Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
 

Stop poachers

Modified Monday, May 17, 2004

Watchable wildlife for disabled persons

Watchable wildlife calendar — You can drive to and watch these events from your car.

Southeastern Region
Price office (435) 636-0260

  • Scott M. Matheson Preserve: Located in Moab, the preserve has wheelchair accessible features.
     
  • Utah State parks: Many in the southeastern region are accessible, featuring wheelchair accessible restrooms, campsites, picnic areas and fishing opportunities.
     
  • U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and the BLM: Buildings and visitor services are becoming increasingly ADA accessible.

Central Region
Springville office (801) 491-5678, Salt Lake office (801) 538-4700

  • The Central Region office, Salt Lake City office and Lee Kay Hunter Education Facility are all ADA accessible.
     
  • USFS Strawberry Visitor Center and DWR Strawberry River Fish Migration Trap and Spawning Station — This facility has a system of boardwalk trails and cement walkways which provide access to persons with disabilities.
     
  • ADA accessible fishing piers:
    • Utah Lake State Park — north jetty
    • Provo River — just above Olmsted Diversion
    • Vivian Park Pond — County Park, which is located at the turn off from Provo Canyon road to South Fork Provo River in Utah County
    • Tibble Fork Reservoir
       
  • There are ADA accessible facilities at:
    • Silver Lake at Brighton (USFS) — A wooden walkway protects wetlands and provides wheelchair access
    • Salem Pond
    • Big East Reservoir (Payson Lakes — USFS)
       
  • Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge —located in Dugway, mobility impairment blind site provides mobility impaired hunters a quality early season hunting site.

Northern Region
Ogden office (801) 476-2740

  • The Northern region office in Ogden (801-476-2740) with its associated hunter safety facility and the Cache Hunter Education Center are in compliance with ADA regulations.
     
  • Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area — The sleigh rides to view the elk can accommodate physically challenged individuals, and elk kept in research pens are viewable from April until August. Elk are also viewable during the month of October.
     
  • Salt Creek Water Fowl Management Area, Box Elder County
    • The Watchable Wildlife site located on Compton's Knoll is in the process of being developed for use by physically challenged persons.
    • To date a ramp and viewing site with concrete ramps and pad has been developed on the hill over looking the marsh. Spotting scopes and/or binoculars are recommended.
    • Future additions will include a handicapped restroom facility, information signs and a 20' pavilion.
       
  • Woodruff Cooperative Wildlife Management Area (BLM/DWR 977-4300/479-5143) high desert wildlife may be viewed from turnouts along the highway, bring binoculars.
     
  • Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Brigham City, UT 84302, (801) 723-5887
    • The refuge can be reached from I-15 by taking the Forest Street exit at Brigham City and driving west approximately 15 miles. Visitor activities include birdwatching, photography, fishing, and hunting waterfowl and pheasant in season. Located at the old headquarter site is a fishing pier, pavilion, and restroom which are fully accessible to persons of all abilities.
    • Visitors may drive or bicycle on a 12-mile auto tour route which starts and ends at the old headquarters site. Activities are confined to the auto tour route dike. All other areas on the Refuge are closed to public use except during approved hunting seasons.
    • The Refuge auto tour route is open every day from sunrise to sunset except January through mid-March. All visitors must be off the Refuge before dark.
    • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to afford persons with disabilities full accessibility or reasonable accommodation. Contact Refuge headquarters for more information or to address accessibility problems. For the hearing impaired, use your State Relay System for the Deaf.
       
  • Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, 515 E. 5300 S., Ogden, Utah 84405, (801) 451-7386
    • Farmington Bay hosts an array of wetland habitats including fresh water ponds, marshes, expansive flats and open salt water. These diverse wetland types are vital habitats for a diversity of wildlife along the Great Salt Lake.
    • To see the migration, visit March, May or August. Binoculars or spotting scopes can help you get a closer look at the birds. The best viewing is often from your car.
    • Golden Spike National Historic Site (435) 471-2209 - Accessible visitor center - Sagebrush and grasslands provide habitat for a wide variety of high desert species. Unique species include sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, and burrowing owl. More common species include northern harrier, American Kestrel, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, ring-necked pheasant, meadowlark, raven, jackrabbit, badger, and mule deer.
    • Sharp-Tailed Grouse may be viewed in the visitor center vicinity during the March breeding season. View sage Grouse on their strutting grounds from late March through mid-April. Spring is generally thr best viewing period for most species, although viewing is possible year-round.

Northeast Region
Vernal office (435) 781-9453 (ADA accessible)

  • Most of DWR's Wildlife Management Areas in the Northeast Region have roads that allow wildlife viewing; however, there are no improved facilities in DWR management areas.
     
  • DWR's Diamond Mountain Lakes have concrete boat ramps, ADA accessible toilets, along with roads and parking lots enabling access for boaters and limited access to the water for anglers. 
  • Wildlife through the Ages — Flaming Gorge-Uintas scenic byway features interpretive wayside pullouts, trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. Along the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway, cooperators are in the process of paving about half of the parking lots for this year. Nature Trails have been built wide enough and sloped less than five percent so that wheel chairs can traverse them. These are surfaced with a road base mix of sand, clay and gravel. Bathroom facilities at several of these sites are ADA accessible. Plans also include a boardwalk at an undetermined site on Flaming Gorge, which could allow some limited fishing access in the near future.

Southern Region
Cedar City office (435) 865-6100

  • Lake Powell Wahweap Fishing Dock — covered fishing dock
     
  • Pine Valley, USFS (435) 574-2949 — The Valley features meadowlands surrounded by ponderosa pine forest and mountain brush and juniper woodlands on the west side of the valley. Mule deer may be observed spring through fall. Jays, woodpeckers, songbirds, cottontail rabbits, red squirrels and chipmunks are common forest residents. American kestrels, northern harriers, and other hawks are also common. From St. George, drive north on Hwy. 18 for 25 miles to Central and turn east onto Forest Road 035. Begin viewing at the Dixie National Forest boundary. Drive 6.5 miles into Pine Valley and continue east another 2.3 miles to the east end of Ponderosa Campground and end of tour.
     
  • Snow Canyon State Park (435) 628-2255 — A scenic canyon in a desert setting which includes some geologically significant sites. Featured reptiles include desert tortise, gila monster, and other lizards and snakes. Songbirds, including a variety of hummingbird species, are abundant during the breeding season. The probablility of seeing a gila monster or tortise is small. Other species are commonly viewed spring through fall. Note: The desert tortise is a federally listed species, do not disturb in any way. From St. George, drive north about 11 miles on Hwy. 18 and follow the signs.
     
  • Zion National Park (435) 772-3256 — Paved walks and accessible visitor center. Zion Canyon of the North Fork of the Virgin River is a lush oasis in the harsh, desert environment which provides habitat for a vaiety of species. The diversity of habitat is enhanced by the 5000-foot elevation change within the park. Mule deer are common, and bird species include Golden Eagle, Dipper, Pygmy Owl, turkey, three species of nuthatch, and many more. The rare Peregrine Falcon and the Mexican Spotted Owl also inhabit the park. Beaver, antelope ground squirrel, ringtail, and porcupine also may be observed here. Other species include the canyon tree frog and the king snake. Viewing probability for mule deer, beaver, porcupine and a wide variety of songbirds is modreate to high. Species such as the Peregrine Falcon, Mexican Spotted Owl, and ringtail cat are rare. Park headquarters and the main visitor center are located on Hwy. 9 about one mile east of Springdale.