two eagles fly near each other

Where and How to Photograph Bald Eagles in Washington

During Washington’s winter, when the mountains are snow-covered and my normal hiking trails are inaccessible, I love to photograph wildlife. Bald eagles, owls, herons, hawks, and plenty of other animals are plentiful, keeping one busy during our cold seasons.

But for today, I wanted to focus on photographing bald eagles in Washington and help people who enjoy birding and photography seek them out and land some cool photos.

Inside, you’ll find some of the best places to photograph bald eagles, gear suggestions, and photo tips.

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Photographing Bald Eagles in Washington

Where to Aim Your Cameras

Near Mt. Baker on the Nooksack River

One of the top places to photograph bald eagles in Washington is about 20 minutes to the east of Bellingham in the small town of Welcome. (You’ve likely driven through it on your way to Mt. Baker without even knowing it.)

If you’re heading toward Artist Point, take a right on Mosquito Lake Rd. and drive a minute or two to the bridge. This is the best place to set up and see what’s happening.

a juvenile bald eagle flies off from a branch in washington
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch

Skagit Valley

The Skagit Valley is a preeminent place for wildlife and bird photography.

On our afternoon out here, I saw dozens of eagles in trees throughout the area, along with hundreds of snow geese, blue herons, harrier hawks, and short-eared owls. There are a lot of places to stop, including Fish and Wildlife Refuges, the side of the road, and different grasslands.

a bald eagle sits high in a tree branch in the skagit valley
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch

Here are a few places I’d focus on, but once you get out here, you’ll see that eagles, birds, or owls can be anywhere.

Skagit and Sauk River Near Rockport

One of the popular places to see bald eagles in Washington is near the Skagit River and Sauk River merge. Specifically, Howard Miller Steelhead Park and Rockport State Park have a high concentration of birds that flock to the confluence of the two rivers to eat salmon.

On the weekends during the winter, the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center offers twice-daily tours and the ability to ask questions.

an adult bald eagle screeches towards the heavens
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch

How to see them here:

  • Walk out onto the bridge over the Skagit River
  • Take a walk through Howard Miller Steelhead Park
  • Walk east on the Sauk River Trail (went about two miles out, generally flat)
  • Drive to the Sutter Creek Rest area (four minutes from HMSP). You can’t move around much here, but I saw a few eagles in the trees.
  • Before you cross the bridge over the Skagit River, pull onto Martin Road, and you’ll be able to get down to the water level. (See image below.)

My thoughts:

I was a bit disappointed in what I saw here. Yes, I saw 8-10 bald eagles, but none were close enough to photograph well. So, I left a bit empty-handed. You would have been very pleased if you had only gone to view with binoculars.

More Places to See Bald Eagles in Washington

Photography Tips for Nailing the Bald Eagle Shot

Time of Day

Generally speaking, dawn and dusk are when most wildlife is active. But that’s less of a hard and fast rule for bald eagles. A lot of times, you’ll see them perched high in trees throughout the day, but mornings and afternoons are when they typically are more active for hunting.

two bald eagles fight in mid air
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch

Camera Settings

Due to the speed at which the birds will move, having a fast shutter speed is crucial. I recommend starting at 1/2000 and testing it out. Depending on how bright it is, you may want your ISO in the 500-2000 range. If it’s cloudy or have low light, you might need to push it to 2,500 or 3,200.

Additionally, if you have a newer camera, turn on your face recognition focus setting and select wildlife. Then, turn on continuous AF (autofocus). After that, make sure you’re on high-speed/burst mode. Lastly, if you have back button focus, hold it down the entire burst sequence to maintain focus.

Lens Length

Wildlife lenses are not cheap. You ideally want something between 300mm and 600mm. The latter is better if you can’t get as close, but it will also constrain you if the birds are in flight.

I have a Canon telephoto lens with 100-500mm reach, but the aperture is 7.1 at the longest distance, making it harder to photograph in low light. Prime lenses, like a 300, 400, or 600, have fixed apertures (meaning no change). Unfortunately, these lenses cost upwards of $13,000.

a harrier hawk flies in the sun
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch

Should you bring a tripod?

Yes, bring the tripod, but depending on what you photograph, it might not be used often. If your subject is stationary, it’s a good idea to slow down your shutter speed (and thus lower your ISO). But if a bird moves around, having it on a tripod can be cumbersome.

Keep your head on a swivel and be ready

You have to constantly be looking around when photographing Bald Eagles in Washington. There is both a lot of downtime and also no downtime! It’s a weird paradox. Basically, nothing happens until it happens all at once, and you have to be ready to fire off your shots rapidly.

Buying Equipment

Here are some top gear I recommend for wildlife photography:

an adult bald eagle perches on the top of a tree in washington
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch

When is the best time to photograph Bald Eagles in Washington?

Bald Eagles migrate down from Alaska in winter, making November through April the optimal time to photograph them in Washington. That said, they are also in search of fish and generally flock to where the salmon are. So, knowing when the salmon spawning happens will help dictate when and where you’ll find bald eagles.

For the fall salmon runs, they spawn over the winter time, which is why bald eagles congregate in well-known salmon areas. And with more eagles, it presents a better photography opportunity to land that perfect shot!

Weekdays vs. Weekends

As with all outdoor activities lately, visiting these areas on weekdays will allow you to enjoy nature in more solitude and without massive crowds. That said, I know not everyone can venture out during the week. If this is you, just be prepared for more people and be respectful of others’ space.

Estimated drive times to reach your Bald Eagle locations from Seattle

If traffic is flowing smoothly, here’s some helpful drive time estimates:

  • Skagit Valley: 80 minutes
  • Rockport: 100 minutes
  • East of Bellingham: 110 minutes
a short eared owl looks out from the grasses
Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch

Be respectful of others and wildlife

When photographing wildlife in these natural areas, please respect the animals and other people enjoying the outdoors. Keep voices low, drive slowly in congested areas, and give each other enough space to move around with large lenses.

Final Thoughts on Photographing Bald Eagles in Washington

Spending a day perusing for wildlife in Washington is a super fun day because you honestly never know what you’ll get. That’s what I love about wildlife photography. The uncertainty from the chase is invigorating, and when you land some epic photos, it makes it incredibly rewarding.

I hope this guide to photographing bald eagles in Washington, along with other wildlife, helps to point you in the right direction and you have an amazing time out there.

Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.

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Author: Alec Sills-Trausch

Title: Founder of Explore with Alec

Expertise: Hiking, Backpacking, Photography, and Road Trips

Alec Sills-Trausch is a hiker, backpacker, landscape photographer, and syndicated travel writer. He enjoys showing off the beauty of the world through his photos, videos, and written work on ExploreWithAlec.com. Alec is also a 2x cancer survivor and bone marrow transplant recipient, showing the world that there is a future from this terrible disease.

He lives in Washington, where he gets to enjoy the stunning PNW mountains in addition to all the other places he attempts to visit each year! You can see more work on IG at @AlecOutside