Home Care In Duck Creek Village, UT

ST. GEORGE — Imagine walking down a paved trail at twilight when the bushes rustle. A surfeit of skunks bustles across the pavement in a line, momentarily gathering in a bunch before disappearing again into a dark thicket on the other side. Watching Southern Utah’s wildlife can create feelings of awe, hilarity and surprise.

“Any time you’re outdoors, you may have the opportunity to see some of the state’s over 600 wildlife species, so keep your eyes peeled,” the Visit Utah website states.

Where and when Southern Utahns venture for wildlife viewing opportunities depends on what they’re searching for, said Adam Kavalunas, a conservation outreach manager with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

“Southern Utah actually has some really good birding areas like all along the Virgin River — a lot of diversity of species of small songbirds along there,” he told St. George News.

Songbirds begin singing before dawn, especially near rivers, creeks and streams, and become less active as the day warms, Kavalunas said. But they return to the skies to trill and flit about in the cool evenings.

Those interested in viewing pronghorn, also known as American antelope, can do so near Duck Creek on Mammoth Creek Road or near John’s Valley near Bryce Canyon National Park.

Pronghorn are typically out grazing in lush mountain meadows midday, and Kavalunas said he saw about a dozen cross the road near Mammoth Creek one afternoon.

Deer and elk have moved to higher elevations for summer grazing and are most likely to be seen in the morning or evening, Kavalunas said.

Mountain goats, a “really cool species,” can be found in the Tushar Mountains above Beaver.

However, with heavy snowpack, the road is likely closed and could remain so for a few weeks. So, Kavalunas suggests trekking up the mountainside in early August to reach Big John Flat. There, would-be viewers can scour the peaks, ridges and hillsides where the goats are often observed.

Desert bighorn sheep are frequently seen in Zion National Park, particularly near its east entrance, Kavalunas said. During their rutting season in August, rams can be seen “following groups of ewes around, and you can actually hear them butt heads. And it sounds like a gunshot.”

“It’s really loud,” he said. “It’s really cool and you know the sheep in the park are pretty used to people, so just drive in on the roads. There are a lot of times they’ll just be feeding near the road, and people can stop and look at them.”

Other creatures inhabiting Zion National Park include foxes, rock squirrels, bats, cougars, ringtail cats and coyotes. According to Visit Utah, many of the park’s 68 mammal species are nocturnal and best seen at night; however, “you may even be able to see signs of their nighttime outings, such as tracks and scat.”

Many animals, such as jackrabbits, cottontails, herons, antelope squirrels, foxes and skunks, can be found along the Virgin River Trail in St. George and similar trails adjacent to waterways throughout Southern Utah.

How to have a successful trip

Would-be wildlife observers will have the most luck in the morning and evening, especially in the summer, partly because the temperature is lower at those times, Kavalunas said.

Trekkers should pack a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope with a sturdy tripod, particularly if they plan to seek out mountain goats or other species likely to be viewed from a distance.

“(Mountain goats) are fairly easy to spot because they’re just a bright, white dot on a green hillside, but oftentimes they’re a mile or two or three away,” Kavalunas said.

Individuals should pack water, snacks and a first-aid kit, he added. Before trekking out, people should also dress for the area they plan to visit.

For instance, those searching for pika will need sturdy shoes and clothing as the talus they inhabit is hard and can be sharp, DWR biologist Barbara Sugarman told St. George News last year.

People can keep themselves and the animals safe by keeping their distance and not feeding wildlife, Kavalunas said. Individuals should stay on designated trails and roadways and never follow or harass wildlife.

“They are still wild, and they’re unpredictable,” he said.

Hikers should stay alert outdoors to avoid confrontations with rattlesnakes and various local predators, like cougars. Rattlers are often confused with nonvenomous gopher snakes, St. George News reported previously.

While bites are uncommon, they can be dangerous, so it is a good idea to check rocky areas, under ledges and other locations where the snakes could hide. These and other reptiles are commonly seen sunning in early or late hours of the day but often hide from the blistering afternoon sun.

Additionally, wildlife watchers should respect private property, Kavalunas said. For instance, if a person sees a burrowing owl in a field, they will need permission from the landowner to trek into the area.

