Bird Hike up Waterton Canyon

Join other 2ndSummit bird enthusiasts on this special early-morning Audubon-guided hike!

This gem of a canyon, just south of Chatfield State Park, ranks among the best places in the Denver metro area to get out and experience foothill birding. 

A wide and well-maintained trail starts at the lower end of foothill scrub and follows the South Platte River, lined with a beautiful riparian corridor, up for many miles into ponderosa woodland. We'll stick to the stretch at the lower end, which makes for a good two hours of birding. 

In the scrub habitat along the trails and on the canyon slopes, look for Virginia’s Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Spotted Towhee, and Say’s Phoebe. The taller trees along the river usually have quite a few Yellow-breasted Chats, Cordilleran Flycatchers, and even a few Least Flycatchers. The river itself is home to several pairs of American Dippers; and Common Mergansers use the nearby cliffs to nest. Canyon and Rock Wrens are also among the 40 species that meander here. It's a bird paradise!