This Little Known Natural Oasis Is Hiding In Utah…And You’re Going To Love It

If you live near Brigham City, you know all about the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Otherwise, you may have never heard about it. The refuge is a hidden gem in Utah that is home to millions of migratory birds every year. Visit it to see Canada geese, great blue herons, gulls, bald eagles, northern shovelers, tundra swans, many species of ducks and more.

The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is the perfect place for bird watching, fishing and hiking. It offers great opportunities for photography, too. Check out this oasis in Utah!

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/

USFWS Mountain Prairie/flickr The refuge is located at the mouth of the Bear River, where it flows into the Great Salt Lake. It encompasses 80,000 acres of marshes, open water and upland terrain. USFWS Mountain Prairie/flickr More than 250 bird species pass through the Bear River Migratory bird refuge during migration. Millions of birds will call this beautiful place home during the year - at least for a few months. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge/Facebook Visit the James V. Hansen Wildlife Education Center Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. The center has exhibits, a diorama and 2 miles of trails. Jacqueline Poggi/flickr To see much of the refuge, take the auto tour, a drive that takes you on a twelve-mile journey where you’ll see many birds up-close. The auto tour is open every day from sunrise to sunset. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/flickr Depending on the time of year, you’ll find different species of birds at the refuge. In the spring, you’ll see plenty of geese and ducks. USFWS Mountain Prairie/flickr Summer is breeding time, and a great opportunity to see baby birds. During the months of June and July, you’ll see tons of ducklings and baby American avocets and black-necked stilts. Baby western grebes ride on their mother’s backs. Bryant Olsen/flickr Fall is the time for migration, when you’ll see around 30,000 tundra swans at the refuge. USFWS Mountain Prairie/flickr Winter is the time to see birds of prey, including bald eagles, prairie falcons, hawks and more. USFWS Mountain Prairie/flickr To visit the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, take I-15 to Exit 353, then drive ¼ mile to the entrance. Visit the website for more information.

Have you been to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge? Tell us about it, and share your photos!