36th Street Trailhead from Google Street View

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Description:
36th Street Trailhead, located at the top of 36th Street in Ogden, is a popular trailhead for accessing several area hiking trails. The Trailhead accesses three area trails:

Foothill Loop which is a Jogger/mountain bike trail along Mt. Ogden Golf Course which is mostly urban habitat, with a riparianish feel from the number of big trees, and  a good deal of mixed oak woodland; Strong's Canyon which is a 1/2 mile trail through the forest and up the canyon along a riparian corridor with mixed oak woodlands bordering it and links to Bonneville Shoreline Trail--which is the 3rd trail following the foothills an the typical mixed oak woodlands.  You can reach several interesting objectives from the 36th Street Trailhead including Waterfall, Taylor, and Beus Canyons.

Waterfall Canyon: Hike up Strong Canyon trail to its end ~1/2 mile. There is a small footbridge and a sign. Go North (left) on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for ~1.2 miles. Taylor Canyon: Hike up Strong Canyon trail to its end ~1/2 mile. There is a small footbridge and a sign. Go North (left) on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for ~1.2 miles. Cross the small foot bridge next to Waterfall Canyon Trail and continue on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for another mile. Beus Canyon: Hike up Strong Canyon trail to its end ~1/2 mile. There is a small footbridge and a sign. Go South (Right) on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for ~1.2 miles.

The Strong Canyon area is a popular area for evening hiking and mountain biking. During the winter/late fall the trails are beaten down but the Strong Canyon trail does get a fair amount of ice. During the summer, the area is crowded with dog-walkers, hiker groups and mountain bikers which makes it harder to enjoy.

Birding:
There have only been a handful of checklists submitted from here despite the apparent number of hikes possible from the trailhead.  As expected in the lower areas where the oak is dominant, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, and SPOTTED TOWHEE are present.  Some other species notably located here include MACGILLLIVRAY'S and VIRGINIA'S WARBLER which might be migrants, but potentially breed in  the canyons mentioned above.  WESTERN TANAGER, CHIPPING SPARROW, and HERMIT THRUSH have also been reported.  During the winter there is a report of NORTHERN GOSHAWK, and GOLDEN EAGLE likely nest in one of the canyons above as they are seen soaring overhead from time to time. With a small species list the actual bird diversity here is not well represented and many more species can probably be found with a few visits in the spring and fall.

Directions:
From the intersection of 36th Street and Harrison Blvd in Ogden, head east on 36th Street for .6 miles.  Turn left and park at the trailhead.

Upper Yellow Fork Canyon from Google Maps User

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Description:
To access this area, start in Yellow Fork Canyon and walk about a mile through mixed oak and juniper habitat. You will eventually come to a white gate and see a trail running up a steep hill to the right (north). Take this or make your own trail and climb to the ridge line that runs in between Yellow Fork and Butterfield Canyon. Follow the ridge line trail, which will lead you into mid elevation conifer and mixed aspen forest and give you a different set of birds.

Birding:
Birding here is always best during the spring, summer, and fall months. Winter tends to be quite slow and access to the ridge line trail is made difficult by snow. During spring and fall migration, the warbler list can be quite impressive: VIRGINIA'S, YELLOW, YELLOW-RUMPED, MACGILLIVRAY'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, NASHVILLE, and TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS are found here without much difficulty.

Flycatcher species in the lower portions of the hike include Willow (along the stream) and GRAY FLYCATCHER. OLIVE-SIDED, HAMMOND'S and CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHERS are usually found in the higher elevations, while DUSKY FLYCATCHER and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE are found throughout the whole area. I usually make my own trails and hike the Juniper covered hillsides on the north side of the Yellow Fork trail and then make my way up the ridge between the two canyons. While in the Juniper habitat I almost always see BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, GRAY FLYCATCHER, JUNIPER TITMOUSE, and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD as well as some of the other more common species.

