Nestled on the north end of the Great Salt Lake, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (MBR) is an incredible 125-square-mile sanctuary of wetland and upland habitats. First established in 1928, it provides a crucial oasis of food, water, and shelter for millions of migratory birds navigating the Pacific Flyway.
To help visitors explore and understand this vast landscape, our team at Wilderness Graphics was tasked with designing, fabricating, and installing a comprehensive suite of interpretive signage across the refuge. Working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), we aimed to create an educational experience that highlights how the refuge manages its resources to benefit both wildlife and the public.
Here is a look at what we accomplished for the Bear River MBR.
Updating the Welcome Experience
First impressions matter, especially when welcoming visitors to a sprawling natural habitat. We started by refreshing the main entrance experience.
Refurbished Entrance Signs: We repainted and clear-coated the existing double-sided concrete entrance signs, utilizing standard USFWS colors to ensure brand consistency and durability. We also installed fresh, high-quality logos on the signs.
Education Center Kiosks: At the Wildlife Education Center, we installed two distinct informational kiosks. The first was strategically placed at the main entrance, keeping it as close to the concrete as possible to ensure full wheelchair accessibility. A second kiosk was installed at the accessible entrance, providing seamless wayfinding and refuge maps (complete with brochure boxes) for all guests.
Educating on the Trail and Auto Tour Route (ATR)
The true highlight for many visitors to Bear River is the 12-mile Auto Tour Route (ATR), which allows guests to view wetlands and wildlife from the comfort of their vehicles. We developed a series of interpretive panels to guide them along the way.
The core theme woven throughout the ATR signage was simple but powerful: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge manages resources to benefit wildlife and the quality of your life.
To tell this story, we fabricated and installed custom signs across multiple locations:
Education Center Trailhead: A welcoming sign introducing the nature trails that wind through the upland and wetland habitats.
Auto Tour Kiosk & Overlook: At the beginning of the drive, visitors are greeted by an introductory map and directions. We also installed specialized Aluminum Wayside Exhibit Mount signs and Aluminum rail signs at the overlook deck.
Auto Tour Stops 3 through 7: As visitors drive the route, they encounter a series of our Aluminum Wayside Exhibit Mount interpretive panels. These signs cover diverse topics, from the importance of the wetlands to an explanation of the midges that serve as a crucial food source for the birds.
Auto Tour Observation Platform: We installed custom rail signs on the observation platform, allowing visitors to read about the surrounding ecosystem while looking out over the water.
Bilingual and Accessible Design
To ensure the refuge’s message reaches as wide an audience as possible, many of the welcoming materials and interpretive panels were designed bilingually in English and Spanish. From "Welcome to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge" (Bienvenido al Refugio de aves migratorias de Bear River) to "Connect with the Refuge" (Conéctese con el Refugio), the signage invites diverse communities to explore the trails, education center, and auto tour route.
The Impact
Water is the lifeblood of Bear River MBR. Through carefully designed interpretive panels like Offering an Oasis and Managing Wetlands for Wildlife, we helped the USFWS explain the delicate balance of clean water, clean air, and open space that makes this refuge so vital.
Whether visitors are learning about the spring runoff or scanning the horizon for migratory flocks from the Bob Ebeling and Lee Shirley Wildlife Viewing Tower, the new signage provides the context needed to truly appreciate this Utah treasure.
Are you looking to elevate the visitor experience at your park, refuge, or nature center?
Contact Wilderness Graphics today to discuss your next interpretive signage project.