The great expanses of undeveloped land in Utah make it an ideal habitat for wildlife, and in most cases it isn't even necessary to hike very far into the backcountry to spot creatures. There's plenty for you to see -- water birds at many lakes and reservoirs, elk and antelope in the Wasatch Mountains, lizards and snakes in the red-rock country of the south, and deer and small mammals practically everywhere. All of the national parks and many state parks have excellent wildlife-viewing possibilities: Coral Pink Sand Dunes near Kanab is known for its luminescent scorpions, and Escalante State Park boasts the best wetland bird habitat in southern Utah. Hikers on Boulder Mountain, near Escalante, are likely to see deer, elk, and wild turkey, and birders will enjoy the wide variety of songbirds found here.
The mountains above Ogden and Logan are especially good places to spot elk, deer, and even moose. The relatively remote Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is one of the best areas in the state to find wildlife, so don't be surprised if a pronghorn (an antelope-like creature) joins you at your campsite. Birders have a good chance of seeing osprey, peregrine falcons, swifts, and swallows along the cliffs; and hikers on the Little Hole National Recreation Trail just below Flaming Gorge Dam should watch for a variety of birds, including bald eagles in winter. Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake is another good destination for bird-watchers.