Other common birds in the lower area include: PLUMBEOUS and WARBLING VIREO, BUSHTIT, GREEN-TAILED and SPOTTED TOWHEE, WESTERN TANAGER, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.  Once on the ridge line trail, you have an open view of both sides of each canyon. Hawks and vultures are soaring above you (sometimes at eye level) looking for prey.
RED-TAILED, SWAINSON'S SHARP-CHINNED, and COOPER'S HAWK have been seen here along with GOLDEN EAGLE and TURKEY VULTURE. Besides the raptors, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW are also seen in good numbers above the canyons.

Habitat along the first part of this trail is mostly sagebrush. VESPER, CHIPPING, and BREWER'S SPARROW can be seen all along here. On the Butterfield side, look and listen for OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER perched on the tops of tall dead trees.  Keep walking the trail until you reach the Pine and Aspen habitat. In this area you can see many high elevation birds such as
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, STELLER'S JAY, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER, both SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSH, and HAMMOND'S, CORDILLERAN, and OLIVE-SIDED FLYATCHER.

The most notable sighting I have had here was a flock of 65+ PINYON JAYS that flew over me heading south just before I got onto the ridge.

Directions:
From I-15 Exit 291 at 12300 south in Draper head west for 6.3 miles as the road becomes 12600 south.  Turn Left on to Main Street in Herriman and follow it as it heads southwest for 2 miles. Turn Left on to 6400 West/Rose Canyon Road for 1 mile.  Turn right--this is a continuation of Rose Canyon Road.  After .8 miles you will arrive at a pond to your left at "The Cove At Herriman Springs". From here the road continues 2.6 miles till the trailhead at Yellow Fork Canyon is on your right. From here it is a mile hike up the trail to the upper canyon section.

Thanks to Kendall Watkins for this location submission.

Looking North from Inlet Park from Google Street View

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Description:
This is the southernmost point of the Jordan River Parkway where it meets up with Utah Lake in Utah county just north of Saratoga Springs. At Inlet Park there is a dam that controls the flow of water from Utah Lake into the Jordan River. The Parkway is paved the whole way and used by walkers, runners and bicyclists. The walk from Inlet Park to Pioneer Crossing Overpass is 1.2 miles. You can continue to walk the Parkway underneath the Pioneer Crossing Overpass--as with the rest of the Jordan Rive,r we have slit eBird into sections, and a new section begins from here and goes 1.4 miles to Lehi Main Street, where you will reach the north side of Powell Lake which is another great hotspot. Also once you return to your car consider taking a spotting scope to Pioneer Crossing Ponds which is another e-bird hotspot.

Birding:
This is a good place to bird all year long. There are trees, shrubs and the river that provide food and cover and nest sites. Birds to watch out for include: RING-NECKED PHEASANT, SANDHILL CRANES, GREAT EGRET,TURKEY VULTURE, BLACK-CAPPED and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, YELLOW-HEADED and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, NORTHERN FLICKER, GREAT BLUE HERON, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, EVENING and BLUE GROSBEAK, PRAIRIE FALCON, AMERICAN KESTREL, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, BARN, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and CLIFF SWALLOW (nesting under Pioneer Crossing Bridge), and WILSON'S SNIPE.

Directions:
In Utah County, at the intersection of Pioneer Crossing and 2300 West head south where the road becomes 7200 North after .6 miles. Take a right into the parking lot after .2 miles. This is just before the bridge over the Jordan River. This parking area has signs for the Utah County Radio Controlled Airplane Park. The walk from this parking area to Pioneer Crossing Overpass is .9 miles. Instead of parking here there is a smaller parking lot further down at Inlet Park which is on Saratoga Rd from here.

Thanks to Rachel LeBlanc for this location submission.

Mouth of Yellow Fork Canyon from Google Street View

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Description:
Yellow Fork Canyon is the end destination for most ravelers on Rose Canyon Road.  This trail closes to vehicles is a quick way to lose the noise of the road, and enjoy the best birding in the area quickly.  The habitat is a continuation of what's in Rose Canyon, with mixed oak and juniper woodlands being the predominant habitat type. A small creek lends some riparian habitat with willow and other shrubs present as well.  Rocky hillsides with some cliff habitat can be found, as well as some shrubsteppe on rolling hills.  The lower section of the canyon is an easy hike from the trailhead and you can quickly find yourself off trail following birds through the woods. The upper portion of the trail is about a 30 minute hike from the bottom, and this is where the habitat becomes more montane.  There is another hot spot for this location called "Yellow Fork Canyon -- Upper", and it is recommended that checklists for the upper canyon are split from the lower canyon given the differing habitats.

