west of here while a small dam on the river, controls the flow here.

Birding:
There isn't a ton of data for this location which is only open to the public form April through October.  This is really the best time in the mountains anyways.  Along the river keep an eye and an ear out for AMERICAN DIPPER which love the fast flowing water here.  WARBLING VIREO, YELLOW WARBLER, and SWAINSON'S THRUSH are usually hear, and often seen in the trees.  BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH add some color to the trees.  Looking skyward you will probably see WHITE-THROATED SWIFT and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.  Since BLACK SWIFT have been known to use the area, it is a possibility from here as well.  FOX SPARROW, GRAY CATBIRD, and WESTERN TANAGER might also be found while you're looking around.  During the winter if you are passing by, BALD EAGLE are often found in this area.

Directions:
From I-15 exit 272 in Orem for 800 North head east on 800 North for 3.6 miles.  Take the ramp on your left onto US-189/Provo Canyon Road and go another 4.8 miles till you reach the right turn down to the park.

Salt Lake County Side from Google Photo Sphere

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Description:
Big Mountain Pass is located on the Salt Lake and Morgan County lines along SR-65.  At 7,420' it sits right in a belt where numerous habitats meet.  Among Utahns it is known for two things. It is on the original route of the Mormon pioneers who crossed it in 1847 on their way to the Salt Lake Valley; and it is a great place to watch the sunset over a sliver of Salt Lake visible from the area.  Where the highway tops out there is a large gravel parking area on the south side of the road.  The Great Western Trail coming from the north crosses the road here, and continues to southeast from the east side of the parking area.  There are restrooms and several benches here.  Aside from the trail heading southeast, there is also one that follows the southwest slope down into Mountain Dell Canyon, and another going northeast into Upper East Canyon.  Down the west side and on the hills to the north the habitat is generally mixed oak woodland; some aspen and conifer can be found as well.  To the south and southwest is a huge patch of aspen that stretches for miles both directions. On the northeast and east sides are mid elevation coniferous forest.  Some willow and riparian like habitat exists here minimally.  There is also shrubsteppe on the west slope leading down the canyon.  The county line splits the parking area in half and is marked along the road.  For a while this was one spot but in order to accurately split the data there are not spots on both side of the county line--this matters because generally you are birding on one side or the other.  The details for the the Salt Lake County side are below--the MorganCounty birding information can be found here.

Birding:
Big Mountain is one of my favorite birding locations in Salt Lake County.  The birding on the way up, while there and down the other side into East Canyon makes for a great span of habitats and locations and although nothing terribly out of the common really shows up here, the resident breeding birds are easy gets on almost any trip.  Form mid May through July early in the day or in the evening SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSH can both be heard singing in the woods here.  WESTERN TANAGER, LAZULI BUNTING, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK add some bright color to the trees.  MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD are often heard calling overhead, or seen on the north side of the road.  HOUSE WREN chatter is a constant, while DUSKY FLYCATCHER can usually be found calling in the woods.  MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER can be found in the dense thickets on the slopes here.  Both GREEN-TAILED and SPOTTED TOWHEE are present at the pass as well. Overhead VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW are usually seen as well.  Hiking the trails into the hills you can access other habitat and species typical of the conifer.  Both species of KINGLET, AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, PINE GROSBEAK, and STELLER'S JAY have all been observed.  The pass is often used for owling and 5 species have been found between both sides of the pass.  FLAMMULATED OWL is a common breeder here, while NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL is occasionally found.  NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL show up from time to time, and are encountered more often south of here on the Great Western Trail.  Finally, COMMON POORWILL can usually be heard on the west slopes here after dark.  The pass can be a busy location with city slickers coming up for a quick drive away from the city; bikers taking a break; or various other people that show up here.  I like to hike the trails even just a few hundred yards to get away from the pass if there are people around. Most of the birds mentioned above are easy get on any trip here.

Directions:
From I-80 exit 134 in Parley's Canyon head north onto SR-65 and follow this 8.2 miles past Mountain Dell and Little Dell Reservoir through Mountain Dell Canyon.  The road switchbacks and has a couple sharp turns before eventually reaching the pass with a parking area on your right.

Morgan County Side from Google Street View

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Description:
Big Mountain Pass is located on the Salt Lake and Morgan County lines along SR-65.  At 7,420' it sits right in a belt where numerous habitats meet.  Among Utahns it is known for two things. It is on the original route of the Mormon pioneers who crossed it in 1847 on their way to the Salt Lake Valley; and it is a great place to watch the sunset over a sliver of Salt Lake visible from the area.  Where the highway tops out there is a large gravel parking area on the south side of the road.  The Great Western Trail coming from the north crosses the road here, and continues to southeast from the east side of the parking area.  There are restrooms and several benches here.  Aside from the trail heading southeast, there is also one that follows the southwest slope down into Mountain Dell Canyon, and another going northeast into Upper East Canyon.  Down the west side and on the hills to the north the habitat is generally mixed oak woodland; some aspen and conifer can be found as well.  To the south and southwest is a huge patch of aspen that stretches for miles both directions. On the northeast and east sides are mid elevation coniferous forest.  Some willow and riparian like habitat exists here minimally.  There is also shrubsteppe on the west slope leading down the canyon.  The county line splits the parking area in half and is marked along the road.  For a while this was one spot but in order to accurately split the data there are not spots on both side of the county line--this matters because generally you are birding on one side or the other.  The details for the the Morgan County side are below--the Salt Lake County birding information can be found here.

