Whether it’s winter, summer or somewhere in between, there’s always something exciting to see in Utah. Here are some of the best wildlife watching spots.
Rock Cliff, Jordanelle State Park
More than 160 species 0f birds, both resident and migratory are found here. The park is an especially good place to spot Eagles and other raptors that nest locally. Boardwalks and trails traverse the riparian wetlands, giving you a chance to observe wetlands life while reducing your ecological footprint.
- Rock Cliff, Jordanelle State Park Rick Bolin / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
Rock Cliff contains three walk-in camping areas: picnic tables; the Nature Center which offers maps. Environmental programs, and exhibits on the various habits of the area and how man’s activities impact them, and the Jordanelles Discovery Trail, a boardwalk interpretive trail that winds through the Provo River riparian terrain.
More information on the park can be found here: http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/jordanelle-state-park
Flaming Gorge National Reservation Area
Tucked away in the far northeast corner of Utah and stretching up into Wyoming is Flaming Gorge National Reservation Area, one of the region’s most scenic areas and a wonderful place for outdoor recreation. A dam was built on the Green River for flood control, water storage and the generation of electricity, but a wonderful side effect was the creation of a huge and gorgeous lake – some 91 miles long, with more than 300 miles of shoreline – that has become prime fishing, bird watching and boating destinations of the region. Here is some of the best fishing in the West, well over 100 miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails and hundreds of camp and picnic sites.
- Flaming Gorge National Conservation AreaJ. Stephen Conn / Foter / CC BY-NC
Take to the water to vie for a glimpse of the majestic bighorn sheep. The imposing beasts are sometimes seen on King-fisher Island and near Hideout Canyon, on the north side of the reservoir, in spring and early summer. And keep your eyes peeled for the lovely osprey and rare peregrine falcon, occasionally spotted near their nests on the high rocky spires above the lake.
Remember to do all you travel and if you are from outside the US be sure to have your visas and passports in order. If you are from the UK you can apply for an esta visa waiver, but you wll need to make your application online at least 72 hours before you travel.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (near Kanab)
If you climb the dunes early in the morning, you are sure to see the footprints of jackrabbits, kangaroo rats and the occasional mule deer or coyote. But the park is also a habitat for scorpions and fascinating but poisonous (and some bioluminescent) arachnids that often prey on each other. Humans aren’t their natural targets, but it is always best to keep your distance.
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State ParkCreativity+ Timothy K Hamilton / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
More here: http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/coral-pink-sand-dunes-state-park
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Willows and Cottonwoods line the banks of the reservoir, one of the few wetlands birding sites in southern Utah.
The park is home to a wide variety of ducks, plus coots, herons and swallows. You might also see eagles, ospreys, American kestrels and other raptors. Cottontail and blacktail rabbits, squirrels and beavers inhabit the area as well.
More on Escalante park here: http://www.utah.com/stateparks/escalante.htm
