Popular Birding Places
   San Juan County

Indian Creek Reservoir    by Matthew Van Scoyoc      Jun 2014 ©Matthew Van Scoyoc
  

Abajo Mountain and Harts Draw Loop   [Utah Birding Trails]

     eBird Data:   |  Dalton Springs |
 

Blanding Area  

     eBird Data:   |  Blanding Treatment Ponds | Westwater Creek -- Just W of Blanding |
 (along Hwy 95)  |  Hwy 95 -- Westwater Creek |  -- Cottonwood Creek | Comb Wash |
 

Bluff Area  

     eBird Data:   |  Sand Island CG & Bluff Road Bridge |  Navajo Twins Ponds |
                          |  Cottonwood Wash Rd -- Near Bluff |  San Juan River & Mission Road |
 

Canyonlands NP

Directions:  Access to the park NORTH of the Colorado River is on Hwy 313 which takes off of Hwy 191 about 14 miles north of Moab. 

     eBird Data:   | Canyonlands NP -- Visitor Center -- Island in the Sky |
                          | -- Island in the Sky | -- Willow Flat CG & Green River Overlook |
                          | -- Upheaval Dome Overlook Trail | -- Grand View Point Overlook |
                          | -- Maze District |

Access to the park SOUTH of the Colorado River is on Hwy 211 which takes off of Hwy 191 about 15 miles north of Monticello.  (Listed by distance along Hwy 211 from the Hwy 191 intersection)

     eBird Data:    | Indian Creek Canyon | Newspaper Rock CG |
                           | Indian Creek Reservoir [page] | Canyonlands Research Center |
                           | Canyonlands NP -- Cave Spring Trail | -- Needles Outpost | -- Pothole Point |
                           | -- Squaw Flat CG | -- Devils Kitchen & vicinity | -- Needles District |
  

Comb Wash   [Utah Birding Trails]

     eBird Data:   | Comb Wash |
 

Dead Horse Point SP

Directions:  Access to Dead Horse Point SP is from Hwy 313 which takes off of Hwy 191 about 14 miles north of Moab.  (Canyonlands NP is on the South Fork Rd which takes off of Hwy 313 before it get to Dead Horse Point).

     eBird Data:   | Dead Horse Point SP  | -- Rim Trail |
 

Devil Canyon Campground   [Utah Birding Trails]

	Directions: Go south of Monticello on US 191 about 12 miles (north of Blanding about 10 miles) and turn west at the sign for Devil Canyon Campground.  The campground is very close to the turnoff.      eBird Data:   | Devil Canyon Campground  |
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Elk Ridge Loop   [Utah Birding Trails]

Directions:  Go south of Blanding on US 191 4 miles and turn right on UT 95.  Go 5.5 miles and turn right on Cottonwood Road (FR 106).  Go 25 miles north to FR 095, turn left and go 2.5 miles to FR 088 and turn left.  The 11 miles stretch of FR 088 goes from North Elk Ridge to Elk Ridge and an intersection with FR 092.  From this intersection you can go east on FR 092 and reconnect with Cottonwood Road or you can goes southwest on FR 088 and reconnect with UT 95 near Natural Bridges Nation Monument.

      eBird Data:   |  Hwy 95 -- Westwater Creek |  -- Cottonwood Creek | Comb Wash |
(west end of loop) |  Natural Bridges NM  |  -- Natural Bridges CG |
 

Fish Creek Canyon

Directions:  Go south of Blanding on US 191 4 miles and turn right on UT 95.  Go 34 miles and turn left going south on UT 261 towards Grand Gulch Primitive Area and Mexican Hat.  Go about 5 miles and turn east on a dirt road which lead to Fish Creek Canyon 5 miles away. (Same trailhead as Owl Creek Canyon)
 

The Goosenecks of the San Juan SP  

Directions:  Go west of Bluff on Hwy 163 about 22 miles and bare right on Hwy 261 (Mexican Hat is 3 miles to the left -- south).  Go a little over a mile and turn left on Hwy 316 and go about 4 miles to the state park.

     eBird Data:   |  San Juan SP -- The Goosenecks |
 

Hackberry Ruins, Hovenweep NM

anding on US 191 about 14 miles and turn left on UT 262 (Hovenweep road).  Follow the signs to Hovenweep National Monument. Check in at the ranger station at the Square Tower unit to let them know you're there and for direction to the Hackberry Ruins.

     eBird Data:   |  Hatch Trading Post | Hovenweep NM  |
 

Hovenweep National Monument

	Directions: Go south of Blanding on US 191 about 14 miles and turn left on UT 262 (Hovenweep road).  Follow the signs to Hovenweep National Monument about 23 miles down the road.
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Indian Creek Reservoir

	Directions: From Hwy 191 about 15 miles north of Monticello, go west on Hwy 211 about 21 miles.  It's right by the highway.
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Lloyd's Lake   [Utah Birding Trails]

     eBird Data:   |  Lloyds Lake |
 

Montezuma Canyon   [Utah Birding Trails]

     eBird Data:   |  Montezuma Creek Rd -- Lower |  Montezuma Creek Ranch -- Pond |
 

Monticello Area 

    eBird Data:   |  Lloyds Lake |  Clay Hill Rd |  Bronson Rd -- Junipers |  Gordon Reservoir |
 

Natural Bridges NM 

    eBird Data:   |  Natural Bridges NM  |  -- Natural Bridges CG |
 

Owl Creek Canyon

Directions:  Go south of Blanding on US 191 4 miles and turn right on UT 95.  Go 34 miles and turn left going south on UT 261 towards Grand Gulch Primitive Area and Mexican Hat.  Go about 5 miles and turn east on a dirt road which lead to Fish Creek Canyon 5 miles away. (Same trailhead as Fish Creek Canyon)

    eBird Data:   | Grand Gulch Ranger Station |
 

Recapture Reservoir

Directions:  The reservoir is located north of Blanding on US 191 about 4 miles.  There are access roads to both the east and west sides.

Description:  Merrill Webb's Description

     eBird Data:   |  Recapture Reservoir |
 

Sand Island Recreation Area  [Utah Birding Trails]

Directions:  Go west of Bluff about 3 miles on UT 163 and turn left into the Sand Wash Recreation Area.  This road leads to the campground and restrooms.

     eBird Data:    |  Sand Island CG & Bluff Road Bridge |
 

South Elk Ridge   [Utah Birding Trails]
 

Square Tower Loop, Hovenweep NM

	Directions: Go south of Blanding on US 191 about 14 miles and turn left on UT 262 (Hovenweep road).  Follow the signs to Hovenweep National Monument. Check in at the ranger station at the Square Tower unit to let them know you're there and for direction to the Square Tower Loop.
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