Around this time last year Howard and I were staying at Willard Bay State Park in Willard, Utah and while there we visited Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Since I haven’t taken any interesting photos here at home, I thought I would share with you a few from our visit to this gorgeous area. To view my original posts, visit these web-sites Bear River and More from Bear River and Willard Bay.
We had an exciting time traveling last summer, visited some beautiful areas and saw lots of wildlife; however, so far this spring and summer it has been wonderful just relaxing here at home. I need to capture a few photos from around here to share!
We enjoyed this view of Willard Mountain from our site.
Willard Bay State Park, Site 61
Willard Bay is a lovely Utah State Park with nice pull-thru and back-in sites. Lots to do in this park, one of which is to walk down a trail to Willard Bay and enjoy swimming, fishing and boating. Wish I had time to write more about the park, but I don’t.
If interested go out to their web-site http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/willard-bay-state-park and learn more about this state park.
The only complain about the park is traffic noise, because it is located just off I-84.
One of the first things you notice upon entering the small town of Willard is how quaint and clean it is. Same goes for Willard Bay State Park and the lovely, historical town of Brigham City just to the north. We spend two nights at Willard Bay and I wish we would have had more time to tour around the area.
A small bog in the park
The park, with its large selection of trees and scrubs, offers great nesting and food sources for the birds.
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Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
On our second day we took a ride to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge just to the north toward Brigham City. I admit, I haven’t been to a lot of refuges, but Bear River is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. In the Hansen educational center we watched a film showcasing the importance of this refuge for migrating birds and others that nest here.The film was breathtaking!
Please go out, if interested, and read about this Refuge at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear_river_migratory_bird_refuge.
James V. Hansen Wildlife Education Center
“Welcome to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge”
Cliff Swallow
“Welcome to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge”
A White Pelican
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
It must be spectacular to visit in the spring and fall when the refuge is filled with thousands of migrating birds!
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Local Bing Cherries
As the locals told us “the cherries are on, so make sure you stop and get some”. Well that is exactly what we did. After leaving the bird refuge we found one of the recommended fruit stands and purchased not only Bing Cherries, but some Apricots. The landscape, in this area, is filled with Cherry Trees.
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I took lots of photos while visiting the refuge and I look forward to sharing this beautiful area with you!
We spent last night surrounded by dry, baron, landscape in the booming town of Rock Springs, Wy. No pretty scenery or lush grass to gaze upon. For those of you who have stayed in this town you know what I am talking about.
It was however entertaining watching as RV after RV drove into this KOA looking for a place to stop for the night. We normally don’t stay at private RV parks, but this was a convenient location for us to stop on our first night out.
What else was there to do, but watch the RV park fill up with all types of RV’s.
We observed rigs stopping in front of the office, people going in and coming right back out and then watching as they turned their rigs around heading back to I-80 with, I assume, hopes of finding a place to spend the night on down the road.
Lots of people RV’ing this time of year! It is a good idea to make reservations if you can!
This morning, as we continued west, the landscape became green and mountainous and in places fast flowing river water carried happy floaters down stream. Looked like a lot of fun.
We passed fields with cows, horses, llamas, goats and sheep all grazing on tall, summer grass. Howard saw some Big Horn Sheep, but I missed them!
Here we are stopped at one of the most beautiful rest areas we have ever seen.
Utah off of I-84
We turned from I-80 onto I-84. Our destination, Willard Bay State Park, which is located just north of Ogden and south of Brigham City. What a beautiful drive this was and more on this state park later.
I wonder who lives here? Do you see the house?Gorgeous rock formations, just what Utah is known for
The above photos were taken at the Rest Area. I have tried to take photos while riding down the road, but I am never satisfied with them. I was lucky we stopped at this rest area today.
American Robin (young)
As we sat outside at our camp site today, we had a visitor, an American Robin. He would run around, plop down to sunbathe for a few minutes, then get up and start running around some more!
A camp site visitor
The photos below were taken while taking a walk around the campground this afternoon. I had to add some close-ups! (didn’t have my macro lens with me).
We will spend one more day at Willard Bay State Park to go sightseeing!
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