Wheelchair-Accessible Bald Eagle Viewing Sites
Winter is bald eagle migration time across the US. Every year these majestic birds head south, in search of viable winter food sources. And the good news is, they return to the same food sources year after year; so once you identify that food source you have a good chance of spotting them in mass during the winter exodus. Of course timing is everything when it come to spotting bald eagles, but to increase your odds, here are a few popular sites they return to time and time again. Even better, these sites are all doable locations for most wheelchair-users and slow walkers.
Lake Coeur d’Alene
Located about 40 miles east of Spokane off of Interstate 90, Lake Coeur d’Alene (https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/coeur-d-alene-parkway/) is a popular Idaho stop for the bald eagle migrants. In fact they return yearly to feast on the spawning kokanee salmon found in Wolf Lodge Bay.
One of the best bald eagle viewing sites is Higgens Point, which is located on the north shore of the bay. Just take exit 15 off of Interstate 90 east, then follow East Coeur d’ Alene Lake Drive for about 6 miles, until it dead ends at the final parking area along the lakeshore. Although there’s no accessible parking in this lot, there’s plenty of room to parallel park near the end or on the side. Alternatively there’s accessible parking available at the parking area before the boat launch.
From the end of the road a wide level paved trail leads a quarter-mile over to Higgens Point, which offers an excellent vantage point of Wolf Lodge Bay. There’s a wheelchair-height viewing scope and a bench to sit and rest. Keep your eye out for eagles overhead, across the bay and in the forest. And if you’ve lucky you’ll see them drop down and grab a bite to eat from the lake. Even if you can’t manage the trail, you can still get a gander at the eagles from the parking area, or even along the drive. The eagles are usually in residence from November to February, with peak populations near the end of December and the beginning of January.
Carson Valley
Another good bald eagle viewing site is Carson Valley, which is located southwest of Lake Tahoe, just over the Nevada state line. The food source that attracts the eagles here are cattle placentas. And since the cattle give birth from December to February, that’s when you’ll find the eagles there.
State Route 88 is lined with cattle pastures, and a good choice if you don’t want to get out of your car. The strip of road near the Dangberg Ranch in Minden is usually an active site, and it’s not unusual for the eagles to perch on fence posts or chow down on the placentas in the adjacent pastures. And since you can enjoy the show from the comfort of your own vehicle, you don’t have to worry about access.
Another 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) — a combination nature preserve and working cattle ranch. Located off Highway 206 in Genoa, this 800 acre parcel boasts a patchwork of pastures, meadows and wetlands.
There’s accessible parking next to the Whit Hill Interpretive Center, and ramp access up to the porch. Even if the interpretive center is closed, the large wrap-around porch is an excellent vantage point for spotting the eagles in the nearby pastures. Alternatively the .75-mile trail that begins near the back deck may work for some folks. The trail is fairly level, but there are more than a few bumps along the way; and at times it’s only two-feet wide. Still it may work for some slow walkers, and you can always turn around if it’s too much for you.
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
Last but certainly not least, the old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which crosses the Mississippi River and connects Granite City, IL to St. Louis, MO, is another good bald eagle viewing site. This historic bridge was once part of iconic Route 66, but after the new interstate was built traffic dramatically decreased on the old Chain of Rocks Bridge. It was finally closed to vehicle traffic in 1968, and today it’s strictly a pedestrian bridge.
The big eagle food source at this location is the abundance of fish in the waters of the Mississippi River. The rapids, which are located just south of the bridge, offer the perfect fishing waters for the eagles. And that’s why this site has one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in North America.
Although technically there are parking areas on both sides of the bridge, the lot on the Missouri side is closed indefinitely because of the high incidence of vandalism and theft in that area. And although you might be tempted to park along the street, it’s not advised, as vehicles left unattended are usually vandalized. The Granite City parking lot, located at 4205 Chains of Rocks Road, is the preferred parking location.
Accessible parking is available in the Granite City parking lot, with level access over to the bridge on the quarter-mile Chouteau Island Nature Trail. It’s about a half-mile roll to the center of the bridge, and if you’re feeling ambitious you can go all the way to the Missouri side. Keep your eyes peeled to the south for feeding eagles, and along the shore for roosting ones. The birds usually show up in December and depart in early February. As an added bonus, the bridge also offers a nice view of the St. Louis skyline.
