WHERE TO SEE EAGLES

Eagles feed along the river in the early morning. On cloudy, rainy days, in late morning and early afternoon, eagles roost along the river. On sunny days, they tend to soar over the valley.

Four places to begin your eagle watching adventure are:

The Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center
Located in Rockport, WA in Howard Miller Steelhead Park, open 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. We lead guided nature walks to eagle watching sites along the Skagit River at 11:00am and 1:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays (see our schedule). The Center features a Nature Store, Children’s Corner, informational videos, replica eagle’s nest, and directions to the Eagle Watcher sites. Stop at the Interpretive Center and find out exactly where to go during your visit to see bald eagles on the Skagit River.

Howard Miller Steelhead Park, Rockport
Located near the Interpretive Center, the park is accessible from Alfred Street in Rockport, or from State Route 530, near the bridge over the Skagit River. The Eagle Watcher staff is set up in the park near the bridge. The best vantage point is from the bridge, looking upstream to gravel bars, and the trees along the river. Please, use the sidewalk on the bridge to stay out of the road. The Park has interpretive displays, flush toilets, a boat ramp, water, tent and RV camping with hookups, and a waste removal site for RV’s. Hiking trails at the west end of the camping areas lead to more riverside viewing sites.

Milepost 100 Rest Area, at Sutter Creek on State Route 20
The Skagit River runs directly next to this popular site affording the visitor a great view of feeding areas on the gravel bars on the south side of the river. The site offers plenty of parking, picnic tables, a boat launch, and interpretive displays. The forests on the mountainside are a prime eagle night-roosting site.

Bald Eagle Natural Area on Martin Road
A State Fish and Wildlife viewing site on Martin Road, off SR 530, just south of the Skagit River bridge. The sun will be behind you. Consider helping support the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) programs by purchasing a “Watchable Wildlife” decal.

These locations have trash cans, restroom facilities, ample parking, great staff and great views of eagles! See our Eagle Watching tips to prepare yourself for this experience

Other locations worth visiting in the upper Skagit Valley:

Washington Eddy, Rockport (Milepost 99, SR 20)
Please note that trees and vegetation have grown up to obscure river viewing at this site. It is no longer staffed by Eagle Watcher volunteers and the interpretive displays have been removed. It remains a great bird watching area and features a large beaver lodge.

The North Cascades National Park Visitor Center in Newhalem 
(The visitor center is closed in the winter). To visit the North Cascades Visitor Center continue on Highway 20 passed Marblemount for about 16 miles to Newhalem (use caution as icey conditions are more common north of Marblemount). The Visitor Center has interpretive exhibits on the formation of the North Cascade mountain range and Skagit Valley, native plants, and hands-on exhibits for children. Check out the Park film, slideshow, bookstore, and souvenir shop. There are miles of easy and accessible trails near the Visitor Center that will take you through old growth forest and close to the Skagit River, Bald Eagles, and spawned-out Salmon. A 300 foot walk from the Visitor Center leads to an incredible view of the mighty Pickett Range.

While in Newhalem, it is worthwhile to visit Gorge Powerhouse. Walk out on the suspension bridge over the Skagit River and you are likely to see hundreds of salmon swimming around wondering why they can go no further. Above the powerhouse, the entire Skagit River flows through a tunnel from the Gorge Dam several miles upstream. Continue across the bridge to begin a short but delightful walk to the roaring waterfall on Ladder Creek.