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Scenic Drive Details
Length: The auto-tour loop is 1.8 miles. Add 5 miles from Paris, or about 7 miles from Montpelier.
Time Needed: About an hour
Road Conditions: Dirt, well graded.
Summit: NA flat.
Restrooms: Yes, there are pit toilets.
Interesting Things: Birds, possible other wildlife sightings.
To Get Here:
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The road from Montpelier out isn’t too bad (PSP). It is about 7 miles from the turn off to the kiosk.
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Bear River Canal (PSP).
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A dam of some sort (PSP).
The Adventure:
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I think this is officially in the refuge (PSP).
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The road is not bad at all (PSP).
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We noticed this nesting pole on the side of the road, which appeared to be occupied (PSP).
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I decided it was time for the telephoto lens. It’s an osprey!
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It was being particularly vocal. I realized it was making the same noises of the large bird we saw and heard at Ricks’s Spring yesterday but didn’t get close enough for me to identify.
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You can still see the nest around the next corner, although it is a bit further away.
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He was moving around quite a bit more.
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Ooh, I like this one. I normally only see ospreys up in the Uintas like Scout Lake. Although I have seen one in Ogden once as well.
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Really neat bird. I am happy we got to get a close up view of one. However, we decided to keep following the loop.
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The mountains to the east (PSP).
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Dried up area (PSP).
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From the other side (PSP).
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Another little pond (PSP).
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Grasshopper on the windshield (PSP). You would not believe the amount of grasshoppers there all all over the place up here. It seriously feels like almost swarm level of grasshoppers.
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I saw a hawk hanging out on a fence post (PSP). But by the time I got the camera up it had taken off.
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Still not a great shot of it (PSP).
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American coot (PSP).
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Ducks (PSP).
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I cannot believe I caught this (PSP). An osprey with it’s lunch. Random fun fact: Ospreys always carry fish face forward.
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Not as good but still cool (PSP).
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It took it’s lunch down to a semi nearby pole.
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One of the canals (PSP).
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Some pretty purple flowers (PSP).
Leaving the refuge, we decided to head back towards Paris which is about 5 miles.
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Crossing over the Bear River Canal (PSP).
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Re-entering civilization (PSP).
We didn’t see a ton of wildlife today, but I am excited we got to see the ospreys. It was a totally chill adventure, without seeing another soul (which can be a bit freaky sometimes, but not today). There is a lot more to explore, we just did the short auto loop. However, next time we come up maybe we can come back.
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No difficulty rating as there is no need to get out of the car.
Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed at all time.
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