One of the hottest travel destinations in the country for birdwatching is just 20 minutes north of St. Louis. More than 300 species of birds have been seen at Riverlands along the Mississippi River flyway. Several of them stop by to fuel and rest on their journeys north and south in the fall and spring.
Riverlands has a visitor center, scopes, and viewing platforms to help visitors see and photograph wildlife. You can view migrating shorebirds in the fall, gulls and trumpeter swans in winter, the return of songbirds in spring, and wading birds in summer.
The area has more than 8 miles of trails for walking or hiking though prairie, forest, or wetland habitats. It’s also a popular destination for floating. You can sign up for Paddlefest events and try kayaking or paddle boarding with experienced guides. This immersive experience is provided through a partnership among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Audubon Center at Riverlands, and the Mississippi River Water Trail Association.
Listen to our Nature Boost podcast, Episode 29, where we head out to Paddlefest.
Bring your camera and sense of adventure to Riverlands for a premiere outdoor recreational and educational experience.
Riverlands Notes
- The Mississippi River is known as the "Father of Waters" as it drains 32 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.
- The Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary area came about from pooling waters from the Melvin Price lock and dam mitigation project in the 1980's.
- Visitors can enjoy over 8 miles of walking and hiking trails through forest, wetland, and prairie habitats.
- The Audubon Center offers a premiere destination for birdwatching with viewing platforms and scopes to see a variety of birds in the heart of the Mississippi River flyway.
Discover more about the area from the Audubon Center at Riverlands.
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