Salt Lake City Area Bird-watching

This Tour Comes From...

National Geographic Guide to Birdwatching Sites, Western U.S.

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Part of Utah’s great diversity of habitats is, of course, the beautiful high country of the Rocky Mountains, a favorite destination for summer birders just as it is for winter skiers. The Wasatch Range provides easy access from Salt Lake City to many of the typical nesting birds of the mountains in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. From Utah 190 (Wasatch Boulevard, closed in winter), which parallels I-215, take 3800 South Street eastward up into Mill Creek Canyon. Several picnic areas are located along the 9 miles [14.5 kilometers] of this road, offering the chance to look for White-throated Swift; Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds; Red-naped Sapsucker; Olive-sided, Dusky, and Cordilleran Flycatchers; Plumbeous and Warbling Vireos; Steller’s Jay; Clark’s Nutcracker; Mountain Chickadee; American Dipper (along the creek); Townsend’s Solitaire; Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes; Orange-crowned, Virginia’s, and MacGillivray’s Warblers; Western Tanager; Green-tailed Towhee; Song and Lincoln’s Sparrows; Black-headed Grosbeak; and Cassin’s Finch. You’ll have to be lucky to see a Northern Goshawk, Blue Grouse, or Northern Pygmy-Owl, but all are possible.

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- Mirror Lake Scenic Byway

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Open woodlands and forest edges attract the black-headed grosbeak.

Photograph © Joe McDonald/Corbis

About 3 miles [4.8 kilometers] into the canyon, watch for signs designating the Desolation Trail; a climb of less than 2 miles [3.2 kilometers], ascending 1,250 feet [381 meters] above the trailhead, will take you to a fine overlook of the Great Salt Lake, and you can continue on the trail as far as you have time and energy. At the end of the road, the Upper Mill Creek Canyon Trail climbs 9 miles [14.5 kilometers] to join with the Wasatch Crest Trail, for those ready for a serious hike. Checking varied habitats, including aspen groves, conifers, and meadows, will turn up the greatest diversity of species.
Most of these same birds can be found in Big Cottonwood Canyon, about 5 miles [8 kilometers] south. From Wasatch Boulevard, drive on Utah 190 east into the canyon. Spruces Recreation Area, at 7,400 feet [2,255.5 meters], makes a good stop, but many other spots also offer birding opportunities. About 14 miles [22.5 kilometers] up the canyon, bear right to Brighton. Go behind the general store here to reach a trail around pretty Silver Lake. You can continue 1.5 miles [2.4 kilometers] to Lake Solitude, or even farther if you like, for solitude and more birding.

Mirror Lake Scenic Byway

The fierce northern goshawk preys on other birds and mammals as large as hares.

Photograph © W. Perry Conway/Corbis

East of Salt Lake City, Utah 150 is known as the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway from Kamas east and north toward Wyoming. Along the way it crosses the Uinta Mountains, the highest east-west range in the lower 48 states. About 26 miles [41.8 kilometers] from Kamas, stop at Trial Lake, at 9,500 feet [2,895.6 meters], to look for mountain birds such as Blue Grouse, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Olive-sided and Hammond’s Flycatchers, Gray and Steller’s Jays, Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Townsend’s Solitaire, Pine Grosbeak, Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill, and Pine Siskin.
In 3 miles [4.8 kilometers], at Bald Mountain Pass, turn toward the parking area for the Bald Mountain Trail, known as a good spot to find Black Rosy-Finch. Check rocky slopes, especially around the edges of ice fields and snowbanks, for this little bird, which nests only above timberline. You’ll also find American Pipit up here at around 10,700 feet [3,261.4 meters]. The 2-mile [3.2 kilometers] trail to the top of Bald Mountain, at 11,943 feet, offers fabulous views of Uinta peaks and lakes. It’s normally walkable only from mid-July to October. In 3 more miles [4.8 kilometers], the Mirror Lake campground and picnic area is another popular birding spot. It is also just plain popular: The parking area here is full nearly every day in summer. After you’ve birded around the lake and picnic grounds, you can walk a short spur trail that leads to the Highline Trail, passing through meadows where you may find Calliope Hummingbird and Mountain Bluebird, as well as forests of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir where there’s a chance you’ll see Blue Grouse, Three-toed Woodpecker, and other woodland birds. Keep an eye out for Northern Goshawk and Golden Eagle soaring overhead.