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.

The Castle Gate photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
The Castle Gate is a rock formation near the mouth of Price Canyon. This formation features two sheer sandstone walls on either side of the Price River, which appear to open like a giant gate as travelers approach this narrow section of the canyon. The hot spot here includes Bear Canyon on the southwest side of the highway, which is the best location to bird int he area.  A small road winds up the canyon and it can be walked passing through a variety of habitats including mixed oak woodland, aspen, and conifer.  Birders rarely stop in Price Canyon, which really has some potentially amazing birding sites--like the Castle Gate.

Birding:
Given the sparse habitat in the area and limited birder visits there isn't a lot of data here.  The habitat in lower Bear Canyon should hold SPOTTED TOWHEE year round, with LAZULI BUNTING, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH during the warmer months.  I would assume VIRGINIA'S WARBLER probably breed here.  ROCK and CANYON WREN can probably be found on the cliffs year round. During the summer months looking to the sky WHITE-THROATED SWIFT and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW likely ride the currents here.  Keep an eye out for raptors like GOLDEN EAGLE and even OSPREY along the river here.  Higher up the canyon as the habitat become more forest species typical of aspen and conifer forest should be present as well. With a few more checklists from other times of the year, a better picture of the birding here can be put together.
Directions:
From the on ramp at Exit 240 on US-191/6 in Price, head north on US-191 for 11.7 miles till you reach Bear Canyon on your left and the Castle Gate on your right.

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.

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.

Monticello WWTP photo by Tim Avery

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Description:
Clay Hill Road is a side road in the town of Monticello that leads form down town through a rural sub division dotted with oak and juniper, several family farms, and mostly private property, until you reach the towns waste water treatment ponds on the east end.  The drive is less than 2 miles from end to end and can be done in a couple minutes--the ponds are the main reason to visit this area for birds.

Birding:
If you look in eBird you'll notice the month of April has a pretty good data set from this location--I have been here almost every week of the month over the years and never leave town without driving this road to see whats at the ponds on the east end.  I have never found anything really noteworthy, but there are some usual suspects.  Waterfowl are usually a target here, and amongst the CANADA GEESE and MALLARD there have been GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, CINAMON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP and RUDDY DUCK here.  EARED GREBE round out the waterbirds.  TURKEY VULTURE are almost always seen in the ravine leading out of town here, while GOLDEN EAGLE and COOPER'S HAWK have been observed too.  SAY'S PHOEBE are typically present, while HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKER have both been found.  WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BEWICK'S WREN and WESTERN BLUEBIRD are worth mentioning. And both COMMON RAVEN and AMERICAN CROW are often seen here. Over 50 species have been seen here in just a handful of trips by various birders.  It's one of those easy to make side stops when birding in the area, and I highly recommend it.

Directions:
From the intersection of Main and Center in Monticello head south on Main Street for .3 miles. Turn left onto 300 South and go .4 miles. Take the slight right and you are on Clay Hill Road which continues 1.3 miles where you can stay left and drive 100 yards to the water treatment ponds.

Little Willow Canyon from Google Street View

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Description:
The trail up leads through shrubsteppe and mixed oak woodland at Hidden Valley Park, before you hit the narrow rocky crags and cliffs at the mouth of the canyon.  Here the trail climbs through the oak into a riparian habitat along the creek which only has water in it during the runoff and following storms.  The habitat is very thick and quickly moves into mixed conifer and riparian in between the cliffs.  You don't need to go very far to find birds here.  There are often rock climbers in the canyon, and they make lots of noise, so beware of this on weekends.  I'm not sure how far up canyon you can travel before running out of trail or it becomes impassable, but will add details as I learn more.

