Near Sandy in Salt Lake County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Rocky Mountain Goat Lookout
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Photographed by Connor Olson, April 17, 2021
1. Rocky Mountain Goat Lookout Marker
Inscription.
Rocky Mountain Goat Lookout. Little Cottonwood Canyon. The Twin Peaks Wilderness Area to the north and the Lone Peak Wilderness Area to the south are home to approximately 150 Rocky Mountain goats. Although native to North America, few Rocky survived at the time of Utah's settlement. The Rocky Mountain goat herd in this canyon, known as the Lone Peak population, is the result of an initial transplant by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources from the state of Washington in 1967.
Largely out of view above the timberline in the summer months, goats are frequently observed nearby high on the jagged rocks during the winter. Usually seen in groups of less than ten animals, a glimpse of Rocky Mountain goats is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Try to spot goats with the naked eye on the steep slopes, benches and ledges that surround you and then use the telescope to gain a magnified view of these incredible animals.
Rocky Mountain goats stand three to three and one-half feet at the shoulder and weigh from one hundred to three hundred pounds as adults. Off-white, long fur, a definite beard, short, smooth horns (that curve slightly backward) and black hooves describe male and female.
Rocky Mountain goats are part grazers and part browsers, feeding upon moss, lichens, berries, shrubs and trees that dot the rocky crags near timberline and where these ace mountaineers secure protection from predators and the weather. These surefooted rock climbers have a spongy padding on the underside of each hoof which helps them "stick" to sheer surfaces. The ability of Rocky Mountain goats to survive freezing temperatures and howling winds in hazardous terrain is amazing!
The Twin Peaks Wilderness Area to the north and the Lone Peak Wilderness Area to the south are home to approximately 150 Rocky Mountain goats. Although native to North America, few Rocky survived at the time of Utah's settlement. The Rocky Mountain goat herd in this canyon, known as the Lone Peak population, is the result of an initial transplant by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources from the state of Washington in 1967.
Largely out of view above the timberline in the summer months, goats are frequently observed nearby high on the jagged rocks during the winter. Usually seen in groups of less than ten animals, a glimpse of Rocky Mountain goats is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Try to spot goats with the naked eye on the steep slopes, benches and ledges that surround you and then use the telescope to gain a magnified view of these incredible animals.
Rocky Mountain goats stand three to three and one-half feet at the shoulder and weigh from one hundred to three hundred pounds as adults. Off-white, long fur, a definite beard, short, smooth horns (that curve slightly backward) and black hooves describe male and female.
Rocky Mountain goats are part grazers and part browsers, feeding upon moss, lichens, berries,
shrubs and trees that dot the rocky crags near timberline and where these ace mountaineers secure protection
from predators and the weather. These surefooted rock climbers have a spongy padding on the underside
of each hoof which helps them "stick" to sheer surfaces. The ability of Rocky Mountain goats to survive
freezing temperatures and howling winds in hazardous terrain is amazing!
Erected by US
Click or scan to see this page online
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Salt Lake County; Division of Wildlife Resources, State of Utah Natural Resources.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Animals.
Location. 40° 34.357′ N, 111° 46.498′ W. Marker is near Sandy, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is on Utah Route 209 near Route 210. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4415 East Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, Sandy UT 84092, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Wasatch Front and in Greater Salt Lake. It is also in the American Mountain West and in Colorado Plateau. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Welcome to the Temple Quarry Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Temple Granite Quarry (within shouting distance of this
Also see . . . Rocky Mountain Goats. A video showing the Rocky Mountain Goat. (Submitted on April 29, 2021.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2021, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,192 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2021, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A close-up readable photo of the marker. •
A wide area view of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?
