Upper Wisconsin Eagle Watch Tour

Entries on This Tour

1. Tour 1 - Upper Wisconsin River Eagle Watch Tour

The Eagle Watch Tour is composed of two sections, both of which start at the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce.Tour 1 covers the upper Wisconsin River, and can be accessed at: https://theclio.com/tour/1721Tour 2 covers the lower Wisconsin River, and can be accessed at: https://theclio.com/tour/2391Each section takes 1-3 hours to circumnavigate, and the Chamber of Commerce is the starting point for both sections. You may choose to take the sections one-at-a-time or complete two sections in one day, depending on your availability and conditions. Suggested driving routes from one tour stop to the next are shown, but feel free to visit tour stops in any order. The Chamber office does have bathrooms available but only during normal business hours (M-F, 8 A.M. – 4 P.M.). The lobby, where the nest and information is available, is open every day 8 A.M. – 8 P.M. Please call 608-643-4168 or visit www.saukprairie.com for more information.

2. Sauk City River Walk And Spotting Scope

The River Walk and spotting scope in Sauk City, located just a block north of the Hwy. 12 bridge off Water Street, offers a panoramic view of the river and the eagles’ flyway up and down the river. Occasionally, they also can be spotted perched in trees across the river, but this is mainly the eagles’ interstate for movement between perching up and down river. Ducks, geese, and gulls also like the sheltered shores of the river here. The parking area here is open any time.

3. Prairie du Sac Eagle Island Overlook

The Eagle Island Overlook provides an excellent opportunity to watch eagles soaring, perching, and fishing. The trees on the island offer eagles an ideal place to perch and forage. Use the available spotting scopes to see perched eagles more clearly. Numerous eagles often perch on the island trees simultaneously, occasionally taking wing to fish or move on. Eagles also perch on shoreline trees across the river, as well as flying up river over the Hwy. 60 bridge toward the dam, or down river. The Overlook has undergone an extensive remodeling in 2020 and access may be limited until spring, 2021. The parking lot is open at any time.

4. Tripp Heritage Museum

Tripp Heritage Museum, a co-sponsor of Bald Eagle Watching Days, provides a fun and diverse opportunity for birdwatching of another kind. Located a half block from Eagle Island Overlook, it is home to a bird collection of more than 300 mounted individuals. The Tripp explores nature, culture, and heritage of Sauk Prairie, including an exhibit of a 7,000 year old bison skull found in the Wisconsin River just below the dam by a local boy. The Tripp Heritage Museum is currently open for visits or research by appointment only. Please call 608-644-8444 or e-mail at spahs@frontier.com to schedule a time and learn about our COVID rules.

5. VFW Campground

The VFW Campground rests on the shores of the Wisconsin River just off Water St., in Prairie du Sac, and almost a mile south of the dam. Its ample parking area allows eagle watchers to sit in their vehicles anywhere near the river shore. Views of the up river dam and the Hwy 12/60 bridge down river are excellent. The shoreline on the opposite shore is undeveloped so eagles can perch and actively forage while perching by watching for food to float by. Perching more conserves energy in winter. The parking lot is open at any time.

6. Alliant Energy Dam

Located north of Prairie du Sac and off Hwy 78 on Dam Road, this 100-year-old hydro-electric dam serves as important Bald Eagle habitat in the Sauk Prairie area. Alliant Energy provides a parking lot adjacent to the river, ideal for eagle watching as long as you stay in your vehicle. From the parking lot, you can see eagles fly over the river, diving toward the water to obtain fish or perching in trees while waiting for the next piece of food to float by. The parking lot is available any time.

7. Wollersheim Winery and Distillery

Wollersheim Winery and Distillery is located on the east side of the river, just across from the Eagle Island Overlook, and offers the opportunity to watch eagles soaring above Sugar Loaf Bluff or flying into Sugar Loaf Roost. The roost is located just over the hill behind (east) of the winery. Eagles can be seen soaring above the bluffs here, especially on colder days when the river has frozen down stream. Parking is available in Wollersheim’s large parking lot off Hwy. 188, less than a mile south of Hwy.60, and viewing areas are a short walk up the hill behind the entry to the winery. The business is open daily but check the website for exact open hours as they may change due to COVID. The parking lot is only accessible when the business is open.

This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.

Upper Wisconsin Eagle Watch Tour

Created by Mark Polczynski on December 2nd 2020, 9:24:30 pm.

This tour has been viewed 7508 times.

Get a QR Code for this tour

Description

Tour Part 1: https://theclio.com/tour/1721 Welcome to the Upper Wisconsin River Wintering Eagle Watch Tour! If you have not landed upon this link directly from the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council website (www.ferrybluffeaglecouncil.org) you might consider going there first to better understand why we have split the self-guided tour into two parts. This is part 1 of 2. If the river is full of ice, visit the upriver sections which remain open because of the dam at Prairie du Sac (Tour Part 1 - this tour). If the river is open, visit the downriver sections (Tour Part 2: https://theclio.com/tour/2391). At any time, enjoy your viewing of eagles and appreciate just how dynamic eagle distribution can be in winter! Note that you are outside in winter so please dress accordingly.

BESbswy

Entries on This Tour

Upper Wisconsin Eagle Watch Tour

Description

Share