Scott and Norma Matheson Wetlands Preserve
Jointly owned and operated by The Nature Conservancy and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, this preserve offers a chance to slow down from the hubbub of town and experience world-class bird-watching. The 900-acre oasis makes for great strolling while on the lookout for more than 200 species, including great blue herons, sandhill cranes, and a large number of neotropical migratory songbirds, from chats to western tanagers to black-headed grosbeaks. Sightings of deer and wild turkey are fairly common, but there are also rare glimpses of more elusive mammals like beaver and river otters, not to mention mountain lions and bobcats. Always remember to respect the wildlife and keep an appropriate distance.
An information kiosk greets visitors just inside the preserve, and a boardwalk winds through the property to several viewpoints, including the Colorado River, a native fish project area, and a water control structure. If you have a little more time, take the new trail east to the Central Pond for spectacular views of the mountains and opportunities to spot waterfowl and other native species.
