It’s Bald Eagle Season in Carson Valley!
If spotting a bald eagle in the wild is on your bucket list, then pack up your binoculars and head over to Carson Valley (visitcarsonvalley.org) this winter. Located about an hour south of Reno, this Western Nevada area sees a huge influx of the raptors from December to February – and it’s all because of the cattle. More specifically, it’s all because it’s calf birthing season, as the cow placentas provide a tasty high-protein treat for the massive birds.
And although some folks hike backcountry trails to see the visiting raptors, the birds can be found anywhere there are cattle during this time of year – and that includes right along the roads where you can get some eye-popping windshield views. That’s good news for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, as that’s just one of several accessible ways to catch a glimpse of these Carson Valley seasonal visitors.
Wheelchair-Accessible Eagle Viewing
A good place for wheelchair-users and slow walkers to spot bald eagles is at River Fork Ranch (www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/river-fork-ranch). Managed by the Nature Conservancy, this diverse nature preserve consists of a patchwork of pastures, meadows and wetlands, located at the convergence of the east and west forks of the Carson River, near Genoa. Even better, this 800-acre parcel is both a nature preserve and a working cattle ranch — and where there are cattle, there are eagles.
Accessible parking is located near the Whit Hill Interpretive Center, which is usually open for scheduled events and school visits. From the parking area there’s ramp access up to the large wrap-around deck, which is an excellent vantage point for eagle viewing.
There’s also a short trail that begins near the back of the deck, that may be doable for some wheelchair-users and slow walkers. This .75-mile hard-packed dirt trail winds through the grasslands and along the river. Although the trail is level, there are a few bumps along the way, and at times it’s only about two-feet wide. And if you’d like to take a break and scan the horizon for eagles, there are also a few benches near the river. Although not technically wheelchair-accessible, this trail will work for many folks, so give it a try — you can always turn back if you encounter impassable obstacles.
Another place to spot bald eagles is right along State Route 88, near the Dangberg Home Ranch(dangberghomeranch.org) in Minden. Cattle pastures line both sides of the road, and it’s not unusual to see the eagles sitting on fence posts or chowing down in the pastures. And the great part about this site is that you can just pull over and enjoy it all from the comfort of your own car.
So get ready to enjoy Carson Valley during eagle season. It’s sure to be a memorable bucket list experience.