Birding:
I have only been here a couple times, and there is one other eBird checklist with information about the birds here.  I suspect it's very similar to Big Willow Canyon to the norht, and any other canyon along the front with similar habitat.  This location is primarily going to be visited in the late spring, summer, and fall--although some interesting things might be around in the winter.  I would imagine NORTHERN PGYMY-OWL can probably be tracked down here, and flocks of ROSY-FINCHES probably use the bench here.  Year round residents include the usually WESTERN-SCRUB JAYS, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, and CALIFORNIA QUAIL in the lower stretches of the trail.  PINE SISKIN, STELLER'S JAY, and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE can be found in the higher reaches.  Near the rocky slopes at the canyon mouth listen for CANYON WREN singing.  During the breeding season there haven't been any checklists submitted yet, but the varied habitats likely attract a variety of species you would see in other canyons nearby.  I will add more details about the birding here in the summer when I have been back and can speak to it.  One thing I have thought every time I've been here is that this is probably a great point to hawk watch from.  Either below the canyon at Hidden Valley Park--or where the gate blocks the trail to the watershed.  I have seen TURKEY VULTURE, GOLDEN EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK, SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S HAWKS in just a couple visits.  I'll update this with more information as I learn more about the area.

Directions:
From the north taking Wasatch Blvd from I-215 at 6200 South head south past both Cottonwood Canyons.  At 9800 South continue straight another 3.5 miles till you arrive at the park on your left. Pull in to the lot and keep right to go to the parking area for the park.  From the south follow 12300 South in Draper east as it loops north and becomes Draper Parkway just past 1300 East. Eventually turning into 1700 east, take a right on to Wasatch Blvd at about 11700 south.  Follow the road east 1.7 miles till you reach the park on your right.  From the parking lot follow the paved trail southeast passed the first turnoff to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  At the 2nd turnoff on your left follow the dirt trail up the hillside until it goes around the bend into the mouth of the canyon.  Here the trail splits and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail goes to the right across the river--the trail up the canyon is straight ahead.

Antelope Island from the South from Google Street View

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Description:
This hot spot location is a little confusing as it appears quite a few people use it for checklists anywhere south of the loop road and White Rock Bay.  Although technically the Road to Garr Ranch and the actual ranch are on the south part of the island, the hot spot was created technically to list birds south of Garr Ranch. But others, also use it in the mountains, and on the trails in the back country of the island.  It may be worth splitting this location into "South of Garr Ranch" as well as "Backcountry" to be more specific and clean things up.  The habitat in these 2 areas is very different.  South of the ranch the habitat mirrors that of the road to Garr Ranch where primarily grasslands and mixed shrubsteppe make up the majority of the habitat.  Some riparian habitat around springs is present, while the dry lake bed is visible from the island.  The backcountry differs in that near the mountain range base it includes the above mentioned habitats, but is primarily more canyon based, with some mixed oak woodlands in the canyons  Several springs in the back country actually create quite impressive riparian habitats in said canyons.  The backcountry generally follows a spine down the west side of the island but is more centrally based and doesn't really reach the real south end.

Birding:
For the past few years Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld have conducted a monthly bird survey and a good portion of it has focused on south of Garr Ranch creating a great list of at least 100 species occurring there.  Unfortunately for most birders the area is hard to access, or closed all together. For right now I will be leaving this open to add details later.

Directions:
In Layton, take I-15 exit 332 west bound onto Antelope Drive for about 7 miles to the entrance station to the park.  After paying an entrance fee continue about 6 miles across the causeway to the island. At the sign where the road splits stay left and continue up the hill till you see the turn off on your left to Garr Ranch.  Turn left and follow this road 10.6 miles.  The road ends here at parking areas for Garr Ranch on your left, and for some of the back country trails to the south on your right.

Park HQ and Corrals from Bing Birds Eye View

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Description:
White Rock Bay is a campground on the north end of Antelope Island.  The exposed land here is predominantly grassland with mixed shrubsteppe.  Shoreline is also visible from here.  The Buffalo Corrals are used for the annual Buffalo Roundup and are located just behind the park offices.  The habitat here is like a "farm" given the corrals, stables, etc.  There is also a hay barn.  The surrounding habitat is predominantly grassland and shrubsteppe..  The area is generally open year round, although a gate to the corral area is occasionally locked.  Lots of visitors make their way here year round thinking they will see Buffalo.  You do occasionally see them along the road here, but they are only in the corrals during the roundup.

