Highway Y Boat Landing

The boat landing, known locally as “Blackhawk Landing” or “Adler’s Landing,” is only about 12-14 minutes south of Sauk City. This is a truly special and quiet site to view perching or flying Bald Eagles along the Wisconsin River during the day. When present, eagles are easily viewed with binoculars in trees along the far bank no more than 200 yards away, directly across from the landing. The boat landing has a short circular drive allowing easy on and off access from Y. Parking is directly across from the boat landing on the south side of Y. Use caution if the landing is not yet plowed. Mazomanie Township has kindly provided the plowing of the boat landing for you. They do not normally plow the landing! Write them to say thank you.

This landing occurs where the river turns from heading southwest to heading due west. At this landing the river is cutting into, or eroding, the bank while on the opposite side of the river, it is adding sand to the channel. Eagles utilize this portion of the river for most of the winter. In times when the river has limited ice cover, this area represents the farthest up river eagles are likely to be. When the river is heavily ice-covered, this same point is close to the farthest down river point that eagles might occur.

By being important to eagles throughout the winter, this stretch of river is very important for eagle conservation. The Ferry Bluff State Natural Area (SNA), an important communal night roost for eagles, is located about 2.5 miles downstream from this point and on the north side of the river. Eagles frequently move between roost and foraging areas along this stretch of river all winter.

In addition, an eagle nest is located at Ferry Bluff SNA while a second eagle nest is located 1-2 miles up river. You are, therefore, standing in disputed territory! Watch for eagle encounters here and discern if they be aggressive or courtship. We think that many of our nesting eagles may reside here all year long. The first eagle eggs in the Sauk Prairie area are usually deposited by the end of February. Spring starts early for eagles. Please note that, to protect this eagle roost, Ferry Bluff SNA is CLOSED to visitation in the winter (December 1 to March 30).

• Ferry Bluff Eagle Council website