For more information about watching wildlife in Utah, visit the DWR’s Discover tab. They also compiled a list of accessible destinations for those with disabilities here. Additionally, the DWR and other organizations regularly host wildlife viewing events, such as a mountain goat watch in August.

Red Cliffs Desert Reserve provides information about local species here. Individuals can also find nearby plants and animals using iNaturalist or the DWR’s field guide.

For more information on how to stay safe around wildlife, readers can visit Wild Aware Utah’s website.

Those interested in attending wildlife viewing or other events can check the Utah DWR’s Facebook page or calendar, as well as the calendars for Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

A few weeks ago we asked you to tell us the most "underrated" parks in Utah.

Here are some of your picks:

Bear Lake State Park: Reader Zach A. provided our only northern Utah recommendation, which is becoming more popular as summers get hotter.

Cedar Breaks National Monument: We agree with Chris M. and other readers who pointed to the whole area near S.R. 14 southeast of Cedar City, where the green forests meet red rock on the Markagunt Plateau.

Casto Canyon: About an hour from Cedar Breaks, this pick from reader Colt S. is "a miniature Bryce Canyon that you spend infinite time in and never see another person."

Dinosaur National Monument: Dig up your childhood dinosaur obsession and set it free. If you go in early summer, the wildflowers should be great this year.

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park: A hidden gem that reader Mike R. suggested in Garfield County — which also puts you near some of the state's best slot canyons.

Fremont Indian State Park: It's a great place to view ancient rock art and ruins.

Goblin Valley: The San Rafael Swell's answer to Bryce Canyon has fantastic mushroom-like formations — and yurts for glamping.

Gunlock State Park: This is the spring to go, reader Shelbi P. recommended, with the record snow providing a rare chance to see waterfalls flowing.

White Wash Sand Dunes: While best known as Green River's OHV playground, there are lots of trails and roads through red rock, cottonwood forests and even bighorn sheep.

CEDAR CITY — Early Sunday morning, a dusting of snow covered the roads, trees and meadows of Southern Utah’s mountains. Under crystal flakes, vibrant leaves of green, orange and gold glowed in soft sunlight.

Fall is here, but the season of color is fleeting. How can Southern Utahns get the most out of autumn this year?

Quaking aspens are the most common species of deciduous tree found in Southern Utah’s mountains; their musical leaves transform from green to yellow, orange and rarely, red, Cedar City News reported previously.

Because the trees reproduce via suckering — sprouting genetic clones from their root systems — a group of aspens could be a single organism, so their leaves will change at about the same time and to the same color. What color a particular aspen will express this autumn largely depends on its genetics, the article reads.

Maple and oak trees are known for their vibrant red or orange autumn leaves and are typically seen at lower elevations, Dr. Jacqualine Grant told Cedar City News last year. Grant is an associate professor of Geosciences at Southern Utah University.

Various factors impact which chemicals trees express, including sunlight, temperature and cloud cover. With above-freezing temperatures, leaves are more likely to be red, but an early frost could weaken its vibrancy. Rain and overcast skies could increase the intensity of this year’s fall color.

Leaves are green due to chlorophyll and orange, brown or yellow because of carotenoids — both are present during the growing season. Anthocyanins create red leaves in response to bright light and excess plant sugars, according to the U.S. Forest Service. As the days shorten, trees reduce their chlorophyll production until there is no trace of the chemical in their leaves, leaving behind the vibrant hues expressed by carotenoids and anthocyanins.

Fall color is peaking in Southern Utah’s mountains. And due to high winds and cold weather, they could be fleeting. With snow still dusting the ground at higher elevations, Brian Head, Cedar Breaks National Monument and Duck Creek expect additional precipitation Sunday night and Monday morning, with mostly gentle to moderate winds, according to the National Weather Service. More sunshine is forecasted for the rest of the week, starting Tuesday.

However, stronger gusts and cold temperatures hit the mountains over the weekend, which blew leaves off “some of the early changers,” Life of Brian Head’s Mike Saemisch wrote on Facebook. Despite this, colors “will still be great for a few weeks” in Brian Head, with high mountain forests still turning.

Where can a would-be leaf peeper peep leaves?

