Brackendale, just north of Squamish, is one of the premier spots in the world for bald eagle watching. Of the 70,000ish bald eagles in North America, about 20,000 of them reside in BC. Each winter, a large number of those 20,000 head to the Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park. Thousands of tourists from all over the world come each year to view the eagles, yet most Vancourites don’t even know about this annual gathering. In 1994 Squamish set the world record count of 3,769 eagles.
Eagle viewing is at its peak from mid-December to mid-January but significant numbers of eagles may be present from mid-November to mid-February. Eagle viewing is best enjoyed by the public from areas outside the park boundaries. The main “Eagle Run” viewing facility is located on the municipal dyke, across from the Easter Seal Camp on Government Road in Brackendale. Exit Highway 99 at Mamquam Road and head north on Government Road to the viewing area. An interpretive display explains the eagles and salmon life cycle.
Eagle Watch is a volunteer community-based interpretive program offered to help visitors at the Eagle Run viewing area to understand the eagles and salmon life cycle, and to get a close-up view through telescopes. Interpreters are on the dyke each weekend until early February.
Below is a good short video about viewing the eagles.