Birding:
Birding wise there are a couple birds found here that draw birders.  Namely both BARN OWL and GREAT HORNED OWL nest in the hay barn near the corrals.  Please if you go to see these birds DO NOT GO IN TO THE BARN!  Stay on the perimeter viewing form your vehicle, or as far out as you can to give the birds space.  They have been using this site for years and have grown accustomed to visitors, so please respect the space and keep this a reliable spot for these species for years to come.  SAY'S PHOEBE are often seen here during the warmer months along with SAGE THRASHER, BREWER'S SPARROW, and LARK SPARROW.  HORNED LARK can be found year round along with WESTERN MEADOWLARK.  The most notable sighting in the area was from April 2013 when a pair of MOUNTAIN PLOVER showed up near the campground for 2 days. Just going to show you never know what might turn up, even in the most likely of places.

Directions:
In Layton, take I-15 exit 332 west bound onto Antelope Drive for about 7 miles to the entrance station to the park.  After paying an entrance fee continue about 6 miles across the causeway to the island. At the sign where the road splits stay left and continue south for 1.6 miles till you reach a turn off on your left to the White Rock Bay.  Turn here and continue straight.  There will be a turn to your right after about 100'--this goes to the campground.  If you want to go to the corrals don't turn and instead continue straight till you reach the park offices.  Continue around the south side of the offices following the road.  It will hit a fence after about 150 yards.  To the left are the corrals, and a small dirt road to the right leads to the barn.

Lady Finger Point from Google Street View

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Description:
Lady Finger Point is a spit of land jutting out of the northwest edge of Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake.  The point is a primarily barren rock with sparse shrubsteppe, and shoreline on 3 sides.  The point is a popular trail on the island and a quick walk from the parking area.  The parking area is along the Visitor Center and Loop Road.

Birding:
There are a couple of birds that birders typically visit this area for. Most notably is the resident population of CHUKAR that are often seen around the visitor center and specifically on Lady Finger Point.  This is the most reliable location in Utah for this species, and perhaps one of the best in the United States.  It can be found year round, usually in the rocky areas, but also passing between in the shrubsteppe.  While looking for this game bird you often will hear or come across ROCK WRENS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and HORNED LARK.  During the summer months BREWER'S and LARK SPARROW can be found regularly, while SAGE THRASHER and in recent years NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD have been fairly common here.  SAGEBRUSH SPARROW has been reported sporadically from here. On the point CANYON and BEWICK'S WREN have also been found, while various waterbirds are often observed from the point, including DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and GREAT BLUE HERON which are often seen on Egg Island from here.

Directions:
In Layton, take I-15 exit 332 west bound onto Antelope Drive for about 7 miles to the entrance station to the park.  After paying an entrance fee continue about 6 miles across the causeway to the island. At the sign where the road splits if you go right you will be on the loop road to the visitor center.  After a few hundred yards there will be a turn out to a parking area on your right.  This is the parking area for Lady Finger Point to the west.

Loop Road from Google Street View

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Description:
The loop road begins when you reach the island. Typically for birding purposes you will want to go to the right at the large sign where the road splits.  From here the road passes through mostly shrubsteppe as it heads west till you reach a pull off at Lady Finger Point.  Lady Finger Point is also a hot spot in eBird and more location can be found on its location page.  The road loops back to the south east here passing through open grassland with mixed shrubsteppe and quite a few exposed rocks.  The Visitor Center rises to your left and can be reached by taking the road up to it.  The habitat surrounding the visitor center is the same, with more exposed rock.  Heading south the habitat is all open grassland and mixed shrubsteppe as you head south along the large beach to your west here.  Imported sand was brought in hoping to make a great beach atmosphere before the lake started receding.  The road eventually turns east and heads across open grasslands before coming to a T intersection.  Going right will take you to the White Rock Bay & Corrals hot spot, or going left will take you back to the north where you can access the Road to Garr Ranch, and Garr Ranch, as well as the Marina, the Causeway, and the start of the loop road again.