Birding:
Big Mountain is one of my favorite birding locations in Morgan County.  The birding on the way up, while there and down the other side into East Canyon makes for a great span of habitats and locations and although nothing terribly out of the common really shows up here, the resident breeding birds are easy gets on almost any trip.  Form mid May through July early in the day or in the evening SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSH can both be heard singing in the woods here.  WESTERN TANAGER, LAZULI BUNTING, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK add some bright color to the trees.  MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD are often heard calling overhead, or seen on the north side of the road.  HOUSE WREN chatter is a constant, while DUSKY FLYCATCHER can usually be found calling in the woods.  MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER can be found in the dense thickets on the slopes here.  Both GREEN-TAILED and SPOTTED TOWHEE are present at the pass as well. Overhead VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW are usually seen as well.  Hiking the trails into the hills you can access other habitat and species typical of the conifer.  From the east/northeast side of the parking lot I like to stand and listen and watch down the gulley here.  I will also often head up the Great Western Trail going southeast.  100 yards up the trail you are in forest away form the parking area noise.  At the radio tower here is a great spot to look for most of the species mentioned above as well.  RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER are often in the trees here, while WARBLING VIREO make a racked in the woods. At night FLAMMULATED, LONG-EARED, and NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL have been heard here.

Directions:
From I-80 exit 134 in Parley's Canyon head north onto SR-65 and follow this 8.2 miles past Mountain Dell and Little Dell Reservoir through Mountain Dell Canyon.  The road switchbacks and has a couple sharp turns before eventually reaching the pass with a parking area on your right.

Jeremy Ranch Road photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Jeremy Ranch Road is a dirt road connecting SR-65 just above East Canyon Reservoir, to Jeremy Ranch on the south end and I-80.  The road follows East Canyon Creek and provides riparian habitat along with agriculture, shrubsteppe, and Gambel's Oak woodlands.  The Morgan County portion on the north end is covered here, while the southern portion in Summit County has its own page here.

Birding:
Jeremy Ranch Road is often used as a shortcut to East Canyon from Park City, as well as a side trial for birding in East Canyon.  The riparian habitat near SR-65 is great for YELLOW WARBLER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD, and  HOUSE WREN .  There are often AMERICAN DIPPER found here near the bridge on the left after the parking area.  Dipper can be found along the entire stretch.  Some of the specialty species found here include SWAINSON'S THRUSH, often heard singing near SR-65; FOX SPARROW on the hillsides along the creek; GRAY CATBIRD and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT along the creek; and COMMON NIGHTHAWK at dusk over the fields and riparian tracts.  The most notable sightings include BULLOCK'S ORIOLE which can be difficult to get--and an early June record of TENNESSEE WARBLER.  Birding is best between May and September, especially walking the north end of the road along the creek.  If you head south along the road you will eventually reach the Jeremy Ranch Road -- Summit County hot spot.

Directions:
From I-80 take exit 134 north on to SR-65 towards East Canyon.  Follow this road over Big Mountain Pass into Upper East Canyon, for 13.6 miles.  As you come out of the canyon there will be a dirt road on your right.  Take this and you are on Jeremy Ranch Road--you can park at a round turnout on the right after a hundred feet. Alternately if you come from Jeremy Ranch Road -- Summit County, you will eventually reach Morgan county coming from the south.

Red Butte Arboretum Photo by Kenny Frisch

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Description:
Located adjacent to the University of Utah and nestled next to the Wasatch foothills, Red Butte Arboretum's mix of ornamental plants, natural plantings, and natural habitats along with Red Butte Creek and various ponds attract many bird species.  Trails through the grounds lead to different habitats and lead along Red Butte Creek and up into Red Butte Canyon.

Birding:
While birds are around all year, the best times to visit are in spring and fall for migratory species including warblers, vireos and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and summer for breeders.  Birds that prefer undergrowth and shrubby habitats like BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, GRAY CATBIRD, MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER and SPOTTED TOWHEE are more likely to be found here rather than at the University of Utah.

Directions:
Red Butte Arboretum can be reached by taking the 400S east from 1-15 or by going north on Foothill Drive from I-80 then turning east onto Wakara Way and taking it all the way up to the aboretum.