Tracy Aviary: Lightwalk

 Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary is a a neat collection of holiday light displays. They decided to extend their season into the first weekend of January this year so, after our previous adventure being a bit of a bust, we decided to add this. I am glad we did, it was pretty. Also, today was SOOO the day to do it. We practically had the place to ourselves! It was amazing. This is a light experience, and you will not see any of the birds (according to the website). So, you know, don’t have any expectations of that. We did however see some, but most not very clearly. See here to learn more about the birds from a regular day at the aviary.

Quick Details:

Length: It is 8 acres of lights. We ended up doing about 2.25 ish miles.
Trail Type: Meander or several overlapping loops.
Difficulty: Paved. DR2.
Elevation Gain: NA. Optional 2 stories.
Restroom: Several, but I only checked that the ones by the Visitor Center were open.
Dogs? No.
Other Info: Fee area: $17.95 per person. Discounts for members. Regular admission to the aviary is $14.95 per adult.

To Get Here:

Take i80 to 7th east heading north. Go about 2.2 miles, turn left on 9th South. Turn left into Liberty Park at 600 East. Follow the one way park loop to the right about a half mile and it will be on the left.

Note: Even though the aviary is at the southwest end of the park, due to the one way loop it is better to use the north entrance vs. the south. Otherwise you have to take the slow loop all the way around.

Storms to the south (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

Neat old water tower (PSP).

The Visitor Center looks amazing draped in lights.

Outside of the grounds.

The Visitor Center again.

Closer.

The little Amusement Park next door in Liberty Park. I didn’t know it ran in winter.

The Trail:

Pelican Pond.

Pretty lights.

I love that they put a Santa hat on this condor statue. Sadly the aviary’s condor (Andy N Condor) died in 2023, aged 64.

Fun lit up bridge.

Pelicans. Definitely asleep.

Pretty pink tree.

Wall of bright colorful lights.

Color.

Looking back towards the Visitor Center.

The wall of lights again. And a sign advertising hot chocolate, which totally got me. It wasn’t super cold, but walking around in winter at night, enjoying the lights always makes me want it. $3 bucks for a tiny cup, I guess it could be worse. I’d recommend getting it from a nearby gas station, but I am fairly certain outside drinks are not allowed.

More color.

Cute tunnel.

Heading towards the Bird Feeder Cafe.

These are fun! We saw similar at the Lantern Festival at the Aquarium.

They change color when you step on them.

More color.

Cute little rainbow. I wish I had thought to take a picture of us here. Oi. Well, maybe next time.

Pretty trees.

Fun little hammock tree.

The other side of the Pelican Pond.

The fun light path again.

Fun light room.

Lots of color.

We found this guy hanging out.

I didn't notice any signs advising as such here, but most animal exhibits ask that you do not use your flash. I think that is even more important in the dark. So, not any great photos of any of the birds today.

His backside.

I thought I got a picture of the sign, but I guess not. So I am not sure what he is. Looking at the map this should be the southern ground hornbill section, and it seems to match the image. But you know, don’t quote me on that.

Lots of color.

This is pretty.

Another tunnel.

Kea.

They are super fun, and super vocal haha.

Another.

Well, I got a picture of their sign. They are indigenous to New Zealand.

The bright wall again.

Pretty trees and the big tunnel.

Old aquarium. We will come back to this.

The light tunnel. I decided we would come back in just a minute and hope we got it to ourselves.

Besides, there was a neat blue area to explore as well. I was definitely over stimulated and absolutely SQUIRRELing all over today.

This is neat too.

It skirts Sycamore Stream and the Dabbling Duck Pond.

Dabbling Duck Pond.

The pelican friends again. They stink. Or well, their habitat stinks.

Pretty pink tree.

Green trees.

Not a long detour, we immediately made our way back to the light tunnel.

Ahhh!!! It’s so pretty.

I think this was my favorite spot! And well, probably everybody's favorite spot haha. but we got it to ourselves for a minute.

Fun red trees.

Holy giant bow, Batman! This is the South American Pavilion. It is open until 8 right now so hey, we did get to see some birds!

Cute Navida Trees.

I think this is a northern helmeted curassow.

Another thing that was made possible by the George S and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation. You cant swing a cat in the valley without hitting something they have funded. But, it’s good. I appreciate how much they have given back to the community.

Scarlet ibis.

Quite a few of them.

Wading.

I think this is the turpial.

I’m not sure what this one is.

But one of these. Probably the Puna ibis, but again, not sure.

Andean goose.

These guys look like a good match for the Bali myna.

And the one in back left looks like the violet turaco.

Back outside.

Pretty green.

The front of the South American Pavilion again.

This was built in 1970, and renovated in 2010.

Pretty alcove,

From the outside.

Blue and green.

Big deer statues.

We found ourselves going around the outside of the South American Pavilion.

Black necked stilt. Look at those long long legs!

That appeared to be the only one hanging out outside. It may be an unusually warm winter for us, but I am sure it is still super cold for most of these guys. Hence why the inside area is so warm.

King vulture.

The fun deer again.

