Popular Birding Places

Popular Birding Places
Washington County


Ash Creek Reservoir
Directions: Take exit 36 of I-15 about 30 miles north of St. George or about 24 miles south of Cedar City. The Reservoir is right next to the freeway.

Beaver Dam Wash
Directions: (See the instructions for Lytle Ranch) Lytle Ranch is the main access to Beaver Dam Wash.

Coalpits Wash, Zion National Park
Directions: Go on UT 9 about 7.4 miles east of Virgin. Just before the bridge, take the dirt road to the parking area by the road. This is the trailhead for Coalpits Wash.

Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park
Directions: The trailhead is across from the Zion Lodge in Zion National Park

Enterprise Reservoirs
Directions: Go west of Enterprise on Main Street about 6 miles and bear left on the road that follows Little Pine Creek (FR 006). Go 5 miles to the reservoir.

Grafton
Directions: Go south from Rockville on Bridge Road about 3.8 miles. [Grafton is located about 3 miles west of Rockville just south of the Virgin River]. Cross the bridge over the Virgin River and go right on Grafton Road. Bear right at the next two junctions and proceed to the ghost town of Grafton. (The riparian habit on the flood plane of the river is a good birding place).

Gunlock Reservoir
Directions: Go west on UT 8 (Sunset Boulevard) from St. George through Santa Clara to Shivwits. Take the road going right and go about 5 miles to the reservoir.

Harrisburg Ghost Town
Directions: Approaching from the South: Take exit 16 of I-15 going east towards Harrisburg Junction and Zion Nat. Park. Go about a mile and a half and turn left (north, going towards Leeds) on UT 212 (becomes Red Cliff Road). Go about 4 miles and just past the road going to the north end of Quail Creek Reservoir.

Hurricane Fields
Directions: From SR 9 in Hurricane, go south on 700 West for about 2 miles, and turn right on 2060 South, follow this road past where it jogs left for about 1.6 miles, and turn right for another 1.2 miles. The paved road continues west around to Sand Hollow State Park.

Jacob Hamblin Home ~ submitted by Marilyn Davis
Directions: From St. George take Hwy 91 west to Santa Clara. Take main road through Santa Clara and just before the road curves right look for the historical Jacob Hamblin Home sign, and turn right to parking area by home

Kolob Reservoir
Directions: Go east of La Verkin on UT 9 about 5 miles to Kolob Reservoir Road (in Virgin) and turn left. Go 23.5 miles to Kolob Reservoir.

Kolob Reservoir Road
Directions: Go east of La Verkin on UT 9 about 5 miles to Kolob Reservoir Road (in Virgin) and turn left. The 23.5 mile route to Kolob Reservoir is good for birding.


LaVerkin Creek/Virgin River Confluence
See: Virgin River/LaVerkin Creek Confluence

Leeds Creek
Directions: Take Exit 23 of I-15 about 15 miles north of St. George (just north of Leeds). Go west toward Silver Reef and enter the Dixie National Forest. This road follow Leeds Creek for about 8 miles to Oak Grove Campground.

Lytle Ranch Preserve (the main access to Beaver Dam Wash)
Description: Lytle Ranch (see Lytle Ranch Area Map) is located in a section of the Mojave Desert that projects into Southwest Utah. This island of trees and water in the middle of a very dry desert lies along a migratory corridor, and creates an excellent stopping place for a great variety birds, many of which, not usually found in other parts of Utah.

Mathis Park
Directions: Take the Bluff Street Exit (6) coming from SLC. When you get off I-15 turn right and then left at the immediate stop light. This takes you to Hilton Dr. Go past hotel (used to be a Hilton Hotel) and several car dealerships and then follow the curvy road past Maverick Service Station over the bridge in the center of the South Gate Golf Course. Keep curving around past the driving range.....staying close to the Santa Clara River. You will take Dixie Drive.... past Tonaquint Nature Center and continue on that road until it goes past Sun Brook Golf Course. Immediately past the road to the left that takes you to Sun Brook...... there is a road to the right. It has white fence around it. Take that road. If you miss it you will go over the Santa Clara River.... and that is too far. You may feel you are going into a housing area, and it is, but there is a gate that opens and goes to Mathis Park. ~ Marilyn Davis

Description: It's a little park but it's always full of birds, the best (in my opinion) being the Summer Tananager. I've seen owls, flycatchers, towhees, tanagers, grosbeaks, various sparrows and warblers, catbirds, a nighthawk, etc. ~ Carol Davis

Oak Grove Campground
Directions: Take Exit 23 of I-15 about 15 miles north of St. George (just north of Leeds). Go west toward Silver Reef and enter the Dixie National Forest. Go 8 miles to Oak Grove Campground.