Birding:
The first time I came to Rose Canyon was in High School, and it was to look for JUNIPER TITMOUSE.  This was known as the closest reliable spot for this species from Salt Lake City--and it still is--after birding in Rose Canyon I continued in the less travelled Yellow Fork.  The juniper woodlands here are prime habitat and this species can be found year round along with WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, and COMMON RAVEN here.  During the breeding season BLACK-THROATED GRAY, VIRGINIA'S, YELLOW, and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, join PLUMBEOUS VIREO, DUSKY and GRAY FLYCATCHER here.  BUSHTIT are reported infrequently, and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH have been found here.  The bird list is essentially going to be similar to Rose Canyon, but the birding is easier and the land is public.  There are definitely more birds and a wider array here, but the specialty species remain the same.  The current list definitely has species found in the upper portion of the canyon as there is overlap in species that wouldn't normally be found in oak or juniper.  But bird both the lower and upper canyon, and create a list for both to help split things out in the future!

Directions:
From I-15 Exit 291 at 12300 south in Draper head west for 6.3 miles as the road becomes 12600 south.  Turn Left on to Main Street in Herriman and follow it as it heads southwest for 2 miles. Turn Left on to 6400 West/Rose Canyon Road for 1 mile.  Turn right--this is a continuation of Rose Canyon Road.  After .8 miles you will arrive at a pond to your left at "The Cove At Herriman Springs". From here the road continues 2.6 miles till the trailhead at Yellow Fork Canyon is on your right.

Cherry Canyon Logging Trail from Google Street View

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Description:
Also known as "Bear Canyon", the sign at the trailhead reads "Cherry Canyon Logging Trail".  This route to the summit of Lone Peak is an easy to follow alternative to the more popular Draper Ridge and Jacobs Ladder trails. Although the route involves more elevation gain than these two more popular routes, it offers several advantages. Frequent switchbacks eliminate most of the brutally steep sections which are found on the other two trails. A much larger portion of the trail passes through coniferous forest, and the presence of a perennial spring provides a year-round water source.  The lower reaches of the trail pass through dry hillsides and mixed oak woodlands before gains in elevation pass through aspen and mid elevation conifer.  If you were to hike all the way to Lone Peak you would eventually end up above tree line on rocky crags above 11,000'.  From 4,850' at the trailhead, the trail runs for about 6 miles and goes up 6,400' in elevation to 11,253' at the very top.  This is an average of 1,070' per mile of elevation gain making this a very difficult hike.

Birding:
This post is long due to the directions.  Very few birders have submitted checklists so I won't spend too much time saying what you'll see here.  Do this hike for the hike--not the birds--the birds will come as you pass through various habitat belts and be similar to what you would see starting at the mouth of either Cottonwood Canyon and driving to the very top--only it's all on foot.  I think it's safe to say that you could easily have a 30-50 species day here anytime between mid May and September if you did the entire hike.  If you just did lower portions, you would only see the birds typical of the oak belt; and so on up through the habitats.  If you do this hike, please submit a checklist for it, and share comments in the section below.  As more lists become available the birding information will be updated here.

Directions:
From the intersection of 12300 south and 1300 east in Draper, head south on 1300 east for .2 miles. At the traffic circle take the 3rd exit onto Pioneer Road.  Follow this east for 1.1 miles. Turn right on 2000 east and go .2 miles. The road becomes Highland Drive and after about 125 yards there will be a left turn into the Orson Smith Trailhead.

And the actual hike directions taken from summitpost.org:  hike up the small dirt road, passing two large concrete vaults on the left 250 yards up the road. Approximately 100 yards beyond these vaults look for a trail heading steeply up the slopes on the right (east) side of the road. Follow this trail for 0.2 mile until it intersects the north-south Shoreline Trail at a signed 4-way junction at 5,200'.

