Proceeds from the Colorado Lottery, through Great Outdoors Colorado, help fund Colorado's Watchable Wildlife Program.

And, from John Koshak, southeast region Watchable Wildlife coordinator, here's a list of the 10 "best" places to watch wildlife in Colorado:

1. Rocky Mt. National Park, Estes Park
2. Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area, Weston
3. Dinosaur National Monument, Dinosaur
4. Alamosa/Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, Alamosa
5. Navajo Lake State Park, Arboles
6. Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway, Rio Grande National Forest, South Fork to Lake City
7. Picketwire Canyonmanche National Grasslands, La Junta
8. Rocky Mt. Arsenal National Wildlife Refugemmerce City
9. Cheyenne Mt. State Parklorado Springs
10. Cottonwood Pass, San Isabel National Forest, Almont to Buena Vista
    

Site Number 49

Description: The Mount Evans Highway is the highest paved road in the United States. The 14-mile drive from Echo Lake to the summit parking area offers spectacular scenic views as well as dependable wildlife viewing opportunities. Plan on three to four hours to complete the round trip. Good tundra viewing in close proximity to a major metropolitan area. The road ends just before the 14,264-foot summit of Mount Evans. The paved highway is extremely narrow and winding; use caution when stopping to view animals. The road is closed by snow early fall through late spring. Stay on trails around Summit Lake to protect delicate vegetation. For your safety and the protection of wildlife, do not feed or approach animals. The USES visitor center in Idaho Springs has self-guiding interpretive materials.

Viewing information: Beginning at Echo Lake at 10,700 feet, the first few miles of the highway traverse high-elevation forest, home to chickarees, dusky grouse, gray jays, and Clark's nutcrackers. Many songbirds move to this zone in late summer because of abundant food resources. The 1.1-mile trail at the Mount Goliath Natural Area passes through a stand of gnarled bristlecone pine, among the oldest living organisms on earth. Good views from here of elk in meadows and on open slopes. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep often visible on or near the road. Watch rocky slopes above timberline for mountain goats. At Summit Lake a short trail leads along the lake to an overlook with a good chance to see or hear pikas, ptarmigan, marmots, American pipits, and brown-capped rosy finches. Wildflowers are abundant.

Ownership: City of Denver, USFS (303/567-2901)
Size: 14 miles, one way
Closest town: Idaho Springs, 11.25 miles; restaurants, lodging

Description: A driving tour along a spectacular scenic byway through the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado, traveling across some of Colorado's most spectacular mountain passes. The route passes through diverse habitats, including agricultural areas, oakbrush, willow riparian, aspen forests, spruce-fir forest, mountain meadows, wet, high-elevation meadows, rocky mountain slopes, alpine tundra. Outstanding scenic views.

Viewing information: Fall through spring elk are abundant. Watch for them in open areas and along the Animas River, a good place also for bald eagles in winter. Canada geese resident along the river. Foxes are sometimes seen and occasionally black bears in the warm months. Summer excellent for birding. Nearly 60 percent of Colorado's breeding bird species can be seen in the diverse habitats along the route. Golden eagles, goshawks, and red-tailed hawks can be seen in summer soaring overhead. At lakes along the highway you may see osprey in flight or perched in trees. Watch also for mountain bluebirds and kestrels. Boreal owls numerous in spruce-fir forests, though rarely seen.

Ownership: USFS (970/884-2512), PVT, county
Size: 236-mile loop
Closest town: Durango, Silverton, Telluride, Dolores, Cortez; lodging, restaurants
More info: Maps and information available at San Juan National Forest supervisor's office in Durango and at Mancos-Dolores ranger district office in Dolores. Forest Service and BLM visitor centers in Silverton, Mancos, Dolores, and Durango offer checklists and other information in the summer months. Also www.coloradobyways.org. 

Site Number 53

Description: An open site above the town of Morrison atop the Dakota Ridge stretching north and south along the Front Range west of Denver. Beginning at the parking lot at the southeast corner of Interstate 70 and Colorado Highway 26, take the trail to the top of the hogback. The observation site is about a half-hour walk from the parking lot—a steep, 0.25-mile hike. Good views of migrating raptors and the Denver metro area to the east. Volunteers assist visitors March to mid-May. You may also access the trail from the parking area for Matthews/Winters Open Space Park, across Highway 26.

Viewing information: Migration corridor for a variety of raptors. More than 3,500 birds, representing 17 species, can be seen in an eight-week period in spring. Watch for eagles and hawks. Later in April look for hawks, kestrels, merlins, and falcons. Turkey vultures and ospreys are often visible.

Ownership: Jefferson County Open Space, RMBO, Lookout Mountain Nature Center 720/497-7600
Size: 0.25-mile, one way
Closest town: Morrison, 4.75 miles; restaurants, lodging
More info: www.co.jefferson.co.us/openspace

Site Number 10

Description: Small prairie reservoir surrounded by agricultural land. Reservoir water level fluctuates. Below the dam is a cattail wetland, with some willow and cottonwood.

Viewing information: Watch for pheasants and wild turkeys in upland areas. Usually good opportunity to see waterfowl on the reservoir: mallards, pintails, coots, canvasbacks, wigeons, Canada and occasional snow geese. Concentrations of up to 130 white pelicans can be seen in spring and fall. In low water years there may be some shorebirds. Great blue herons are frequently seen. Golden eagles, Swainson's and red-tailed hawks in migration. Songbirds in riparian areas. Good viewing of grassland songbirds—meadowlarks, lark buntings—and riparian songbirds among cottonwoods and willows in spring and summer. Watch for nighthawks and turkey vultures. White-tailed and mule deer fairly common.

Ownership: DOW 719/227-5200
Size: 400 acres
Closest town: Flagler, 3.75 miles