Things to do

Birdwatching in national parks

The National Park Service lists 99 things to do tagged “Birdwatching” in 65 parks and sites. Acadia National Park has the most (13). Each listing links to the NPS page with details. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.

Updated · NPS Data API

Showing 99 of 99 listings.

ListingParkTime neededSeasonNotes
All about birding in Glacier National ParkGlacier National Park—Year-round—
American DipperGlacier National Park—Year-round—
Bird at Toms CoveAssateague Island National Seashore—Year-round—
Bird WatchingDeath Valley National Park—Year-roundFee
Bird Watching at Fort McHenryFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine—Year-round—
Bird Watching at HamptonHampton National Historic Site—Year-round—
Bird Watching at Oakland PlantationCane River Creole National Historical Park1-3 HoursYear-round—
Bird Watching in Wind CaveWind Cave National Park15-60 MinutesYear-round—
Birding "with" the Champlain SocietyAcadia National Park—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Birding Along the Anhinga TrailEverglades National Park1-2 HoursYear-round—
Birding Along the BlackstoneBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park45-75 MinutesSummer—
Birding at Boca ChitaBiscayne National Park1-3 Hours——
Birding at Convoy PointBiscayne National Park1-2 Hours——
Birding at CoronadoCoronado National Memorial15-120 MinutesYear-round—
Birding at Elliott KeyBiscayne National Park1-3 Hours——
Birding at Fire IslandFire Island National Seashore—Year-round—
Birding at FlamingoEverglades National Park1-4 HoursYear-round—
Birding at Fort BowieFort Bowie National Historic Site—Year-round—
Birding at Fort DupontFort Dupont Park1-4 HoursYear-round—
Birding at Fort Washington ParkFort Washington Park, National Capital Parks-East, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail—Year-round—
Birding at Indiana Dunes National ParkIndiana Dunes National Park—Year-roundFee
Birding at Joshua TreeJoshua Tree National Park—Year-round—
Birding at Ninety SixNinety Six National Historic Site0-12 HoursYear-round—
Birding at Otter PointAcadia National Park—Year-round—
Birding at Padre IslandPadre Island National Seashore———
Birding at Palo Alto BattlefieldPalo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park30-60 MinutesYear-round—
Birding at Point Reyes National SeashorePoint Reyes National Seashore1-8 HoursYear-round—
Birding at Resaca de la Palma BattlefieldPalo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park30 MinutesYear-round—
Birding at the BirthplaceGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument—Year-round—
Birding at the Marsh BoardwalkCumberland Island National Seashore—Year-roundFee
Birding At The North Gate AreaKatahdin Woods and Waters National Monument———
Birding at the PrecipiceAcadia National Park—Spring, Summer—
Birding at Thompson IslandAcadia National Park—Year-round—
Birding Cadillac MountainAcadia National Park—Spring, Summer, FallReservation
Birding in the City of Rocks Checklist AreaCity Of Rocks National Reserve———
Birding in the Hagerman ValleyHagerman Fossil Beds National Monument———
Birding In The Southern SectionKatahdin Woods and Waters National Monument———
Birding in Theodore Roosevelt National ParkTheodore Roosevelt National Park—Year-round—
Birding in Timucuan PreserveTimucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve10-90 MinutesYear-round—
Birding Isle au HautAcadia National Park—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Birding Jordan PondAcadia National Park—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Birding on Mount RoseGrand Portage National Monument30-90 MinutesYear-round—
Birding on the BeachCumberland Island National Seashore—Year-roundFee
Birding on the Capers Creek TrailReconstruction Era National Historical Park30-60 MinutesYear-round—
Birding on the Natchez Trace ParkwayNatchez Trace Parkway—Year-round—
Birding Schoodic PeninsulaAcadia National Park—Year-round—
Birding SeawallAcadia National Park—Year-round—
Birding Sieur de Monts SpringsAcadia National Park—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Birding Snake Bight TrailEverglades National Park1-4 HoursYear-round—
Birding the Carriage RoadsAcadia National Park—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Birding the Western MountainsAcadia National Park—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Birding Wonderland and Ship HarborAcadia National Park—Year-round—