With elevations ranging as high as 11,312 feet above sea level at Brian Head Peak and as low as 2,350 at Beaver Dam Wash, Southern Utahns in Washington and Iron counties can follow autumn into the valleys as winter overtakes alpine meadows.

Alpine and subalpine:

Southern Utah’s high-elevation areas typically show the best fall color in mid-September to early October. Subalpine areas are best viewed from late September through mid-October.

State Route 143 from Brian Head to Panguitch, state Route 148 through Cedar Breaks National Monument, and state Route 14’s higher elevations are in peak color, with a high percentage of color change, according to Visit Cedar City-Brian Head. Duck Creek and Navajo Lake are also seeing a high rate of change, with some green still adorning the landscape.

The leaves in lower elevations are estimated to have a moderate percentage of change, with red and orange maples putting on a show and yellow aspens coming up quickly from behind. Find fall colors at these locations:

According to Mixbook, a photo book brand, Fishlake was rated Utah’s most sought-after “hidden gem” according to a survey with 3,000 respondents.

“Set away from the more frequented destinations, this expansive forest landscape transforms into a stunning tapestry of reds, oranges, and yellows during autumn,” the website reads. “Its off-the-beaten-path appeal, trails, and diverse ecosystems offer a unique escape for nature enthusiasts.”

High Valley and Washington County

The rate of change at lower elevations is estimated to be low by Visit Cedar City Brian Head, with oaks and maples offering splashes of red among the green and yellow of other species. Watch the colors change at these locations:

Southern Washington County will see changing colors in late October into November, with most trees still sporting green leaves with nary a hint of change. According to Visit Cedar City-Brian Head, the best place to view fall leaves in the area is Zion National Park via state Route 9 and Springdale.

Fall eclipse

This fall, Brian Head will be in the path of an annular solar eclipse, James Graven with Treehouse Communications told Cedar City News via email. Should the colors hold until Oct. 14, visitors could be amid vibrant autumn as they view the “ring of fire.” The town’s high elevation could offer clearer skies for the event.

Graven writes that the “ring of fire” is expected to last just over four minutes. Visitors should pack eclipse safety glasses to view safely. Brian Head Resort is offering to provide viewing glasses for those watching the event there. Those in Parowan will also have a “prime view,” according to Visit Cedar City-Brian Head.

Event details:

To watch for changing autumn colors and conditions, Southern Utans can check the webcams located at Brian Head Resort and Zion National Park.

The drone footage in the video at the top of this article is courtesy of Brian Head Resort.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

It's like walking through a piece of history.

We're always looking for new adventures to tackle. If you're up for channeling your inner Indiana Jones, then prepare for the ultimate journey. There's an underground hike in Utah that'll take you through an actual lava tube. You're not scared of dark caves though, are you?

The Mammoth Cave in Duck Creek Village is one of the biggest lava tubes in the state and features over "2200 feet of passages and five entrances."

It's free to visit and is open from May through October, however, extreme weather conditions can make adventuring here unsafe.

Upon seeing the cavern for the first time, it'll appear as a large gorge or hole in the ground. It's believed that this lava tube is only a few thousand years old and was formed by "cooling lava and flowing water."

If you're up for it, you and your friends can explore it. We recommend bringing shoes with good grip, flashlights, and warm clothes. It remains a cool temperature year-round.

You can only visit here seasonally because bats reside there and it ensures that they can hibernate undisturbed.

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Although the 0.25-mile path seems short, it'll feel like you've stepped back in time. Why not invite your friends along for added fun?

The best part about this underground trek is that there are two exits!

You can choose to go out the way you came or if you're up for a challenge, you can leave through the small tube at the end. There's only room for you to slide out on your stomach. So be prepared to get a little dirty.

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Why go home when you can visit another cave closeby after? The Ice Cave features icicles year-round. How cool is that?

If you binge horror movies all day like we do, then you're probably thinking that this hike is similar to the movie The Descent. There have been no reports of humanoid cannibals though, so you're welcome.

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If we just freaked you out, no worries. Utah is filled with beautiful places that'll make you swoon.

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Difficulty: Easy

Length: Approx. 0.25-miles

Address: Duck Creek Ridge Rd., Duck Creek Village, UT

Why You Need To Go: You can explore an actual underground lava tube for free.

