Within the Chilkat Valley sits the 49,000-acre Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Important Bird Area (IBA). It’s home to the annual Alaska Bald Eagle Festival, and the Jilkaat Kwaan Cultural Heritage Center and Bald Eagle Preserve Observatory.  The preserve has the largest concentration of Bald Eagles in the United States, as several thousand eagles congregate in October and November for the late-season chum salmon run. The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve helps protect this important area and provides a good opportunity to view concentrations of eagles. There are several developed roadside pull-offs and parking areas along the Haines highway both north and south of Klukwan.

Directions:

From Klukwan drive north or south on the Haines Highway to find a roadside parking area along the river. Several good parking areas are located 2 miles south of Klukwan. From Haines, travel 19 miles north on the Haines Highway (State Highway 7) to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and associated roadside parking areas.

Birding Resources:

• eBird Hotspot:  Haines--Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve-eagle viewing area

Bird Species Checklist:

• Klukwan checklist

Other Resources: 

• Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Bald Eagle Preserve
• Alaska Department of Natural Resources: Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
• Jilkaat Kwaan Cultural Heritage and Bald Eagle Preserve Visitor Center