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Popular Birding Places Cache County |
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| Logan Canyon by Eric
Huish
©Eric Huish |
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(To print a county map along with this information, go to the Print Center) |
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Directions: From Main Street Logan, go west on 200 North to 1000 West. Turn left and go to 600 South and turn right. Go about 1.5 miles until you cross the Logan River and immediately turn right on 2200 West. Go 1.8 miles to the ponds on the west side of the road. |
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 Directions: Go west from Smithfield on UT 218. Turn north
after crossing the Bear River and go about a mile on 2400 West. Turn on 7000
North which goes across the barrens.(See other directions in the "details"). |
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Amalga-Benson Loop (24.3 miles) |
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Ballard Springs (provided
by Jim Lofthouse) |
 Directions:
(1800 South Highway 165 on the East side of the highway. [south of Logan])(See specific details coming from Logan and from Hyrum in the "details"). |
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Directions: From US 91 north of Logan, go west on 2500 North (Airport Road) about 2.6 miles and bear left at the intersection and go west .75 miles to a "T" in the road. Turn right and proceed the bridge across the Bear River. (There's an excellent wetlands on a trail going south along the river). Continue west another 1.75 miles to Sam Fellow Road. Turn right going north about a quarter of a mile on Sam Fellow Road to the Oxbow Overlook. |
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Benson Bridge & Marina GPS: N41º 47.240’, W111º 57.125’ Directions: Go west from Logan
on Hwy. 30 (200 North) to 3200 West and turn right. Drive 3 miles to 3000
North and turn left (west) and go 2.2 miles to the Benson Marina. Description: North of the road on the east side of the bridge is a picnic area (with restrooms). From here you can view the reservoir. From the parking lot you can walk along the shoreline on a trail that curves around to an old railroad bridge. Birds: Common Loon, White-faced Ibis, Black-crowned Night Heron, Osprey, Clark’s and Western Grebes, Long-billed Curlew (in the fields), (Winter) Tree Sparrows and Northern Shrikes. |
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Canal Trail along Canyon Road Directions: This 1-mile path begins at a drivewav on the southeast corner of 4th North and 6th East in Logan. It parallels Canyon Road past Pehrson's Floral, and is excellent warbler habitat in the spring. Description: (Easy walk) Owls are often sighted in winter. Spring viewing may also include Rough-winged Swallow, White-throated Swift, orioles, Black-headed Grosbeaks and Lazuli Buntings. |
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 Directions:
From US 91 north of Logan, go west on 2500 North (Airport Road) about 2.6
miles and bear left at the intersection and go west .75 miles to a "T" in
the road. Turn right and proceed to the bridge across the Bear River.
There's an excellent wetlands on a trail going
south along the river. Continue another 1.75 miles to Sam Fellow Road.
A quarter of a mile north on Sam Fellow Road is the Oxbow Overlook and
about 2 miles south is the Benson Marina. |
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Directions: Go west from Benson to the Benson Marina and picnic area. The road turns to gravel. The open water on both sides of the road here (Cutler Reservoir) provides an opportunity to spot diving ducks. Description: (Roadside viewing, 7.0 miles from downtown Logan) The picnic area is an ideal lunch spot. |
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 Directions:
Go west from Mendon on 300 North. When the road turns to gravel,
continue to the parking place at the end of the road for Trailhead 39. |
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Directions: Ponds and marshes near the summit of Sardine Canyon on Highway 89-91. Park near the stock driveway on the south end of the valley. Description: (Roadside viewing, recommended for spring and summer, 15.0 miles from downtown Logan.) This is the flyway from the Great Salt Lake to Cache marshes used by the White-faced Ibis and White Pelican. |
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Directions: Take UT 101 going east of Hyrum through Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Description: (Easy walk, 22.0 miles from downtown Logan) The visitor center and open country around it are great places to view Golden Eagles (all year) Bald Eagles (in winter) and Turkey Vultures (summer). |
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First Dam Reservoir (on the Logan River) GPS N41º 44.570’, W111º 47.300’ Directions: Take 400 North (Hwy. 89) in Logan, east toward Logan Canyon. On the hill before the mouth of the canyon, turn right into Canyon Entrance Park where you can park. Description: This is a reservoir formed by the first of three dams on Logan River. Birds: (Spring, Summer) Bullock’s Orioles, Song Sparrows, Yellow Warblers, Canyon Wrens (on cliffs) and Townsend’s Solitaires. (Winter) Barrow’s and Common Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Hooded Merganser |