Website

We strongly advise that before you go swimming or visit any location, you check the most recent updates on potential hazards, security, water quality, and closures. If you do plan to visit a location, respect the environment.

FEATURE — Benefiting from its location close to red rock country, Duck Creek Village’s meadows and surrounding aspen, fir and pine forests served as a stand-in for several other places, including New York and Kentucky, which might be a little bit of a stretch, as well as Wyoming, which is not so much of a stretch.

The mountain resort hamlet located on Cedar Mountain in northwestern Kane County along state Route 14 was lucky enough to be an extension of “Little Hollywood” during nearby Kanab’s western movie-making heyday.

It was known as “Movie Ranch,” a moniker proudly displayed on its street signs today.

Interpretive signs at Duck Creek Visitor Center explain the area’s earliest history, calling it its “explosive past” because of the involvement of volcanoes in forming cinder cones, the dam that created nearby Navajo Lake and the black lava beds so prominent in the area that look like a fleet of dump trucks just left them there. In actuality, they formed when hot magma oozed out of the bases of gassy cinder cones like a river and covered the surrounding land.

Paiutes and their ancestors roamed the land for centuries and once the white man made his debut in the area, just like many of the scenic and recreational destinations on Cedar Mountain, such as Cedar Breaks, Duck Creek became the domain of sheepherders; in fact, it was a favorite gathering place for them.

In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps played a role in Duck Creek’s early development with its Duck Creek Recreation Camp, which was dedicated June 25, 1933 with a keynote address by Utah’s then Governor Henry Blood and performances by a male chorus from Kanab and a band from Parowan.

The “Kane County Standard” called Duck Creek an “ideal place to establish a recreation camp, the air being cool and refreshing, the scenery enchanting and there is good fishing along Duck Creek,” Martha Bradley reported in her book about Kane County’s history. “There is no doubt but that this camp will become a popular retreat as soon as it is known to all who wish to spend a few days or weeks camping in a shady and quiet place among the pines and aspens.”

The CCC work center built at the site included two residences, one office building, one barn, a gas house and a warehouse. The work center would serve as housing for a Forest Service ranger and some summer employees and was a central point that provided easy access to local recreational areas such as Navajo Lake, Cedar Breaks, Duck Creek, Aspen Mirror Lake, Mammoth Creek and Strawberry Point.

Local workers were hired to lead the battalion of CCC enrollees, most of whom were from Eastern states. The CCC Camp, known as F-16, spent the summer months first building the work center, then the Duck Creek Campground to the north. Other projects completed by the CCC boys included road construction, the building of a dike across Navajo Lake and even porcupine eradication.

The CCC camp remained active until the early 1940s, when the CCC was disbanded. The work camp office building was renovated in 1994 and now serves as the Duck Creek Forest Service Visitor Center. The other buildings were demolished due to the discovery of radon gas in them.

Some of the best-known movies filmed on location in Duck Creek Village include “Drums Along the Mohawk” (1939) starring Henry Fonda (its turn impersonating New York), “National Velvet” (1944) starring Elizabeth Taylor, “My Friend Flicka” (1943) and its sequel, “Thunderhead, Son of Flicka” (1945), “The Green Grass of Wyoming” (1948), and “Smoky” (1950) starring Fred MacMurray, among others.

During the 1950s and 1960s, visitors were allowed on the movie locations at Duck Creek with the stipulation that they would be quiet during filming, James V. D’Arc notes in his book, “When Hollywood Came to Town: A History of Moviemaking in Utah.” Some lucky local visitors to the sets even went home with autographs from their favorite stars.

For instance, 10-year-old Cedar City resident Scott Boyter had the thrill of his life meeting and getting the autograph of one of his heroes, Clint Walker (famous for his role in the television series “Cheyenne”) during the filming of the movie “Fort Dobbs” (1958) in the Duck Creek area. D’Arc’s book recounted Boyter’s experience in his own words:

“I remember going up to Cedar Mountain in our car and I took my little Browning camera along with me. What is particularly interesting at that time, one could drive right up to the set. It was at Aspen Mirror Lake, right off Route 14. We got out of the car and walked a few steps and there they were. No one was yelling at us to get out of the way or to be quiet. I quickly took a few pictures when I recognized Clint Walker. You couldn’t miss him, as he stood literally head and shoulders above everyone else.”