Continue east at this junction on the trail identified as "Cherry Canyon Logging Trail". From the signed junction the trail meanders a bit and makes numerous small switchbacks as it slowly climbs through scrub and sagebrush up the lower west facing flanks of Lone Peak.

At 7,200' the trail crosses onto the Cherry Canyon (to the south) side of the ridge for a pleasant .25 mile stretch of fairly level hiking before beginning to climb again. The trail then makes a few more switchbacks but continues climbing in a generally eastward direction.

At 8,485' a spur trail, marked with a cairn, joins from the south (this spur trail traverses south .25 mile to the Draper Ridge Trail). After passing this junction the trail descends slightly and enters a forested stretch as it continues east for .3 mile, where it reaches the perennial spring at 8,440'. The spring is located in the Bear Canyon drainage.

From the spring the trail continues climbing through pines, steeply at times, turning northward for a brief period before turning back eastward as it enters the South Fork of Little Willow canyon. The trail winds through a number of large granite outcrops before arriving in an open meadow. In the trees on the right (south) side of the meadow is the Outlaw Cabin at 9,275 ft.', a small log cabin complete with a wood stove.

From the Outlaw Cabin it is possible to traverse south .25 mile and intersect the standard Draper Ridge/Jacobs Ladder trail. However, it is shorter and just as easy to continue east up the South Fork Little Willow drainage.

There is no trail beyond the Outlaw Cabin but it is a simple matter to follow the drainage east, staying on the left (north) side of the drainage as it begins rising more steeply. Near the top the drainage narrows, rimmed on the east and south by granite cliffs and spires.

Begin veering left and route find your way through the rocks. Soon after you will find yourself on the west wall of the cirque, and the summit of Lone Peak will pop into view for the first time. This is a good spot to note a few landmarks for navigation on the return, since it would be easy to incorrectly begin descending into the drainage immediately to the north, which is the North Fork of Little Willow.

From the west rim of the cirque climb over a short rise, then descend a bit as you route find your way north-east through rocks and low alpine trees. Occasional cairns may be spotted to help guide the way. Regain the ridge which slowly curves east, becoming the summit ridge of Lone Peak. This is another good spot to note a few landmarks for the return hike down.

Follow the summit ridge staying initially on the left (north), then crossing over to the south side of the ridge. The final few hundred feet to the summit involves class 3 scrambling with exposure.

Bell Canyon Gulley from Google Street View

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Description:
Bell Canyon Gulley is a small gulley that follows the course of Big Willow Creek as it winds its between neighborhoods toward Hidden Valley Golf Course. Sloping hills on either side of the creek create different habitat from the riparian section below. The upper slopes mostly consist of tall grass, but there are also fairly large patches of gambel's oak and sagebrush as well. Trails run through all these areas as well as paths that follow the creek. The gulley is mostly dry except for during runoff and following rains. Tall cottonwoods cover the sides of the creek with some thickets mixed in as well. Dog walkers can occasionally be seen on the trails here but for the most part this location receives little traffic.

Birding:
Birding is likely most productive here on both spring and fall migration as migrants would be attracted to the fairly unique habitat for the area. WESTERN TANAGER, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, WARBLING VIREO, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, GRAY and DUSKY FLYCATCHER  have all been seen on migration here. All 4 regularly occurring Utah HUMMINGBIRD species (CALLIOPE, RUFOUS, BROAD-TAILED, and BLACK-CHINNED) have been observed as well, the latter likely resident throughout the summer. CALIFORNIA QUAIL, SPOTTED TOWHEE, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, and COOPER'S HAWK can be seen year-round in addition to other expected species in the area. Raptors such as AMERICAN KESTREL, and RED-TAILED HAWK, as well as GREAT HORNED and WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS have also been seen. Breeders here include species such as BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, YELLOW WARBLER, and LAZULI BUNTING.

Directions:
From I-15, take exit 292 for 11400 S and proceed east for about 3 miles. Make a right on to 1700 E and head south for .25 miles. Make a left onto Wasatch Boulevard and continue east for .5 miles. Parking is available on the north side of the road in a large dirt lot across from highland drive. To access the gulley from here, walk down the large dirt area between neighborhoods to the trails.