Hardware WMA

Hardware Wildlife Management Area — located at the top of Blacksmith Fork Canyon in northern Utah — provides habitat supporting a variety of wildlife species, as well as public access for wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation.

Horse-drawn sleigh and wagon rides on the WMA are offered in the winter on the days the center is open, and are a unique opportunity to see elk up close and in their natural habitat.

View a slideshow of sights at Hardware WMA.

Recreational and educational activities

In addition to the wildlife around the Education Center, fishing opportunities abound. Licensed anglers can catch several trout species in the nearly 15 miles of streams and rivers on the WMA (anglers 12 years of age and older must have a valid Utah fishing or combination license).

If you are a teacher or school group interested in learning more about year-round educational opportunities at Hardware WMA, find more details here.

Keeping elk herds healthy

During the winter months, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources feeds between 500 and 600 Rocky Mountain elk in the big meadow near Hardware's Wildlife Education Center each day. The grass hay used to feed the elk — approximately 300 tons — is grown on the WMA throughout the summer.

Also during the winter, DWR employees use the WMA's trapping facilities to capture some of the elk before weighing them and attaching ear tags. The DWR uses the ear tags to identify individual elk and study population characteristics. We also test a representative sample of elk each year for brucellosis and, occasionally, tuberculosis.

Wildlife viewing for people with disabilities

Southeastern Region

• Scott M. Matheson Preserve, located in Moab, has wheelchair accessible features.
• Utah State parks have wheelchair accessible restrooms, campsites, picnic areas and fishing opportunities at many locations.
• U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and BLM buildings and visitor services are becoming increasingly ADA accessible.

Central Region

• The Central Region office, Salt Lake City office and Lee Kay Hunter Education Facility are all ADA accessible.
• USFS Strawberry Visitor Center and DWR Strawberry River Fish Migration Trap and Spawning Station have a system of boardwalk trails and cement walkways.
• ADA-accessible fishing piers
  • Utah Lake State Park: North jetty
  • Vivian Park Pond: County Park, which is located at the turn off from Provo Canyon road to South Fork Provo River in Utah County
• There are ADA-accessible facilities at
  • Silver Lake at Brighton (USFS): A wooden walkway protects wetlands and provides wheelchair access
  • Salem Pond
  • Big East Reservoir (Payson Lakes — USFS)
• Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge: Located in Dugway, the refuge has two blinds designated for use by mobility-impaired hunters.

Northern Region

• The Northern Region office and hunter safety facility and the Cache Valley Public Shooting Range are ADA compliant.
• Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area: Physically challenged individuals can view elk at Hardware Ranch.
• Salt Creek Water Fowl Management Area has several handicap-accessible wildlife viewing sites, and continues to be improved.
• Woodruff Cooperative Wildlife Management Area (BLM/DWR 977-4300/479-5143) high desert wildlife may be viewed from turnouts along the highway, bring binoculars.
• Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge has wheelchair-accessible wildlife viewing and fishing locations.
• Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area hosts diverse wetland habitats that are vital for wildlife along the Great Salt Lake. Visitors can view migratory birds in March, May or August.
• Golden Spike National Historic Site has sagebrush and grasslands, which provide habitat for a wide variety of high desert species. Unique species include sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, and burrowing owl. More common species include northern harrier, American kestrel, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, ring-necked pheasant, meadowlark, raven, jackrabbit, badger, and mule deer. Call the visitor center at 435-471-2209 for more information.

Northeastern Region

• Most of DWR's Wildlife Management Areas in the Northeast Region have roads that allow wildlife viewing; however, there are no improved facilities in DWR management areas.
• DWR's Diamond Mountain Lakes have concrete boat ramps, ADA-accessible toilets, along with roads and parking lots enabling access for boaters and limited access to the water for anglers. 
• Wildlife through the Ages, a Flaming Gorge-Uintas scenic byway, features interpretive wayside pullouts, trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. Along the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway, cooperators are in the process of paving about half of the parking lots for this year. Nature trails have been built wide enough and sloped less than five percent so that wheel chairs can traverse them. These are surfaced with a road base mix of sand, clay and gravel. Bathroom facilities at several of these sites are ADA accessible. Plans also include a boardwalk at an undetermined site on Flaming Gorge, which could allow some limited fishing access in the near future.

Southern Region

• Lake Powell Wahweap Fishing Dock is a covered fishing dock.
• Pine Valley:, USFS 435-574-2949 — The Valley features meadowlands surrounded by ponderosa pine forest and mountain brush and juniper woodlands on the west side of the valley. Mule deer may be observed spring through fall. Jays, woodpeckers, songbirds, cottontail rabbits, red squirrels and chipmunks are common forest residents. American kestrels, northern harriers, and other hawks are also common. From St. George, drive north on Hwy. 18 for 25 miles to Central and turn east onto Forest Road 035. Begin viewing at the Dixie National Forest boundary. Drive 6.5 miles into Pine Valley and continue east another 2.3 miles to the east end of Ponderosa Campground and end of tour.
• Snow Canyon State Park: 435-628-2255 — A scenic canyon in a desert setting which includes some geologically significant sites. Featured reptiles include desert tortoise, gila monster, and other lizards and snakes. Songbirds, including a variety of hummingbird species, are abundant during the breeding season. The probability of seeing a gila monster or tortoise is small. Other species are commonly viewed spring through fall. Note: The desert tortoise is a federally listed species; do not disturb in any way. From St. George, drive north about 11 miles on Hwy. 18 and follow the signs.
• Zion National Park: 435-772-3256 — Paved walks and accessible visitor center. Zion Canyon of the North Fork of the Virgin River is a lush oasis in the harsh, desert environment which provides habitat for a variety of species. The diversity of habitat is enhanced by the 5,000-foot elevation change within the park. Mule deer are common, and bird species include golden eagle, dipper, pygmy owl, turkey, three species of nuthatch, and many more. The rare peregrine falcon and the Mexican spotted owl also inhabit the park. Beaver, antelope ground squirrel, ringtail, and porcupine also may be observed here. Other species include the canyon tree frog and the king snake. Viewing probability for mule deer, beaver, porcupine and a wide variety of songbirds is moderate to high. Species such as the peregrine falcon, Mexican spotted owl, and ringtail cat are rare. Park headquarters and the main visitor center are located on Hwy. 9, about one mile east of Springdale.