Eagle County
Author(s): Nathan Pieplow
County Seat: Eagle
County Size: 1,690 square miles
Low Elevation: 6,125 ft. - Colorado River on the Mesa border
High Elevation : 14,005 ft. - Mount of the Holy Cross
Best Birds : Brown Pelican (1908), White-eyed Vireo (1992)
Checklist : Download pdf | View HTML
Introduction: Most famous as the home of resort town Vail, Eagle County is also home to every West Slope habitat from redrock cliffs to sagebrush flats to spruce-fir, krummholz and tundra. Most birders drive through it on their way east or west, but Eagle County is good evidence that the middle's a great destination in itself.
This page is dedicated to the memory of Jack Merchant.
Birding Locations
Spring Park Reservoir
Description - (Contributed by Linda Vidal): This irrigation reservoir is closed to the public but is easily scannable from El Jebel Rd (County Road 102). This large reservoir is the only major body of water in the Roaring Fork Valley and is in my opinion is one of the best places to bird in the Roaring Fork Valley. It is best in spring and fall migration but you can usually find good birds there any time of the year. It doesn't freeze until late winter, and because it's very shallow, usually thaws early in spring. In spring and fall you can usually find all the waterbirds that occur on the western slope, including Common Loon, White Pelican, Redhead and Red-necked Phalarope. This is the place to see shorebirds in migration when water levels are low. There is also good birding anywhere along this road.
Habitat - Reservoir
Directions - From Aspen head west on CO 82 past Basalt to the intersection of CO 82 and El Jebel Road (CR 102). Turn right (north) at the traffic light. Travel north about 5 miles until you see the reservoir. The road skirts the reservoir on the west side and the water is scannable from a number of pullouts.
Delorme - 46 A1
Roads of Colorado - 68 B4
Blue Lake (El Jebel)
Aliases - El Jebel
Description - (Contributed by Linda Vidal): This residential subdivision has a small recreational spring-fed pond of about one acre. This pond used to remain open almost all winter and was the best place on the western slope to find Barrow's Goldeneye all winter long as well as a number of other ducks and geese. Recently it has taken to freezing over in winter but can still be good in spring and fall for Barrow's and other ducks.
Habitat - Pond
Directions - From Aspen, proceed west on Hwy 82 past El Jebel for about 2 miles. The residential development is on the right side of the road and has a large stone entrance and the lake is right off Hwy 82. The best parking is at the community center just up the road and on the left. Please park there and walk back to the pond.
Delorme - 46 A1
Roads of Colorado - 68 B4
Frying Pan River Valley
Aliases - Ruedi Reservoir
Description - (Contributed by Linda Vidal): Another long narrow mountain valley which is famous for being a "gold medal" fishing destination. This area has similar habitat to the other valleys in the area. It parallels the Frying Pan River and has many pullouts to accommodate the fishermen but which work very well for birders too.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Spruce-Fir Forest, Foothill Shrub
Directions - Head downvalley (west) from Aspen on Highway 82 for about 20 miles to Basalt. At the traffic light at the intersection of 82 and Fiou Lane turn right and go around the roundabout to continue west on Midland Rd. Drive through Basalt and just beyond the town you pick up the Frying Pan road. Stop at the many pullouts along this 18-mile drive to Ruedi Reservoir, which straddles the Pitkin-Eagle county line.
Delorme - 46 A1-A3
Roads of Colorado - 68 B4-C4, 69 D4
Gypsum Ponds
Description - (Contributed by Jerry Fedrizzi): There are about four small lakes here, and the Eagle River passes close by. There are a lot of cottonwood trees and brush around the lakes that offer up many species of birds. These lakes are managed by the DOW but have no facilities.
Habitat - Pond
Directions - Located just off I-70 at the town of Gypsum. While heading west on I-70, take the Gypsum exit, cross back over the interstate, go around the roundabout and head back east on the frontage road that parallels I-70. Go to the end of the road to a parking lot and follow the trail that leads around the lake.
Delorme - 36 C2
Roads of Colorado - 68 C2
Dotsero Ponds
Aliases - Frank Olsen Trailhead, Ute Trail
Description - (Contributed by Jerry Fedrizzi): Immediately south of I-70 at the Dotsero exit is Two River Park development, a small housing development with some lakes. Several types of waterbirds can be found here along with nesting Osprey.
Just north of the interstate exit along the Colorado River Road (CR 301) is the Frank Olsen Trailhead on the Ute Trail, which leads into good pinyon-juniper habitat for those who don't want to stray far from the interstate.
Habitat - Pond
Directions - Take the Dotsero exit off I-70 (exit 133). To get to the ponds, turn south for about a hundred yards and then turn right onto Buffalo Boulevard at the traffic circle. One pond is scannable to the north at the west end of Buffalo; another is south of Buffalo off any of several subdivision loop roads.
