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Northrup Canyon |
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HABITAT: |
State Park’s 3,000-acre dramatic canyon with high cliffs, richly diverse riparian zone, and stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir – unique in Grant County. | ||
| BIRDING: | April and May bring – along with a myriad of wildflowers – a multitude of songbirds. Early arrivals include Say’s Phoebes and Spotted Towhees, followed by Lazuli Buntings, Yellow Warblers, Western Wood Pewees, Bullock’s Orioles, Warbling Vireos, Chipping Sparrows, Rock Wrens, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. Other spring birds are White-throated Swifts, Calliope Hummingbirds, and possibly Red-naped Sapsuckers and Lewis’s Woodpeckers. Regular year-round residents are Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees, Canyon Wrens, and Downy Woodpeckers, while less frequent sightings include Red Crossbills and Clark’s Nutcrackers. Watch cliffs for Prairie Falcons, American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, Golden Eagles, and Turkey Vultures. Watch and listen for Northern Saw-whet and Great Horned Owls, Northern Pygmy-Owls, and Western Screech-Owls. November-March, 50+ Bald Eagles can be seen from mid-afternoon till dark flying to communal roost in canyon. | ||
VIEWING: |
From parking lot, walk around gate on road and take path on left to eagle-viewing vantage point. Take 1-mile old Almira-Bridgeport stagecoach road on right along canyon wall (route closed Nov 15-Mar 15 to protect eagles). A 1.5-mile trail along canyon bottom leads to Northrup homestead. West from homestead, a second 1.5-mile trail ascends steeply through pines to Northrup Lake. Caution: Canyon has a large population of western rattlesnakes. |
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| ACCESS: | From Hwy 155 at milepost 18.9, turn east onto gravel road at Northrup Canyon Natural Area sign. Drive 0.6 mile to parking area. | ||