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Directions: Take highway 89 for about 15 miles and turn left (north) on Franklin Basin Road. Continue 3.3 miles north to the site of the Soil Conservation Service Klondike Narrows Snow Survey Station. Description & Birds: (Roadside viewing, recommended for spring and summer, 15.0 miles from downtown Logan) Early morning birding is best (be- fore 8:30 a.m.) and is fairly good again from 4:30 p.m. until dark. Twenty species nest here, including the Dusky Flycatcher, Western Wood Peewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher and Mountain Bluebird. |
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Green Canyon GPS: (approx.) N41º 46.070’, W111º 46.600’ Directions: From Logan Main Street go east on 1800 North to 1000 East and turn left. Go one block to 1900 North and turn right going east until you reach the mouth of the canyon. There is a parking lot on your left as you pass the power station. Description: (Easy walk, 15.0 miles from downtown Logan) The King Nature Park trail takes you through some pinyon-juniper habitat. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail goes southwest along the bench. The Forest Service road goes east up Green Canyon. There is a picnic area on the right just a short walk up the canyon. Birding: In the lower reaches of Green Canyon Ruffed and Blue Grouse can be seen, as
well as chickadees and kinglets. An occasional Common Poor-will or Canyon Wren
might be heard. Near the ridge, Clark's Nutcracker and a Golden Eagle or two
may be seen. |
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High Creek Ridge / High Creek Canyon Description: This canyon and ridge provide stream, riparian, mountain shrub, maple, aspen and conifer habitats and are best birded in the spring, summer and fall. Higher elevations best in the summer when snow is sufficiently melted. Directions: Go north from Richmond on US 91 about 1 mile. Turn right at the sign to High Creek and proceed to a cattle guard. The ridge is on your left. For easiest access go another .7 miles up the road. You can also continue up the canyon on an unpaved (but passable) road another 2 1/2 miles or so to a trailhead for the Mount Naomi Wilderness area (there's a campground half way up the road). Specialty Birds: American Dipper, Plumbeous vireo and Western Tanager (on High Creek Trail in Jun) Winter Wren |
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Hyrum State Park, Hyrum
Reservoir |
 Directions:
From US 89/91 turn east on UT 101 going toward Hyrum. Go about 3 miles
to Hyrum and approach the park from 400 West street (going south). There is a
parking area near the dam (take the left fork) and one near the park
headquarters (take the right fork). |
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Left-Hand Fork Loop (17 miles) |
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Directions: From Logan, go north on US 91 to 2500 North and turn left. Continue about 6 blocks to the airport. (2500 North becomes Airport Rd.). Description & Birding: (Roadside viewing, 4.1 miles from downtown Logan) The road on the south side of the airport is a good spot for Short-eared Owls in the years when they are abundant, water pipits (winter) and snipe. Listen for winnowing snipe in the spring. Several hots springs on nearby 6th West keep some open water present all year. |
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Logan Mitigation Ponds (see Sue's Ponds) Logan River Wetlands (see Sue's Ponds) |
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Mack Park GPS N41º 50.340’, W111º 49.400’ Directions: The park is located at 50 North and 300 East in Smithfield Description: This is a small but convenient place to see some good birds. Birds: (Winter) Golden-crowned Kinglet, Townsend’s Solitaire and sometimes White-breasted Nuthatch. Rare birds seen here: Varied Thrush and Blue Jay. Other close birding places: |
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Directions: Go east from Logan on Highway 89 about 5 miles and turn in at Malibu-Guinavah Campground and then left into the Guinavah loop. Follow the signs to the Riverside Nature Trail, and take the 2.0 mile nature trail walk which parallels the Logan River on its south bank. Description: (Easy walk, 6.5 miles form downtown Logan) Birds: American Dippers and Belted Kingfishers are here throughout the year. (Spring and early Summer) Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, hummingbirds, Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers, Lazuli Buntings, Fox, Sparrows, Grey Catbirds, Song Sparrows and flycatchers. (Winter) Chickadees and Townsend's Solitaires are abundant |
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Mendan Loop (17.7 miles) |
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Meridian Road and McMurdy Hollow
(submitted by Jim Lofthouse) [Paradise Loop] |
 Directions:
Beginning at Hwy 101 going south, you will cross over the little Bear River,
then through some agriculture lands, and come to the Mt Sterling road at
6600 South. If you hang a right here you will soon be at the
Hyrum Dam. (This is the starting point --
see "details" for information about the rest of the loop). |
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Directions: Located near 700 North and 500 East in Logan. Description: (Easy walk, winter only) Between the campus buildings and 7th East, concrete walkways on the hillside are good birding spots for Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers and Cassin's Finches. Trees all around campus should be checked for Pine Siskins and Townsend's Solitaire. The cemetery behind the HPER building (at 10th North and 12th East) is good for small songbirds and a regular Great Horned Owl. |
