Sylvan Lake itself is pretty, but not particularly attractive to birds. The forest around it is mixed-conifer with lots of lodgepole. Downstream (north) from the lake are some streamside willows with potential for Fox and Lincoln's Sparrows and Swainson's Thrush.

South of Sylvan Lake up the same road is Crooked Creek Pass, which has great spruce-fir forest to the west and aspen to the east. To the south, two small mountain lakes just might turn something up: Crooked Creek Reservoir, which is right next to the road, and Woods Lake, which you must drive a couple miles down a side road and hike a short distance to scan. The area around Woods Lake has more spruce-fir, aspen and mixed conifers.

Up the Fulford Fork, another drainage below the state park, is probably the best birding in the area. The lower portion of the Fulford Road is technically part of the state park and requires a parking fee. Along the road you will find a good dipper stream flowing through lots of Narrowleaf Cottonwood, aspen and alder. Farther us is excellent aspen that may have Flammulated Owl. The Fulford Cave Campground at the end of the road accesses some very nice montane forests that include spruce-fir.

Habitat: Lake, Streamside Willow, Mixed-Conifer Forest, Aspen Grove, Spruce-Fir Forest

Directions: From the Eagle exit off I-70 (Exit 147), head south and take the first right off the roundabout. Turn left onto Broadway, then left onto 5th Street, then right on Capitol. Turn left at the stop sign, then take your first right onto Brush Creek Road. At five miles you will encounter a fork in the road; to get to the Fulford area, go left; to get to Sylvan Lake itself and Crooked Creek Pass, go right.

Acknowledgments: Hotspot information was originally compiled on Birding Colorado, a service of Colorado Field Ornithologists. CFO thanks all the original contributors.