Price Canyon Recreation Area photo by Tim Avery
Description:
The Price Canyon Recreation Area, which is administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), offers visitors a chance to enjoy cooler temperatures and the shade of large ponderosa pine trees during the summer. The recreation area is located on a ridge high above Price Canyon. The entrance road, a scenic overlook accessible by automobile, and a hiking trail, provide excellent views of rugged canyon country. Amenities include large, well-spaced campsites are available. Facilities at the campground include picnic tables, fire pits, vault toilets, trash receptacles, and parking spaces. The Price Canyon Recreation Area is a U.S. Fee Area. A nominal fee of $8 is charge for overnight camping and reservation of the group picnic areas. As a side note, lightning frequently strikes the ridge tops near the campground. Avoid open, exposed areas when lightning is a possibility. The road is closed in the winter. The dry hillsides here and canyon walls are accentuated by mixed oak woodland and conifer forest dominated by Ponderosa pines and a small mix of juniper woodlands.
Birding:
Birding along the road to the top passing through the forest you should be able to track down birds like DUSKY FLYCATCHER, PLUMBEOUS and WARBLER VIREO, both RED-BREASTED and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, ORANGE-CROWNED, VIRGINIA'S, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and both SPOTTED and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE. One of the specialty species here is GRACE'S WARBLER which is probably a regular breeder, but goes unnoticed since birders don't visit that often. I have a feeling GRAY VIREO is probably also regularly occurring, and PYGMY NUTHATCH probably are found int he general vicinity as well. Spending some time looking here and all 3 of these might actually be regular breeders. As you get higher in the forest things like WESTERN TANAGER, CASSIN'S FINCH, RED CROSSBILL, and CLARK'S NUTCRACKER can all be found.
Directions:
From the on ramp at Exit 240 on US-191/6 in Price, head north on US-191 for 15.7 miles till you reach the turn off to Price Canyon Recreation Area Road on your left. Turn here and you can follow the road 3.1 miles to the top and several parking areas, camping sites, and picnic tables.
Labels: canyon, Carbon County, cliffs, conifer, flycatchers, jays, juniper, oak, titmice, vireos, warblers
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