From the Divide Road, many side roads and trails access the various habitats, which include pinyon/juniper, Gambel oak, ponderosa pine, aspen, and spruce/fir at the highest elevation. Dusky Grouse, Northern Goshawk, Flammulated Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Common Poorwill, Purple Martin, Grace's Warbler, and Fox Sparrow nest in the forest habitats, and Casto Reservoir supports large populations of nesting waterfowl and grebes. Peregrine Falcons love to hunt here. In August and early September, large mixed flocks of migrating passerines use this landmass as a staging area for their flights farther to the south. When traveling onto the plateau, start with a full tank of gas, good maps, the basic emergency supplies, and sufficient food and water—there are no services. The Divide Road is graveled, but might not be passable until late May due to mud, snow, and locked gates. Camping is available in several no-fee Uncompahgre National Forest campgrounds on a first-come, first-served basis. Delta, Grand Junction, and Montrose are the best bets for traveler needs, such as food, gasoline, and comfortable beds.

Habitat: Pinyon-Juniper Forest, Scrub Oak Forest, Ponderosa Forest, Aspen Grove, Spruce-Fir Forest

Directions: From Whitewater on US-50 southeast of Grand Junction, take Colorado 141 west for 15 miles. Turn left onto Divide Road (FR 402), switchback up the plateau, and continue to Montrose County. Casto Reservoir – take FR 403 three miles west. Divide Road stays on top of the plateau for most of its length, at times exceeding 9,000 feet elevation. Several interesting side roads lead off the plateau: Other high-clearance forest roads connect to highways in the valleys, but be aware of weather and road conditions before attempting them.

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