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Sherwood Hills Resort (submitted by Kris Purdy) Description: Sherwood Hills Resort is located on the mountain
maple-covered foothills of the
Wellsville Mountains between
Mantua and Wellsville. |
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Directions: Take US 91 (Main Street) north out of Logan approximately 7.5 miles. In Smithfield, turn east (right) on Center Street. Drive .4 miles to the cemetery. Description: Smithfield Cemetery is a fairly open location surrounded by a residential neighborhood. Mature evergreens dominate the cemetery, including spruce, fir, cedar, and juniper. Birding: Be very quiet and use your ears, especially in the winter. Notice
the mature junipers and look for species like robins, solitaires, and waxwings
that might be feeding on juniper berries. Don't overlook the apple and other
fruit trees in backyards surrounding the cemetery. Watch the very tops of
spruces and firs for members of the finch family. Listen very carefully for the
high-pitched call of Brown Creepers and Golden-crowned Kinglets; they may be
practically invisible high in the foliage or on the tree trunks. |
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Directions: From Logan go west on 600 South about 4 1/2 miles out of town and you will see Spring Creek Ranch on the right (north) side of the road; a white cement gateway marks the entrance. Pull over on the shoulder after passing this gate. Description: (Roadside viewing, 6.0 miles from downtown Logan) Birding: Scan all ponds and fields for seasonally abundant ducks, large shorebirds, White-faced Ibis, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night Herons, White Pelican and grebes. Note the large heron rookeries in stands of dead trees just west of the ranch house, about 1/4 mile due north of you. If you are lucky, in May you may see many behavioral courtship displays of the great blue heron in the rookeries. Tree Sparrows frequent roadside shrubs here in the winter. |
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Spring Hollow (Spring, Summer & Fall) GPS: N41º 45.200’, W111º 43.010’ Directions: Go east on US 89 (400 North) from Logan. After traveling up Logan Canyon about 4 miles to Third Dam, turn right (after mile marker 465) and cross the bridge where there is a parking loton your right. (This is the only free parking for the Spring Hollow Campground). Description: From the parking lot you can either bird the Riverside Trail along the Logan River or take the paved campground road into Spring Hollow. Birding: (Spring & Summer) Check hummingbird feeders by the campground host’s trailer for Black-chinned, Broad-tailed and sometimes Calliope Hummingbirds. Rufous Hummingbirds may be there from mid-July through August. Other species you may find are Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, American Dipper, Western Tanager, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow. (Fall) Winter Wrens |
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Directions: Go south in Mendon on UT 23 until you get to the Main Street intersection. Turn right on FR 086 and go about 3 miles to the Stewart Pass Trailhead. |
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Sue's Ponds,
(Logan Mitigation Ponds, Logan River Wetlands) |
 Directions:
Go West out of Logan on 200N. About two miles down the road take a left on
1900W. Parking is on the right next to entry gate. If gate is unlocked, feel
free to unfasten chain and enter. |
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Tony Grove Lake
(Late Spring & Summer) GPS: N41º 3.686’, W111º 33.535’ Directions: Go east of Logan on 400 North (US 89) for 19.2 miles. Turn left at the Tony Grove sign (after miile marker 480) and immediately turn left again and go 7 miles to Tony Grove Lake. Description: (Easy walk, recommended for spring and summer, 28.1 miles from downtown Logan) If short on time, a walk around the lake is suggested, (about one mile). For a really rewarding experience, walk up either the White Pine Lake Trail or the Naomi Peak Trail which leave from the north end of the parking loop. You will want set aside a lot of time for this exciting place. It represents some of the most scenic and accessible habitat in this area. Birds: Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood Peewee, Purple Martin, Mountain Bluebird, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Lincoln's Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Red Crossbill. (late Summer) lots of Broad-tailed Hummingbirds and possibly Calliope Hummingbird. (Uncommon species) Northern Goshawk, Williamson’s Sapsuckers and American Three-toed Woodpeckers (in trees near the lake). |
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Tony Grove Trip (53.2 miles) |
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Directions: Use Deep Canyon trail, which can be found by following the dirt road extension of 3rd North in Mendon. Once on top, walk north on the west ridge about ½ mile, find a high nook to sit in, and face north for hawk watching. Description: (strenuous hike, 7.0 miles form downtown Logan) Although breezy and chilly in the fall this is a good place for migratory hawk and eagle watching from late August until November. Gray-crowned Rosy Finches and Rock Wrens are also a possibility on the barren, rocky slopes. |
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| Other Recommended Birding Sites |
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