Places to Bird - Duchesne Ridge

Duchesne Ridge

Heart Lake by Merrill Webb ©Merrill Webb

Directions: Go to Wolf Creek Campground which is located along US 35, 18 miles east of Francis and 16 miles west of Hannah. As you go off the main road towards the campground, take the first road on the right. This is a fairly bumpy but passable (in good weather) dirt road that goes along Duchesne Ridge about 7 miles where it intersects with the Mill Hollow road. (If the road is not dry, it might require a high profile four-wheel-drive vehicle).

Description: This dirt road follows the ridge where there are meadows and intermittent areas of pine trees and a couple of small lakes. When the road intersects with the Mill Hollow road, you can turn right to go to Mill Hollow Reservoir or turn left towards Harvey Meadow and roads leading to either Heber, Strawberry Reservoir or Current Creek.

Birding: From the ridge above Heart Lake (photo above), about 1 1/2 miles from Wolf Creek Campground, you can scan the lake for waterfowl and check the area for Cliff Swallow, and Goshawks that have sometimes been seen in the trees and along the ridge. As you go through meadows with sagebrush, check for Brewer's and Vesper Sparrows. Some creek beds with riparian habit may have hummingbirds and warblers to add to the variety of species. At Yellow Lake, about 2 1/2 miles down the road from Heart Lake, you can stop and walk around the area near the lake since it is right next to the road (This is a good place for kinglets).
Because there is a good variety of habitats along this road it might be a good idea to spend some time in each one to try for birds associated with each habitat type.

Specialty Birds: Northern Goshawk, Red Crossbill, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Siskin, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Cliff Swallow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's and Vesper Sparrows

eBird Data: | Wolf Creek Summit | Center Creek Canyon |