Out of the way? Let's define our terms. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge fits that description in some ways, being located about an hour from Salt Lake City and a longer distance from anywhere south of the capital city. What's more, many Utahns simply picture the refuge as more remote than it really is. Maybe if the name included "Brigham City" instead of "Bear River," it would seem closer. The visitors center is only a quarter-mile off Interstate 15 at Exit 363, near Brigham City. Even so, at the western edge of the auto loop, the remote feeling is striking.
You never know who will greet you during the auto tour of the refuge.
The route covers 36 miles. Only 12 of those miles are on a gravel road that's fairly smooth. The 12 miles out to the loop's starting point and back are on the paved Forest Street.
Pelicans are among more than 200 species of birds that have been identified at the refuge, according to VisitUtah.com
A ring-necked pheasant glides just above the wetlands of the refuge, established in 1928.
Snow egrets are some of the changing cast of characters residing at the refuge, as the calendar moves through the year.
Bird watching is the selling point, but the landscape of the refuge is an attraction in itself.
The 74,000-acre site is located on the northeast arm of the Great Salt Lake. About half of that territory consists of freshwater wetlands.
Tundra swans and ducks stand out in the glow of the sunset, a prime time to visit the refuge.
Really, though, plenty of birds are visible any time of day. During the 12-mile drive to the loop's starting point, you'll probably underestimate what's ahead for you.
Conditions are variable as the seasons change in Northern Utah, but the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Those opening and closing phases tend to provide the best opportunities for bird watching. The refuge is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and is a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. In addition to the auto tour, an accessible, 1.5-mile walking trail is provided near the James V. Hansen Wildlife Education Center near the entrance. For current information about visiting the refuge, see the UFWS website.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!