Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

About this spectacle

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge sits at the northern end of the Great Salt Lake, where freshwater marshes meet alkaline flats to create one of North America's premier waterbird staging areas. Visitors scan vast shimmering wetlands alive with the calls of white-faced ibis, tundra swans, and great blue herons. During peak migration, the sky can fill with dense flocks of ducks, geese, and shorebirds wheeling in tight formations. A wildlife drive loops through the refuge, allowing visitors to watch birds at close range from their vehicles. The smell of marsh grass and brine hangs in the air, while the distant Wasatch Range provides a dramatic backdrop. In winter, rough-legged hawks and bald eagles patrol the levees, and in summer, nesting avocets and stilts wade in shallow pools. The sheer abundance and variety of birds — sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands during migration — gives even casual observers a sense of witnessing something remarkable.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Sep — May

Getting there

Nearest airport: SLC. Nearest city: Brigham City.

Booking options

Goyova doesn't process bookings directly. When you tap "Plan this trip" in the app, you'll see options from our partner providers — accommodation, tours, transport — with affiliate links where applicable. See our affiliate disclosure for details.