Birding:
There are a couple of birds that birders typically visit this area for. Most notably is the resident population of CHUKAR that are often seen around the visitor center, as well as the north part of the loop road.  This is the most reliable location in Utah for this species, and perhaps one of the best in the United States.  It can be found year round, usually in the rocky areas, but also passing between in the shrubsteppe.  While looking for this game bird you often will hear or come across ROCK WRENS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and HORNED LARK.  During the summer months BREWER'S and LARK SPARROW can be found regularly, while SAGE THRASHER and in recent years NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD have been fairly common here.  SAGEBRUSH SPARROW has been reported sporadically from here, usually near Lady Finger Point.  Further south where the grasslands open up there are several BURROWING OWL burrows where you can usually see these birds from March through the fall.  LONG-BILLED CURLEW are often seen in the fields here.  It's not uncommon to see waterbirds passing over the island, so cormorants, gulls, pelicans, and herons often seen while birding this area.  Feeders at the visitor center have attracted a variety of species in the winter months, including GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH and HARRIS'S SPARROW. In May 2013 a LARK BUNTING was seen on the hillside north of here. No trip to the island is complete without a drive through the loop--you will undoubtedly snag a couple of the main island targets here where photo opportunities are abound since many of the birds have become quite accustomed to the attention.

Directions:
In Layton, take I-15 exit 332 west bound onto Antelope Drive for about 7 miles to the entrance station to the park.  After paying an entrance fee continue about 6 miles across the causeway to the island. At the sign where the road splits if you go right you will be on the loop which comes back to this sign if you drive the whole loop.

Looking up Dalton Wash Road from Google Street View

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Description:
Dalton Wash Road is a small dirt road that passes through Dalton Wash--a mix of red rock "canyon", dry desert slopes, juniper woodlands, and arid shrubland.  Most birding occurs on the first 1.5 miles of road before the wash levels out on top of a plateau.

Birding:
Dalton Wash has really only popped onto the map for birders in the past few years; most notably for the ease of finding the resident RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW.  This location has been one of the most consistent locations for finding this species which inhabits similar habitat across the southwest corner of Utah.  Arriving early in the morning in the spring and listening for the sparrow is the best way to find it. Driving the road and stopping every 1/2 mile to listen should provide good opportunities to find it.  You will also likely encounter other specialty sparrow species like BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, and if you're lucky BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW.  These 3 desert specialties at one location makes this a truly unique area.  You will also hear plenty of ROCK and CANYON WRENS singing form the hillsides. Various other species are present during the winter and migration.  The hot summers really limit what can be found in this arid hot spot. Nocturnal birding here has turned up a few goodies as well, with LONG-EARED, GREAT HORNED, and WESTERN SCREECH-OWL all being found.  COMMON POORWILL are commonly heard in the dark and occasionally GREATER ROADRUNNER as well. When heading from St. George to Zion National Park, this quick stop is well worth it--just make sure you get there early before things warm up for the day!

Directions:
From the U.S. Post Office in Virgin, go east on SR-9 for 1.4 miles till your reach the turn off to Dalton Wash Road on your left. Turn here and you are in the wash.

Trail Head Parking Area from Google Street View

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Description:
The Taylor Creek Trail is one of the few official and popular trails in the Kolob Canyons section: a pleasant 5-mile (roundtrip) hike up one of the enchanting "finger" canyons. The Taylor Creek Trailhead is well marked and easy to spot; it's a prominent parking lot on the left (north) side of the road a little over 2 miles from the Kolob Canyons entrance. This hike is fairly easy and should take roughly 3 to 5 hours to complete. Note: This trail is also commonly known as "the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek."  Canyon and dry desert habitat are the base habitat that includes mixed oak and juniper woodland, and the riparian areas along the trail and creek. 

Birding:
This great hike passes through a ton of great birding habitat and on a usual trip you should be able to build up a descent list.  WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, CANYON WREN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and LAZULI BUNTING are regularly found while birding here.  With a little effort species like JUNIPER TITMOUSE, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, and VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, and PLUMBEOUS VIREO can be picked up as well.  The variety of habitat means a good variety of birds, and seasonally things can get quite interesting.  In the fall some high elevation species might be encountered here, as well as migrants.  All 3 NUTHATCHES have been recorded here, as have PACIFIC WREN, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, WESTERN TANAGER, and CASSIN'S FINCH.  Given how underbirded the Kolob Canyons section of the park is, there is a great opportunity to really explore this location and add to the already growing bird list.

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. Take I-15 exit 40 in New Harmony and go east onto Kolob Canyon Road for 2 miles till you reach the trail head on your left. Park here and you can hike for about 2.3 miles along the trail.