Boyter drummed up the courage to ask Walker to sign the “Cheyenne” comic book he’d brought at the urging of his mother. When he approached, Walker didn’t notice him and co-star Virginia Mayo had to point him out. Boyter continued to describe his encounter with Walker:

“He turned around and, in a deep voice, said, ‘Yes, son?’ I was scared to death and managed to nervously ask, ‘Mr. Walker, may I have your autograph, please?’ ‘Where do you want it, son?’ ‘Oh, anyplace is fine,’ I replied. So, he opened up the comic book and signed his name in pencil, since I did not have a pen with me. ‘Is that all right,’ he asked. ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘that’s just fine.”

The 1960s television series “Daniel Boone” starring Fess Parker was Duck Creek’s turn impersonating Kentucky’s backwoods. By the end of the 1960s, Duck Creek’s use as a filming location halted and a new chapter of its history began.

Starting in the 1960s, it became a retreat for second home owners with the Movie Ranch Subdivision and has continued growing and gaining popularity since. Craig Primas, president of the Duck Creek Village Association, said many of its homeowners are from the Las Vegas area or Southern California. Only 5-10 percent of homeowners live there full time.

Currently, Duck Creek is trying to make itself more attractive with an improved streetscape, including a boardwalk, better lighting and more parking. Primas, a retired civil engineer and current fine-arts photographer, said he would like to make it a place visitors driving by want to stop and explore as well as a better environment for businesses, some of which start and last for two or three years and then close their doors.

Since Duck Creek is an unincorporated area of Kane County, Primas and the association have presented their proposal to the Kane County Commission to garner its support.

“It is the vision of this Project that travelers will one day look down from Highway 14 onto the ‘postcard’ of Duck Creek Village and say ‘Look, honey, let’s go down there. That is a very cute Village'” Primas and the Duck Creek Village Association wrote in their presentation to the County Commission. “And once there, the travelers, perhaps in route to Bryce Canyon, will stay for a day or even longer, when they find the parking easy, the boardwalk welcoming, the Main Street safe, the shops quaint and the people friendly.”

The Commission is on board and has pledged financial support, but the construction of the improvements might be slow to come to fruition, Primas said. The construction might be done in phases, the first phase being a way to demonstrate the major difference the upgrades will make for the community and help those not fully convinced of what their impact could be.

Duck Creek does a lot for the Kane County economy, Primas said, and he feels its time for it to receive a little more from the county in return.

Visiting Duck Creek

Duck Creek Village is reached via a 29-mile scenic drive from Cedar City up SR-14.

Its main business district on Movie Ranch Road features eateries, shops, rental cabins, all-terrain vehicle rental locations and real estate offices.

It boasts miles and miles of ATV / off-highway vehicle trails nearby, making it an ATV/OHV haven in the summertime and an ideal snowmobiling location in the winter.

The area is also a popular fishing spot with Aspen Mirror Lake, Duck Creek Pond and Navajo Lake all within 5 miles. Camping options are plentiful at the nearby Duck Creek Campground, Navajo Lake and other nearby locations.

An excellent place to start a visit to Duck Creek is at the Visitor Center, located across the highway from Duck Creek Pond and before the highway reaches the main business district.

The visitor center includes a plethora of free pamphlets and brochures about recreation options in the area. Friendly forest rangers and volunteers at the visitor center will be happy to answer questions and provide a list entitled “16 things to do within 16 miles” which includes activities such as hiking the Cascade Falls and Singing Pines trails, exploring three caves – Bower, Ice and Mammoth – and more.

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About the series “Days”

“Days” is a series of stories about people and places, industry and history in and surrounding the region of southwestern Utah.

“I write stories to help residents of southwestern Utah enjoy the region’s history as much as its scenery,” St. George News contributor Reuben Wadsworth said.

To keep up on Wadsworth’s adventures, “like” his author Facebook page or follow his Instagram account.

Wadsworth has also released a book compilation of many of the historical features written about Washington County as well as a second volume containing stories about other places in Southern Utah, Northern Arizona and Southern Nevada.

Read more: See all of the features in the “Days” series.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2019, all rights reserved.