Pa'rus Trail, Zion National Park
Directions: Go through the South Entrance of Zion NP less than 0.2 miles and turn right toward the Watchman Campground. Park before you cross the bridge at the trailhead.

Pine Valley Campgrounds
Directions: Turn east from UT 18 about 23 miles north of St. George. Go about 10 miles through Central and Pine Valley to the campgrounds.

Pinto Creek
Directions: Go south of New Castle on Main Street about 0.3 miles. and turn left on 200 South. In about a mile the road come to New Castle Reservoir -- in about 4 more miles the road comes to Pinto Creek and continues about 6 miles along the creek to Pinto.

Quail Creek Reservoir
Directions: Utah State Parks & Recreation

Red Cliffs Campground
Directions: Approaching from the South: Take exit 16 of I-15 going east towards Harrisburg Junction and Zion Nat. Park. Go about a mile and a half and turn left (north, going towards Leeds) on UT 212 (becomes Red Cliff Road). Go about 4 miles and just past the road going to the north end of Quail Creek Reservoir, turn left and go through a very narrow underpass of I-15 going east. Continue on that road less then 2 miles to the campground.

Red Hills Golf Course
Directions: Take UT 18 north, to the outskirts of St. George. The golf course is on the right
Details


Sand Hollow Reservoir (State Park)
Directions: While on I-15, take exit 16, towards Hurricane. Travel for four miles and turn right at the light onto Turf Sod Road and follow the road south until it curves to the east and the entrance to Sand Hollow State Park. Follow the paved road to reach a parking area, or turn right onto a dirt road just past the entrance station that circles the south and east sides.
Details

Snow Canyon State Park
Directions: Take UT 18 north of St. George a few miles to the state park.


Springdale Pond
Directions: From Zion Park Boulevard in Springdale (UT 9), turn southeast on the road just north of the Zion Park Inn. Go down the hill to the pond.

Springs Pond (Seegmiller Pond)
Directions: Go east on St. George Boulevard in St. George going under I-15. Turn right on River Road and turn left on 1450 South ("Stake Farm Road") immediately after you cross the Virgin River. Go about a mile and turn left toward Spring Estates. Springs Pond is located in a St. George City Park, adjacent to the Virgin River and Seegmiller Marsh.

Tonaquint Park
Directions: Go south on Bluff Street (UT 18) in St. George and turn right on Hilton Drive just before you get to I-15. After you pass the golf course bear right on Dixie Drive. Go a few hundred yards to the park entrance.

Upper Sand Cove Reservoir
Directions: Upper Sand Cove Reservoir is northwest of St. George, near the town of Veyo, a mile or two west of SR-18. Heading north on SR-18 from St. George, the dirt road turnoff to Upper Sand Cove Reservoir is on the left (west) after
passing the Dameron Valley community and before reaching the Veyo Cinder Cone (large basalt cinder hill on the west side of SR-18). If you reach the small town of Veyo you've gone too far. ~ Rick Fridell

Utah Hill
Directions: This is a place you'd usually drop by on the way to Lytle Ranch.

Virgin River/LaVerkin Creek Confluence
Directions: From St. George: Go north on I-15 to SR-9. Follow SR-9 through Hurricane and LaVerkin. After the light in LaVerkin proceed straight down the hill as if going towards Toquerville. Just before the LaVerkin Creek bridge at the bottom of the hill, turn left on an unmarked, dirt road. This road is a county road and open to the public. Drive about 300 yards, parked in some shade and slowly walk south.
Description: The primary habitat is riparian with some agricultural and scrub around the edges. Birds are plentiful!

Virgin River Parkway
Directions: 1. North end: Take Exit 6 (I-15) in St. George going south (Riverside Drive/ Bluff Street). Go right on Main Street and go to the end of the road to the trailhead.
2. South end: Take Exit 4 (I-15) in Bloomington and go south on Pioneer Road. Go west on Man O'War Drive crossing the Virgin River to the parking area and trailhead on the other side.

Washington Fields
Directions: Go east on St. George Boulevard in St. George going under I-15. Turn right on River Road and turn left on 1450 South ("Stake Farm Road") immediately after you cross the Virgin River. Go about 2 miles and turn left on 3000 East and Washington Fields.

Welcome Spring
Directions: This is a place you'd usually drop by on the way to Lytle Ranch.

West Canyon (Part of Snow Canyon)
Directions: On Snow Canyon Road north of Santa Clara, turn just south of the Snow Canyon Campground to Three Ponds at the head of West Canyon.


Zion National Park
Directions: Just north of Springdale on UT 9.