Left Fork Trailhead from Google Street View

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Description:
The Left Fork of North Creek (aka "the Great West Canyon") is one of the most beautiful and most popular canyons in the backcountry of Zion. The most famous section of this canyon is known as "The Subway" -- an amazing half-mile stretch that resembles a tubular tunnel complete with tracks going down the middle (but requires a permit). The Left Fork of North Creek has much diverse terrain, and as such, there are several different possible routes.  The habitat includes most dry desert, some riparian and canyon habitats, but at the trailhead is mostly mixed oak and juniper woodlands.

Birding:
I can't speak to actual birding on the trail, just at the trailhead and along the road through the awesome mixed woodlands.  The habitat is great for specialty species like JUNIPER TITMOUSE and SPOTTED TOWHEE year round. During the breeding season both BLACK-THROATED GRAY and VIRGINIA'S WARBLER can be found here, while CHIPPING SPARROW, WARBLING VIREO, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK are usually seen as well. SCOTT'S ORIOLE has been reported from here in the past, and is likely overlooked in the juniper stretches here.  Birding from the road with a few quick stops you can usually pick up all the expected species without much work.  On the way up to Kolob Terrace this is one of the usual spots I stop to look for the oak and juniper species for a few minutes.

Directions:
All Zion National Park hot spots directions in Zion Canyon, or to the east will orignate from the visitor center parking lot for consistency. Anything in the north and west sides of the park will come from the nearest major instersection.  From the U.S. Post Office in Virgin, go east on SR-9 for .2 miles. Turn left onto Kolob Terrace Road and continue north for 8.2 miles. The trailhead will be on your right.

Hop Valley Trailhead from Google Street View

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Description:
The Hop Valley Trail is a 6.5-mile stretch of trail that connects the Hop Valley Trailhead (in the Kolob Terrace section of the park) with the La Verkin Creek Trail (in the Kolob Canyons section) and is part of the "Trans-Zion Hike" that allows backpackers to hike from the Kolob section all the way down to the main canyon. While the scenery in Hop Valley is actually quite sublime, this section of park is part of a private inset of land where cattle still graze freely. Numerous stream crossings and the omnipresent cow droppings probably make the "Plop Valley Trail" less than appealing to the general public--but great for birding! The habitat here varies as you can pass through a variety of habitats if you hike the entire trail.  Near the trailhead where most birding is done the primary habitat is mixed oak and juniper woodlands.  But the actual hike goes through shrubsteppe, ponderosa forest, as well as dry desert, and of course riparian.

Birding:
Your not going to build a huge bird list here but you could put together a nice list if you did the entire hike.  Since most birders tend to just bird the area around the trailhead will concentrate on that.  birding is most popular in the last spring and early summer and species typical of mixed oak woodlands dominate the landscape.  WARBLING VIREO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, SPOTTED TOWHEE, CHIPPING SPARROW, LAZULI BUNTING, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK should all be encountered.  VIRGINIA'S and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER can be tracked down with a little work, while the general area has turned up BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW in the past.  If you are headed to Kolob Terrace or Lava Point stop here for a few minutes to take in the view and see what birds you can 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. From the U.S. Post Office in Virgin, go east on SR-9 for .2 miles. Turn left onto Kolob Terrace Road and continue north for 12.8 miles.  The trailhead parking will be on your left.

The Narrows from Google Street View

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Description:
A hike through The Narrows requires hiking in the Virgin River. You must get your feet wet since there is no trail. Most people choose to start their hike from the Temple of Sinawava via the Riverside Walk and then walk upstream before turning around and hiking back down to the Temple of Sinawava. You can also hike sixteen miles downstream over one or two days, entering the park soon after starting the hike and then exiting at the Temple of Sinawava. Those who choose this option must get a permit and arrange transportation for the one and a half hour ride to start the hike outside the park at Chamberlain's Ranch. Steep canyon walls dominate the habitat here with the Virgin River at the base.  Some vegetation is found in the wider areas, but in the "true Narrows" it is mostly sandstone and water.