Delorme - 36 C1
Roads of Colorado - 68 C2
Derby Mesa
Description - (Contributed by Jerry Fedrizzi): The Derby Mesa Loop along Derby Creek is a 17 mile loop that takes in beautiful scenery and reaches into aspen and spruce habitat. Northern Goshawk and Dusky Grouse breed here, among others. At the south end of this loop is an interesting steep switchback road that leads back to the Dotsero road. Look for White-throated Swift here.
Habitat - Aspen Grove, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Pinyon-Juniper Forest, Scrub Oak Forest
Directions - Take the Dotsero exit off I-70 (exit 133). Head north on the Colorado River Road about 22 miles to the south end of the Derby Mesa loop road (CR 39) on the left. The north end of this loop road hits the Colorado River Road just a little farther north in the tiny town of Burns.
Delorme - 36 A2-B2
Roads of Colorado - 52 C4
Deep Creek Recreation Area
Description - If you haven't been to Deep Creek, you owe yourself the privilege of a trip. A gorgeous cottonwood forest rises here between rock pillars along a beautiful dipper stream. The combination of riparian woods and thickets with the PJ and oaks that coat the hillsides makes for a fascinating combination of breeding birds, and you may find Cordilleran and Dusky Flycatchers, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Canyon Wren, and Virginia's and Black-throated Gray Warblers all side-by-side. The place deserves tremendous pressure during migration, and if I were a Hooded Warbler lost on the west slope of Colorado, this is where I'd set up shop.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian, Pinyon-Juniper Forest, Scrub Oak Forest, Stream, Cliff Face
Directions - Take the Dotsero exit off I-70 (exit 133). Head north on the Colorado River Road a little less than two miles to the Deep Creek Road on the left. The recreation area is a short distance up the road; respect posted private property.
Delorme - 36 C1
Roads of Colorado - 68 B2
Catamount Recreation Site
Description - Catamount is a picnic area along the Colorado River northeast of Burns. It has some decent riparian habitat, especially along the south side of the river.
Habitat - Lowland Riparian
Directions - From the Wolcott exit off I-70 (exit 157), head north on CO 131 twenty miles to the tiny town of McCoy. Turn left onto the Colorado River Road (Road 301). Catamount Recreation Site is at the bridge over the river, approximately seven miles west of McCoy.
Delorme - 36 A3
Roads of Colorado - 53 D4
Bond
Description - There are a couple of private ponds here near the railyard below the highway that may be worth a quick scan for ducks, etcetera in spring and fall. In addition you may want to explore Wildcat Park a half-mile north of town, which abuts some nice PJ habitat.
Habitat - Pond, Pinyon-Juniper Forest
Directions - From the Wolcott exit off I-70 (exit 157), head north on CO 131 about sixteen miles to the tiny town of Bond.
Delorme - 37 B4
Roads of Colorado - 53 E4
Tigiwon Road
Aliases - Notch Mountain Road
Description - Nobody seems to be able to agree on the name of this road, which is referred to on various maps and signs as "Tigiwon," "Tigwon," "Tigawan," "Notch Mountain Road" and "FR 707." By any name, this narrow, winding dirt road leads to the trailhead for the Mount of the Holy Cross, a popular fourteener, so traffic can be uncomfortably heavy up here. Right at the start of the road, along the stream, you can find breeding Swainson's Thrush and American Dipper. A little higher up are some nice aspen stands with a few mixed conifers, potentially a site for Flammulated Owl. Then the road goes through lots of lodgepole pine (plus a few chokecherry and willow thickets good for the likes of MacGillivray's Warbler) before transitioning into nice spruce-fir before the campground at the end of the road.
Habitat - Stream, Aspen Grove, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Lodgepole Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest
Directions - From the Minturn/Leadville exit off I-70 (exit 171), head south on US 24 about 12.5 miles to a right turn onto Tigiwon Road.
Delorme - 37 D6
Roads of Colorado - 70 A3
Shrine Pass
Description - If you're looking for a slow, scenic, road-less-traveled alternative to I-70 over Vail Pass, look no further. As the unpaved road rises out of the village of Red Cliff, it follows a beautiful stream with lots of willow up a tight valley through aspens and mixed conifers. After a brief flirtation with lodgepole, the road runs through several miles of truly excellent spruce-fir forest before the pass. This place looks like it should be a prime fall destination for Boreal Owl seekers. The views of Mount Holy Cross from the pass are among the best in the state.
Habitat - Stream, Streamside Willow, Aspen Grove, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest
Directions - From the Minturn/Leadville exit off I-70 (exit 171), head south on US 24 just over ten miles to a left turn just before a dramatic bridge over a deep canyon. This left turn will take you down to the town of Red Cliff. In this town it is easy to pick up the Shrine Pass Road (FR 709).
