Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway
A Day with the Birds on Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway

Departure: Sun Lake State Park & Resort, Washington
Destination: Northup Canyon & State Park, Washington
Time to allow: 1 day

Gather your mittens and prepare for an exciting day with the birds. Swing in at Sun Lake State Park, Blue Lake Rest Area, Northrup Point Access, and Osborn Bay Campground to catch a glimpse of waterfowl. Attend the Balde Eagle Festival held at Northrup Canyon annually each February.

The following is a suggested one-day tour of the birding hotspots in the area. Please check local weather and conditions before starting. Birds are very seasonal, so time your trip for when the birds you want to spot might show up!

Day 1

  • Start: Sun Lake State Park & Resort

    Suggested time at this stop: 2 hours

    Sun Lake State Park covers over 5,000 acres and offers visitors many birding opportunities. The park includes eight lakes which freeze during the winter. This causes the waterfowl in the area to crowd together, allowing you to see them in flocks. Birds you may see in the area include Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Pied-billed Grebes, American Wigeons, American Coots, Ruddy and Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaups, Buffleheads, Song Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and Winter Wrens. High in the trees, you’ll be able to spot Bald and Golden Eagles perching.

  • Stop 2: Blue Lake Rest Area

    From previous stop: 10 minutes / 5 mi (8.0 km)
    Directions:

    Return to SR17 via Park access road, turn left onto SR17 travel west for approx 5 miles, turn left off of SR17, park along the lake shore.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    As you stop by Blue Lake Rest Area, prepare to scope out Common Loons that stay on the lake during the winter. Golden Eagles and Peregrine Falcons make their home on the basalt bluffs that frame the great expanse of this 536-acre lake. WA-DOT rest area restrooms and parking area are closed mid-October until March. (Birding Site #38 on the Coulee Corridor Birding Trail Map.)

  • Stop 3: Osborn Bay Campground

    From previous stop: 45 minutes / 33.5 mi (53.6 km)
    Directions:

    Travel east on SR17 (passing Sun Lakes State Park) to the intersection of SR17 and US2. Turn right onto US2 and travel 4 miles to the junction of US2 and SR155 (bear left onto SR155). Follow SR155 north to milepost 23 then turn left (north) onto Rd 57.1 (just past the Banks Lake Golf Course) and follow Rd 57.1 for 0.4 miles. There you should find a campground and boat launch.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    Watch as Bald Eagles hunt the other birds on Banks Lake. The partially frozen lake contains ice shelves upon which Common and Hooded Mergansers, Lesser Scaups, Buffleheads, American Wigeons, and American Coots make their home. These birds make a nice treat for hungry Bald Eagles. (Birding Site #49 on the Coulee Corridor Birding Trail Map.)

  • Stop 4: Northrup Point Access

    From previous stop: 10 minutes / 5 mi (8.0 km)
    Directions:

    Follow Rd 57.1 to SR155, turn right onto SR 155 south to milepost 18.9, turn right onto Northrup Point Access Road, and travel 0.3 miles to the paved parking lot.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    Whether you are a beginning or an expert birder, Northup Point Access will please and delight your birding fancy. On your excursion look up to see Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks soaring through the crisp late winter air. Trees and shrubs may contain smaller birds such as Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, and Varied Thrushes. (Birding Site #50 on the Coulee Corridor Birding Trail Map.)

  • End: Northup Canyon & State Park

    From previous stop: 5 minutes / 1.5 mi (2.4 km)
    Directions:

    Return to SR 155. Cross SR155 to Northrup Canyon Rd. and drive east 0.6 miles to the gate and gravel parking lot.
    Suggested time at this stop: 2 hours 30 minutes

    Conclude your trip with a stop by Northup Canyon State Park’s 3,000-acre canyon. Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees, Canyon Wrens, and Downy Woodpeckers can commonly be sighted in the canyon. However, the most alluring birding occurs November to March where 50 plus Bald Eagles can be seen from mid-afternoon till dark. The eagles show off, shuffling one another down a branch on the giant fir trees in a pecking order. This, along with the beautiful scenery of Northup Canyon, makes a perfect end for your day of birding. (Birding Site #51 on the Coulee Corridor Birding Trail Map.)

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled: 45 miles / 72.0 km
Total Travel Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Stopping Time: 7 hours