Bald eagles find refuge from cold winters in Canada and the Great Lakes by migrating south. With the waterways to our north freezing, the search for food takes these avian creatures into our region. Here's how to take advantage of the area's winter residents.

What You Need To Know

  • As waterways freeze to our north, eagles migrate south to the region in search of food

  • January through early March offers the best time to see eagles in the St. Louis region

  • Several places host interative events to educate about the eagles

Where and when to see the eagles?

The best viewing of the eagles is now through early March and while you may see eagles flying close to the Mississippi river, sites near Alton and Grafton, Illinois offer the best chances.

Several interactive events are hosted throughout January and February:

Alton Audubon Eagle Ice Fest In West Alton, MO on Jan. 7. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. enjoy educational activities about eagles, build a bald eagle’s nest and test your eagle skills.

Eagle Watch Party at Riverside Landing Park in St. Charles County from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8. Join park rangers at the scenic overlook at Riverside Landing Park to spot bald eagles. A toasty campfire for family fun.

Eagle Days on Feb. 11 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Audubon Center at Riverlands in West Alton, MO. Be sure to register for this event that features viewing eagles through spotting scopes and attend a live bald eagle program.

Self-guided tours

Audubon Center at Riverlands: This center’s mission is to connect people to the beauty and wildlife around the Mississippi River and the Great Rivers confluence. It's open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

National Great River Museum: If you haven’t been to this museum, it has a lot to offer including free public tours of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam and the history and importance of the Mississippi River. It’s also a great place to spot eagles fishing for an easy catch.

Great River Road: A scenic route between Grafton and Alton, Illinois, that’s close enough to the river for spotting eagles.

Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge: There are several trails for hiking at this stop. Located between the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, this is a great place to view not only eagles, but other migratory birds as well.

Each Saturday, beginning in January lasting through the month of February, the Grafton Visitor Center and Alton Visitor Center will both offer shuttle tours. The tours range from 45-minute to two-and-half-hour sessions. Tickets can be purchased online.

Pere Marquette Visitor Center: A park near Grafton offers numerous hiking trails and in mid-January will begin offering eagle-watching tours from mid-January through early March.

Other viewing areas outside of St. Louis

  • Lake of the Ozarks at Bagnell Dam Access, east of Bagnell
  • Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on Route K, southwest of Columbia
  • Lock & Dam 24 at Clarksville
  • Lock & Dam 25 east of Winfield
  • Mingo National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Puxico
  • Old Chain of Rocks Bridge south of I-270, off of Riverview Drive, St. Louis
  • Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary east of West Alton
  • Schell-Osage Conservation Area north of El Dorado Springs
  • Smithville Lake north of Kansas City
  • Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge south of Mound City
  • Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Sumner
  • Table Rock Lake and Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery southwest of Branson
  • Truman Reservoir west of Warsaw

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