Caledon State Park
Virginia State Park And National Natural Landmark, Protected For Its Summer Bald Eagle Concentration Area And Old Growth Hardwood Forest On The Potomac · King George, Virginia
Twenty-six hundred acres of old-growth hardwood and marsh on the Potomac in King George County, protected for a reason that runs against the grain of every other eagle site in the region: the birds gather here in SUMMER. Most of Virginia watches bald eagles in the cold months, when bare trees and open water make them easy. At Caledon, eagles from as far as Florida move north after their own nesting season and concentrate along this stretch of shoreline through the hottest part of the year, roosting in the mature tulip poplars and feeding on the shallows. The numbers were high enough, and the habitat intact enough, that the site was designated a National Natural Landmark. The practical consequence for visitors is unusual and worth knowing before you drive: parts of the park close or are restricted roughly from June to September specifically to keep people away from the roost, and the way to see the eagles in that window is on a guided trip the park runs rather than by wandering down to the river yourself.
11617 Caledon Road, King George, Virginia, 22485, United States
Park open daily, generally 8 AM to dusk. SEASONAL CLOSURES ROUGHLY JUNE TO SEPTEMBER restrict shoreline and trail access to protect the summer bald eagle concentration - in that window, eagle viewing is by guided trip only, booked ahead with limited places. Outside the eagle season the trails are fully open and the park is very quiet. Visitor centre keeps shorter hours. Primitive hike-in camping by reservation. Parking fee per vehicle.
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