Birding:
The Narrows aren't often birded, given that the hike is in the water.  For some adventurous birders continuing beyond the end of the Riverside Walk, the Narrows provides a reprieve from the huge crowds.  The birding here isn't going to be really amazing, as the habitat is primarily straight canyon walls out of the water.  There are some riparian trees, hanging gardens, and shrubs, but this truly is a slot canyon.  AMERICAN DIPPER is commonly encountered in the river, and shows up on most submitted checklists.  CANYON and ROCK WREN are also encountered frequently here.  CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER nest in the canyons and can often be heard singing.  Look for where they land on canyon ledges and you might find a nest.  YELLOW WARBLER, HERMIT THRUSH, and SPOTTED TOWHEE are also regularly seen as well, while most other species seen in the canyon are found less often.  Looking skyward you will probably see WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, while COMMON RAVEN and TURKEY VUTLURE are also seen soaring. The Narrows provide a unique birding experience in Zion and are worth a visit if you don't mind getting your feet wet.

Directions:
All Zion National Park hot spots directions in Zion Canyon, or to the east will orignate from the visitor center parking lot for consistency. Anything in the north and west sides of the park will come from the nearest major instersection. Catch the Zion Canyon Schedule at any pick up locations inside or outside the park. Stay on the shuttle until you reach the final stop at the Temple of Sinawava. Follow the Riverside Trail up canyon till you reach the Narrows.

Canyon Overlook Trail from Google Street View

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Description:
The Canyon Overlook Trail is a short easy family hike to a great overlook of the main canyon. The small parking lot (on the south side of the road) fills up quickly in the busy summer months, but there are several small overflow parking lots a little further east off of the road. The trailhead is quite visible north of the road behind the ranger traffic booth. This hike is a quick one -- less than half a mile to the viewpoint and roughly an hour hiking time (round trip). The manufactured trail is mostly level and was carved out of the slickrock above Pine Creek.  The habitat is typical dry canyon and high desert with some pinyon juniper and mixed oak woodland.

Birding:
The canyon overlook is a very popular trail for the beautiful views of the park it affords.   This makes it quite the tourist trap and you will often find the trail clogged with other people.  Birding wise it isn't a major birding destination, but because of the amount of traffic it receives, a lot of birders end up birding here.  The species found are typical of the  drier canyon and juniper habitats of the park and there aren't any specialty birds you can find here that you won't find elsewhere in the park.  You will probably encounter WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, CANYON and ROCK WREN, and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.  The areas with Juniper should be checked for JUNIPER TITMOUSE, and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.  The clear views of the ridges from here are great for looking for raptors like TURKEY VULTURE, GOLDEN EAGLE, and if you're lucky a CALIFORNIA CONDOR. If you plan on going here I recommend doing so early in the day to avoid lots of others, it will make the birding much more enjoyable!

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 trail head is about 250' ahead on your left.

Watchman Trail Head from Google Street View

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Description:
The Watchman Trail is a short trail (3-miles round trip) that starts by the Visitor Center and leads to a viewpoint on top of the first layer of cliffs roughly 300 feet above. This trail doesn't actually take you to the top of the Watchman Mountain, but from the viewpoint you can get a good view of the peak to the south, as well as a good bird's eye view of the whole Visitor Center complex below. During the afternoon heat of summer, this hike could be torture, so the early morning is the best time for this one, especially when this side of the main canyon is still in the shade.  The habitat here included the cliffs above, as well as the dry desert, and boulder strewn hillsides. Some oak and juniper dot the landscape as well.

Birding:
A close walk from the visitor center and campgrounds this trail can easily be done for the scenery with the birding as a bonus.  Species typical of the drier portions of the park are found here with JUNIPER TITMOUSE, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATHCER, CANYON and ROCK WREN, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, and SPOTTED TOWHEE being typical finds. Other juniper bound species are also encountered here while some riparian species like SUMMER TANAGER and LUCY's WARBLER are occaionally seen at the trail head. Although there aren't any specialty birds here that you won't come across elsewhere in the park, if you have some time and are in the area, its worth the hike for the views.

Directions:
All Zion National Park hot spots directions in Zion Canyon, or to the east will orignate from the visitor center parking lot for consistency. Anything in the north and west sides of the park will come from the nearest major instersection. From the visitor center walk to the trail just on the north side and follow it across the road staying on the southside of the Virgin River. The trail continues 1.3 miles then a .5 mile loop can be hiked at the end.

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.