Dad Hikes: Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary — thatawaydad.com
By: Todd Smith
Tags: Mississippi River, Migration, Hiking, Outdoors, Birds

See a wide variety of birds as you walk along trails in Mississippi River bottomland at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

The day we went we spotted a large group of pelicans, blue herons, gulls, white egrets, wood ducks, Canadian geese, and other birds.

Overview of Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Riverlands has over 8.5 miles of trails that include viewing platforms and bird blinds. Trails go through prairies, marshes, and forests.

Also, here is the Audubon Center at Riverlands, where you can learn about birds in indoor exhibits. Sadly, the center is currently closed due to Covid-19.

Ellis Island Hike

The area David and I explored was Ellis Island. This area across the Alton Slough from the Audubon Center at Riverlands. The island is a peninsula now created by the changing river and the building of the bridge to Alton.

You hike along with a combination of footpaths and a gravel access road. It is a 2.7-mile hike that includes a loop in the middle with a back path that goes out to a point with an area filled with birds the day we were there.

Starting the Hike

A large gravel parking lot is available with many spaces. The trail begins along the Alton Slough.

Across the water were some small islands with red bushes changing color as autumn settles in. I stopped a moment to sit at a rocky beach area taking in the expansive water view.

Mississippi River Side

After walking a short way the loop starts. David and I decided to hike along the Mississippi River first. This is a narrower trail that goes into the woods. Here the river is below you with occasional side hikes down for river views.

We pass by some downed trees, but it was easy to go around to the right as many people have done.

One of the downed trees had caused another tree to go down on the other, it was interesting to see them stacked together. Another tree had been downed by a beaver.

I located a State of Illinois Survey Marker. It is always fun for me to find things like this along the trails.

Staying along the Mississippi River

We could have looped back in the middle to the main trail but decided to take the side trail along the Mississippi River to the end.

I stopped a few times taking in the views of the cityscape of Alton and the Clark Bridge and the wide Mississippi River.

End Trail

The small trail we were on connected with the main trail and now we walked on gravel.

One spur trail led to a large pile of rocks that I stood on and looked out over the river looking for different birds catching fish in the river.

End Spot

A bird blind was at the end. Then out in the river on logs were large groups of pelicans. It was hard to gain a photo of them since they were still off in the distance.

Further away from us was the Melvin Price Lock & Dam. We watched the pelicans swim about and then a blue heron swooped in and skimmed across the water. I could hear some ducks quacking nearby.

Walking Back

After hanging out here for a bit we walked back. This time we walked along the Alton Slough. In this body of water, we saw turtles, ducks along with two egrets.

Yellow flowers bloomed here and lime green butterflies flew around blending into the plants.

It was an easy hike back along the slough since it was a wide straight gravel road.

Final Thoughts

This was an easy hike over mostly flat terrain. Views of the Mississippi River, forests, and birds can be seen here. I would do this hike again if I wanted to relax a bit in nature. I might remember to bring my binoculars next time to gain a better view of the birds and wildlife here.

Other Hikes

Over on the Audubon Center side, there are short hikes into the swamp and slough areas. I didn’t get a chance to explore them this day.

By the Audubon Center, you will find a short trail to explore.

Across the road, you will find the Two Pecan Pond Trail, and further down from the Center on the other side of the road again from parking is a trail around Heron Pond.

Here is the LINK for a map of the area.

Details:

NOTE: Audubon Center at Riverlands is currently closed due to Covid-19. Trails in this are area are still open.

Drive: From Clayton take I-170 N to I-270 E. From I-270 E, Exit MO-367 N toward Alton, IL. MO-367 N becomes US-67 N. Before the Clark bridge and Mississippi River, you will see signs for Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

Turn right at the Sanctuary sign and proceed .8 miles to the Audubon Center with the large glass bay windows on the left. If you want to do the Ellis Island hike take your first left just after you get off US-67 onto an outer road that leads to a gravel parking lot just after you drive past Alton Slough.

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset (Can be close if flooded or bird migration). Ellis Island is closed during eagle resting season from Dec. 15 — March 15.

Admission: Free

Address: West Alton, MO 63386

Nearby Dad Hikes

Grounds of a former 19th century U.S. Military instillation and ruins of a popular summer retreat in the 1930s can be explored at Fort Belle Fontaine County Park in North St. Louis County.

The mile-long Old Chain of Rocks Bridge 60-feet above the Mississippi River with a 30-degree turn midway was my quest today.

This bridge is historical since it once was part of a stretch of historic U.S. Route 66 and is at a major point along the Mississippi River near rock ledges that once created dangerous rapids for riverboats.

A bubbly waterfall and a monument to the Underground Railroad were found on the trails at the Olin Nature Preserve.

Our adventure included fields of golden sunflowers and a Mississippi River ferry ride.

Walking among the green stalks of a cornfield and admiring the lakeside flowers were part of our adventure on Walker’s Island at Horseshoe Lake State Park.