Birdwatch at Cottonwood CampgroundBig Bend National Park15-60 MinutesYear-round—
Birdwatch at Rio Grande Village Nature TrailBig Bend National Park15-45 MinutesYear-round—
Birdwatch in a Wetland Pine SavannahBig Thicket National Preserve1-2 HoursYear-round—
BirdwatchingBryce Canyon National Park—Year-roundFee
Birdwatching - Brown's Farm TrailCatoctin Mountain Park30-60 MinutesYear-round—
Birdwatching at Bent's Old Fort National Historic SiteBent's Old Fort National Historic Site—Year-roundFee
Birdwatching at ChiricahuaChiricahua National Park—Year-round—
Birdwatching at DungenessCumberland Island National Seashore—Year-roundFee
Birdwatching at Fort Vancouver National Historic SiteFort Vancouver National Historic Site—Year-round—
Birdwatching at Gulf IslandsGulf Islands National Seashore30-120 Minutes——
Birdwatching at Kaloko-HonokōhauKaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park—Year-round—
Birdwatching at KīpukapuauluHawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park———
Birdwatching at Krusenstern LagoonCape Krusenstern National Monument1-7 DaysYear-round—
Birdwatching at Puʻuhonua o HōnaunauPuʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park—Year-round—
Birdwatching at the Birthplace UnitAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park5-120 MinutesSpring, Summer, Fall—
Birdwatching at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife RefugeGateway National Recreation Area1-3 HoursYear-round—
Birdwatching in Pinnacles National ParkPinnacles National Park—Year-round—
Birdwatching in the ParkHot Springs National Park—Year-round—
Birdwatching on AlcatrazAlcatraz Island30-90 MinutesYear-round—
Birdwatching on Lower Sauma TrailNational Park of American Samoa———
Birdwatching on the California TrailCalifornia National Historic Trail——Reservation, Fee
Clark's NutcrackerGlacier National Park—Year-round—
Common LoonGlacier National Park—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Crissy Field BirdwatchingGolden Gate National Recreation Area, Presidio of San Francisco1-2 HoursYear-round—
EaglesGlacier National Park—Year-round—
Fire-Adapted WoodpeckersGlacier National Park—Year-round—
Go BirdingSitka National Historical Park1-3 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Go Birding at New PhiladelphiaNew Philadelphia National Historic Site1-4 HoursYear-round—
Go Birding at Patuxent River ParkCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail—Year-round—
Go Birding in the Cuyahoga ValleyCuyahoga Valley National Park—Year-round—
Go Birdwatching at Sagamore HillSagamore Hill National Historic Site10-180 MinutesYear-round—
Go Birdwatching in ShenandoahShenandoah National Park—Year-round—
Harlequin DuckGlacier National Park—Spring, Summer—
Hawk Hill BirdwatchingGolden Gate National Recreation Area1-2 HoursYear-round—
Hawk Watch at Harveys KnobBlue Ridge Parkway—Fall—
Mountain BluebirdGlacier National Park—Spring, Summer—
Muir Woods BirdwatchingGolden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument1-2 HoursYear-roundReservation, Fee
OspreyGlacier National Park—Spring, Summer—
OwlsGlacier National Park—Year-round—
Presidio BirdwatchingGolden Gate National Recreation Area, Presidio of San Francisco1-2 HoursYear-round—
Rodeo Lagoon BirdwatchingGolden Gate National Recreation Area1-2 HoursYear-round—
Varied ThrushGlacier National Park—Year-round—
Watch for Hawks at the Mills River OverlookBlue Ridge Parkway—Fall—
Watch Peregrine Falcons at Devils CourthouseBlue Ridge Parkway1-3 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
White-Tailed PtarmiganGlacier National Park—Year-round—
Winter BirdingCity Of Rocks National Reserve—Winter—
Winter Eagle Watching at the Lackawaxen River AccessUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River—Winter—

Parks with the most birdwatching listings

Other activities

HikingSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingMuseum ExhibitsFront-Country HikingGuided ToursJunior Ranger ProgramScenic DrivingWildlife WatchingPaddlingPicnickingBikingBackcountry HikingBackcountry CampingPark FilmHands-OnArts and CultureSelf-Guided Tours - AutoStargazing

Sources

  • National Park Service Data API — things to do (developer.nps.gov), snapshot of Oct 28, 2026. Listings, seasons and fees can change; confirm on nps.gov. The NPS does not endorse this site.