8 Great Places to See Eagles Near St. Louis

By Riverfront Times Staff on Fri, Jan 20, 2017 at 8:13 pm

It's the beginning of the year, which means a few things in St. Louis: freaking out about the slightest hint of snow, pining for warmer days (we're looking at you, baseball fans) and eagle watching. Our national bird migrates to area waterways between January and March for prime fishing opportunities -- which means you can see of these majestic creatures for yourself. Grab the binoculars, dress warmly and head to one of these eagle hot spots near St. Louis. You have some serious bird watching to do.

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Klondike Park
4600 S. Missouri 94
Augusta, MO 63332
Estimated drive time: 55 minutes. Directions here.

There are plenty of reasons to like Klondike Park -- it's not especially far, it has a nice view, and it has adorable cabins if you want to spend the night. Photo courtesy of Flickr / George Shao.

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Thanks to its proximity to the Missouri River, Klondike Park is also a good spot for possible eagle sightings. Get your camera ready. Photo by Kelly Glueck.

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Pere Marquette State Park
13112 Visitor Center Ln.
Grafton, IL 62037
Estimated drive time: 1 hour, 2 minutes. Directions here.

A trip to Pere Marquette State Park is a treat for all ages. The kids (and kids at heart) love the Bald Eagle Days, which are programs where you can learn all you ever wanted to know about eagles and participate in an observational drive to see them. Photo courtesy of Instagram / gavin_c_leach.

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Reservations are required for Pere Marquette's Bald Eagle Days. A list of dates and instructions for reservations are here. Photo courtesy of Flickr / Eric Bueneman.

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Fort Belle Fontaine County Park
13002 Bellefontaine Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63138
Estimated drive time: 32 minutes. Directions here.

Fort Belle Fontaine is definitely a history lesson -- it was the first United States military installation west of the Mississippi. Exploring the structures, which are remarkably still intact, are reason enough to visit. Photo courtesy of Instagram / blmstl.

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If you need another reason to bundle up and trek to Fort Belle Fontaine this time of year, however, it also happens to be an eagle hangout. The three-mile Lewis & Clark Interpretative Trail is also a manageable distance for hiking during the colder months. Photo by Kelly Glueck.

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Lewis and Clark Trails
Weldon Spring Conservation Area
6990 S. Missouri 94
St. Charles, MO 63304
Estimated drive time: 46 minutes. Directions here.

These trails are a bit lengthy for winter, but they offer wonderful views of the Missouri River. And where there's a river, there's likely to be -- you guessed it -- eagles. Photo courtesy of Instagram / will_snyder12.

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The historic Lewis trail is 8.3 miles, and the Clark trail is 5.3 miles -- so be prepared if you're looking to hike in the cold. Both are located in the Weldon Spring Conservation Area. Isn't the view beautiful? Photo courtesy of Instagram / blmstl.

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Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary
301 Riverlands Way
West Alton, MO 63386
Estimated drive time: 37 minutes. Directions here.

Fun fact: You have the possibility of seeing a bald eagle at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary any time of year, because both resident and migrant eagles use the sanctuary. However, those chances are higher in the winter. Photo courtesy of Instagram / jenng_77.

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If you're really not into the cold, this may be your place for eagle sightings. The best place to see eagles at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary is actually inside the Audubon Center, where you can use one of the high-powered scopes to scout out the birds that perch above Ellis Bay. Photo courtesy of Instagram / lisa_branscum_shaw.

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Chain of Rocks Bridge
Riverview Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63137
Estimated drive time: 23 minutes. Directions here.

Eagles are attracted to the Chain of Rocks rapids, which are to the south of the Chain of Rocks Bridge. These open waters are ideal for eagles to search for fish, which is their food of choice. Photo by Kelly Glueck.

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Eagle Days at the Chain of Rocks Bridge have already passed for 2017; however, they're something to look out for in the future. These special events include a live eagle education program, a replica of an eagle's nest, Lewis and Clark reenactors and more. Photo by Kelly Glueck.

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The Nature Institute
2213 S. Levis Ln.
Godfrey, IL 62035
Estimated drive time: 48 minutes. Directions here.

Want another indoors option for eagle viewing? Try the Nature Institute. While the trails at the Nature Institute are closed from January to March, you're welcome to look for eagles from inside the Nature Institute office, where telescopes and binoculars are available. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock/Tony Campbell.

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The Nature Institute also holds winter weather events such as Owl Prowls and maple tapping. You can keep up with events at The Nature Institute all year round here. Photo courtesy of Instagram / ncashdollar

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Ted Shanks Conservation Area
3643 Pike 145
Ashburn, MO 63433
Estimated drive time: 1 hour, 41 minutes. Directions here.

We know, we know, it's farther than the others. But hey, we just gave you an excuse for a road trip. Ted Shanks Conservation Area is a good place for bird watching in general, and eagles are one of the birds to seek out. Photo courtesy of Instagram / jcsblogger.

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In the right conditions, the eagle population at Ted Shanks Conservation Area can top as many as 100 eagles. Prime time to see them is usually late January to early March. Happy bird watching! Photo courtesy of Flickr / DenSmith.

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