Curtains of lights.

Again.

From the other side.

The owl forest, was closed as well. Which sucked because they are my favorite, and one of them was hooting.

Quick video, just to hear to hoot.

Gate on the east side. I am not sure if it is an old public access gate, or a service gate. I suspect the former. Either way, it is not for public use now.

“What’s with the dead tree? 

Dead wood provides great habitat for wildlife, like insects and birds. 

Notice all the little holes? A woodpecker made them searching for food. 

A dead tree left standing to decompose is called a ‘snag’”

Silhouette of one of the owls from the outside.

The Isaac Chase Mill.

Built in 1852 it is the oldest commercial building still standing in Utah. 

The Chase Home just a smidge to the north, also in Liberty Park, happens to be the oldest house in Salt Lake City.

Here is is from May, 2015.

Back to the mill. They decorated it like a life sized ginger bread house. Complete with giant ginger bread men.

I don’t know if this is the original glass, but its wavy like old glass.

Door with cute candy decorations.

Before Christmas you can find Santa in here. The rest of the year is a an event venue that can be rented out.

The front.

Little amphitheater.

This is fun.

Cute little dock.

The Swan Pond. With a couple of swans. 

I have been unable to confirm the source of the water for the streams and ponds in the aviary. My best guess is that it comes from Liberty Lake right next door to the east (which is fed by Red Butte Creek and Emigration Creek). My next guess is that there are a couple little springs? Like I said, total guesses, but I think the first option is more likely.

The mill again.

Little firepit to warm up at.

Closer view of the sign.

Candy canes.

Again.

The Kennecott Wetland Experience is closed to give the birds time to roost before dark. I want to say it closes at 4:30 right now.

The outside. Plus the swans again next to the Swan Pond.

This building was built in 1938, and renovated in 2009.

Closer view of the swans.

Continuing through the candy canes.

We can see one of the hawks at the Hawks and Turkey Vulture exhibit.

I am not sure, cause I did get a great shot in the dark, but I think it is the Swainson’s hawk.

The Teaching Stream Wetland.

There is a set of stairs next to the Visitor Center you can climb 3 flights up this tower to get a birds eye view of the park. I didn’t notice it on our last visit. I even almost skipped it today thinking it might be too dark.

View of the Pelican Pond to the west.

The Dabbling Duck Pond to the south.

The Teaching Stream Wetland and Chase Mill to the east.

Closer view of the mill.

The Visitor Center.

Cute fox cutouts.

Owl cutout.

Walking along the Teaching Stream Wetland. With more animal cutouts.

The Teaching Stream.

Upstream.

The Chase Mill again.

Well, I think we saw everything we could today. Now just another quick run through to see our favorites and see if we missed anything.

Cute planter decorations.

Fun Projection.

We kept hearing a particularly loud bird somewhere around the Dabbling Duck Pond so we went to investigate.

Pelicans.

Cormorants and ducks.

Well, we are pretty sure it was one of these guys making all the noise. It was hard to tell for sure in the dark, but I think it might have been one of the goldeneyes.

Pretty blue tunnel.

The light tunnel. It is really quite magical walking through it.

Video.

The other way.

The giant bow on the South America Pavilion.

Another fun lit up alcove.

Cute little bridge over the Sycamore Stream.

Color.

Pink alcove.

The king vulture again.

Back through the light tunnel.

Mistletoe.

The tunnel again.

The old aquarium.

Quick summary of the relative bits to this building:

Built in 1938 it was one of the 1st structures constructed under the grounds new Status of Tracy Aviary founded in 1938. Before that the land here was Salt Lake City’s original zoo (1905 - 1931).

Anyway, the building was not warm enough for the fish to survive winter, so it only acted as an aquarium for a year or 2. It was then used as a playhouse, then a caretakers house, then an office, then housing for interns, offices again until 2010. In 2016 it was determined that it was vulnerable to snow loads and weathering. The estimated cost (at that time) to restore the structure was $600,000. Despite being designated significant, neither Tracy Aviary nor Salt Lake City has made it a funding priority.

There is also some additional facts about some of the other buildings that I already used where relevant.

The light wall.

The light tunnel again.

We missed this section on our first loop.

The green and white is pretty.

Looking back.

Back to the light curtains.

The Chase Mill.

Again.

Lights.

Teaching Stream Wetland.

Lighted canopy, and you can see the doors to the Treasures of the Rainforest exhibit. It was also closed.

The wetland again, and you can see the tower behind it.

Footprints.

Bird prints.

The Visitor Center.

Fun bird mobile.

More bird prints.

Then of course the exit through the giftshop.

The little amusement park next door.

The Pelican Pond from the outside again.

Well that was super fun! I am glad we came out to do it. I am a little sad more of the birds were not visible, but I get it. They need to sleep too. We have seen them before, plus they gave us a coupon for $3.00 off a visit to the regular Aviary, so hey, maybe we will come back. I really enjoyed that we practically had the place to ourselves! Only a couple other people milling about. It did seem to start picking up as we were leaving though. 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it paved and generally flat. DR2.

Dogs are not allowed.