The Farmington Bay Wetlands on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake is one of the most important refuges for migrating birds in the United States. Millions of birds visit these wetlands during the migration and nesting seasons each year, and more than 200 individual species have been identified in the area. The lakeshore is a birder’s paradise. The state of Utah maintains five other major wildlife management areas along the Great Salt Lake’s eastern shore to protect the birds and their habitats, but one of the best places to see the birds is the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, or Farmington Bay Wetlands, just west of the cities of Farmington and West Bountiful.
      The 18,000-acre Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area contains a variety of wetland habitats, including fresh and saltwater ponds and marshes as well as flatlands and open saltwater, all designed to fill the special feeding and nesting needs of the many species of birds that visit the area. Work on a complex irrigation system began in 1935 under the direction of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and today is managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The preserve contains 22 miles of dikes and 126 water control structures that manipulate the flow of water from the Jordan River and other smaller creeks into and out of the various habitats.
      The best way to see the waterfowl is to walk or bicycle along the dikes of the Farmington Bay Wetlands. Most of the dikes have roads or bike trails on them, and they are very popular among people who enjoy watching the birds. Many walks and rides are possible, but one of my favorites is the 6.3-mile loop I will describe here. I prefer to do this trail as a bicycle ride rather than a walk. The trail is not paved, but it is smooth and relatively hard packed for easy riding. It is also absolutely flat and straight-perfect for families with children-and you can count on seeing many, many birds along the way. Furthermore, the trail is closed to cars.
      You will be disappointed to know, however, that the trail is not open during spring and early summer. That is the nesting season for many of the species in the Farmington Bay Wetlands, and they require additional protection during those months. The trail is open to visitors only from August 1 through February 29 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Also, be aware that there is no shade whatsoever along the trail, and it can get extremely hot in Utah in late summer. If you are doing this hike or ride in August you had better do it early or late in the day.
      The spring migration into the Farmington Bay Wetlands begins in late February, just before most of the trails in the preserve are closed. If you do this trail at that time you will see hundreds of ducks and geese, the first arrivals, followed by several additional species of shorebirds and wading birds.
      Most of the migrant birds are still in the Farmington Bay Wetlands when the trails open again in August. The nesting season is finished, but the feeding season has begun. The birds must spend at least another month storing up energy for their next long flight. The fall migration for the waterfowl generally begins in September and lasts for the next two months. The last ones to leave are the tundra swans, in November and December.
      By the end of the year almost all of the bird species have departed, with the exception of the bald eagles. The eagles winter in the Farmington Bay Wetlands, and many birders pointedly come to the refuge during the month of January to see these magnificent birds of prey.
      The trail leaves the north side of the parking area and goes for 0.4 mile to a 3-way junction at the beginning of the loop. Turn left here and ride due west for 1.2 miles, where the dike makes a long turn to the north. From there the path continues north for another 1.4 miles to a 4-way junction.
      Cars are allowed on the trail north of the 4-way junction at certain times of the year, and, unlike the bicycle route I am describing here, that two-mile-long dike is open to hikers and bicyclers throughout the year. Its northern end joins a gravel road near the Great Salt Lake Nature Center that can be accessed from Glover Lane (see page 253). The trail on the west side of the 4-way junction is another bicycle trail into the Farmington Bay Wetlands on which cars are never allowed. It continues in a southwesterly direction for about eight miles before becoming impassable.
      In order to complete the loop back to your car you must bear right at the 4-way junction and ride or walk east along the dike for 1.9 miles to another 3-way junction on the east side of the preserve. Turn right there and proceed south for the final mile to where the loop began. From there you can retrace your ride for the last 0.4 mile back to the parking area.

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