Delorme - 37 D7, 38 D1
Roads of Colorado - 70 B3
Dotsero State Wildlife Area
Description - Although it is technically no longer a State Wildlife Area, this remote place is still accessible to the public and worth a visit. Like other valleys in this part of the state, it houses a neat mix of PJ, oak, deciduous riparian brush and willows. Migrant flocks of warblers and sparrows can fill up the bushes here, with many species remaining to breed. The road into the SWA is rough, but passable to most passenger cars when dry. The Sweetwater Creek Road has a few small private ponds and private cottonwood stands that can provide good birding.
Habitat - Pinyon-Juniper Forest, Scrub Oak Forest, Streamside Willow
Directions - From the Dotsero exit off I-70 (exit 133), head north on the Colorado River road approximately seven miles and turn left on Sweetwater Road (CR 40). Head up Sweetwater Road about six miles to a right turn onto Sheep Creek Road (Road 5 / 5A). This is the BLM land that used to be Dotsero SWA.
Delorme - 36 B1
Roads of Colorado - 68 B1
Trail Gulch Road
Description - This road runs mostly through BLM land, although there is some private property along it as well. It connects I-70 with the Colorado River Road between Dotsero and Burns. The north part of the road is ruggedly scenic but sparsely vegetated. The central part of the road, however, runs through some of the best sagebrush in the county. Sage Sparrow was found somewhere in this area on the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas. Unfortunately, much of the sage coincides with the private property, so pay careful attention to property boundaries before leaving the road. The southern end of the road rises through some PJ hillsides on its way up from the interstate.
Habitat - Sagebrush, Pinyon-Juniper Forest
Directions - From the Gypsum exit off I-70 (exit 140), head north on Trail Gulch Road, which (if you can follow your map and your instincts correctly) will eventually dump you out onto the Colorado River Road north of Dotsero.
Delorme - 36 C2
Roads of Colorado - 68 C1-C2
Cottonwood Pass Road
Description - It seems like this road has a little bit of every kind of habitat, but not much of any one. However, there is some very decent scrub-oak forest and sagebrush, and some farmer's ponds well below the road just before the Garfield County line can have breeders like American Coot, Canada Goose, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, etcetera.
Habitat - Sagebrush, Scrub Oak Forest, Pond
Directions - From the Gypsum exit off I-70 (exit 140), take US 6 east into the town of Gypsum. About a half mile from the interstate, turn right onto Valley Road. 2.5 miles south of US 6, turn right (west) onto CR 10 (Cottonwood Pass Road).
Delorme - 36 D1-D2
Roads of Colorado - 68 B3-C2
Sylvan Lake State Park area
Aliases - Crooked Creek Pass, Woods Lake, Fulford Cave Campground
Description - Sylvan Lake itself is pretty, but not particularly attractive to birds. The forest around it is mixed-conifer with lots of lodgepole. Downstream (north) from the lake are some streamside willows with potential for Fox and Lincoln's Sparrows and Swainson's Thrush.
South of Sylvan Lake up the same road is Crooked Creek Pass, which has great spruce-fir forest to the west and aspen to the east. To the south, two small mountain lakes just might turn something up: Crooked Creek Reservoir, which is right next to the road, and Woods Lake, which you must drive a couple miles down a side road and hike a short distance to scan. The area around Woods Lake has more spruce-fir, aspen and mixed conifers.
Up the Fulford Fork, another drainage below the state park, is probably the best birding in the area. The lower portion of the Fulford Road is technically part of the state park and requires a parking fee. Along the road you will find a good dipper stream flowing through lots of Narrowleaf Cottonwood, aspen and alder. Farther us is excellent aspen that may have Flammulated Owl. The Fulford Cave Campground at the end of the road accesses some very nice montane forests that include spruce-fir.
Habitat - Lake, Streamside Willow, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Aspen Grove, Spruce-Fir Forest
Directions - From the Eagle exit off I-70 (Exit 147), head south and take the first right off the roundabout. Turn left onto Broadway, then left onto 5th Street, then right on Capitol. Turn left at the stop sign, then take your first right onto Brush Creek Road. At five miles you will encounter a fork in the road; to get to the Fulford area, go left; to get to Sylvan Lake itself and Crooked Creek Pass, go right.
Delorme - 46 A3, 47 A4, 36 D3, 37 D4
Roads of Colorado - 69 E3-E4
Gypsum Creek Road and Lede Reservoir
Aliases - Lede Reservoir
Description - Gypsum Creek Road has some decent patches of riparian spruce and scenery. A beaver pond on the south side of the road may attract ducks and Spotted Sandpipers. The extremely remote Lede Reservoir itself is unremarkable, but there's good spruce-fir and decent aspen in the area.
Habitat - Spruce-Fir Forest, Mountain Meadow, Pond
Directions - From the Gypsum exit off I-70 (exit 140), take US 6 east into the town of Gypsum. About a half mile from the interstate, turn right onto Valley Road. This road eventually becomes the Gypsum Creek Road (FR 412), which leads to Lede Reservoir.
Delorme - 36 D2, 46 A3
Roads of Colorado - 68 C3, 69 D3-D4