Where to watch hawk migration in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is one of the best states for hawk watching sites in the US. Nearly every variety of bird of prey passes through this state.

Keep on reading as we break down 34 hawk watching sites to explore in Pennsylvania!

Allegheny Front, PA

• Spring dates: Feb 15- May 7
• Fall dates: Aug 15- Dec 15
• Address: Central City, Pennsylvania, USA
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

On the boundary of Somerset and Bedford Counties lies the Allegheny Front Hawk Watch. While the site’s high elevation creates an eye-level bird-watching experience, it also produces fog regularly. Days with easterly winds are the best for watching hawk migration. 

The site is manned seven days a week for four months in the fall and three months in the spring.

The Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society is responsible for its upkeep and operation. On-site parking is available, including designated parking for visitors with disabilities.

How to get there: Since this hawkwatch is on private property, it doesn’t have a normal address. But you can search Google Maps for Allegheny Front Hawkwatch, or follow the directions below

Directions from the south (Route 30, PA Turnpike): Take PA Route 160 north into Central City from the Reels Corner intersection of US Route 30 and PA Route 160. As you reach Central City, 160 becomes Lambert Street, and you’ll pass a petrol station on your left. Carry on down Lambert Street with caution. Route 160 will take a sharp left about a quarter-mile into Central City, but Lambert St will continue straight ahead. 

Keep going straight on Lambert Street; it becomes Shaffer Mountain Road after a railroad crossing. Keep moving straight for 0.8 miles on Shaffer Mountain Road, then turn right onto Lambert Mountain Road. To get to the village of Daley, take Lambert Mountain Road for about 2.9 miles. There will be a white church on your right, and you’ll come to a crossroads beyond this church.

Keep moving straight up a narrow road (despite the main road turning left). Pass by the Daley Cemetery, located on the right side of the road. You’ll see a blue metal gate on the right about half a mile up the narrow road, which is the gate to the Allegheny Front Hawk Watch. 

If you have a bus, this is the farthest you can go. If that is not the case, go down the lane to the parking area if the gate is open. The parking lot is right next to the watch site.

Bake Oven Knob

• Dates: Aug 15- Nov 30
• Address: Bake Oven Knob, 2 miles North of Germansville, Pennsylvania, USA
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

Bake Oven Knob is located on the Kittatinny Ridge (Blue Mountain) on the Appalachian Trail, on the border of Lehigh and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania. The Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s Bake Oven Knob Hawk Count is an ongoing hawk migration research project.

The lookouts are located on public land, State Game Land 217. During hunting seasons, it’s recommended to be dressed in orange when hiking to the lookouts.

Directions: Take Rt. 309 south for several hundred yards from the intersection of PA 100 and PA 309, then turn left onto Bake Oven Road. It will take you to the summit of the Kittatinny Ridge. Park in the lot to the right at the top of the ridge. In the SE corner of this lot, you’ll find the trail to the lookout (Appalachian Trail). 

South Lookout is a hike that takes about 10 minutes with a right turn at the summit. North Point Lookout is 5 minutes farther down the trail.

Learn more at the Bake Oven Knob website. 

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

• Spring dates: Feb 1- Jan 1
• Fall dates: Jul 1- Feb 1
• Address: 1700 Hawk Mountain Rd, Kempton, PA 19529
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is bordered on the east by the Appalachian Trail. A welcome center and a biological field station are available to visitors. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary offers clear, breathtaking vistas that add to your hawk watching experience. There are ten lookouts and more than 9 miles of trails at the location. You have to pay an admission fee first to access the beautiful lookouts.

The North Lookout, a 465-meter rocky outcrop with a 240-degree view to the east and one mile from the Visitor Center parking lot, is the long-term count site that we recommend you visit. 

At this site, raptors thermal-soar across surrounding valleys and slope-soar along the Kittatinny Ridge. Northwest winds cause the highest migration there.

Learn more at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary website. 

Bald Eagle Mountain – Eagle Field

• Dates: Sep 1- Dec 15
• Address: Bald Eagle Mountain, Wayne Township, PA 17745
• Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, peregrine falcon

Bald Eagle Mountain is a 9-mile moderately trafficked trail located in Mc Elhattan, Pennsylvania, featuring magnificent wildflowers. It’s generally great for birdwatching, nature visits, and hiking. This trail is also open to dogs, although they must be kept on a leash.

The count is conducted on private property, so you need to be mindful when visiting. The walk from the parking lot to the overlook is around 0.5 miles on a grass path. To make the most of your visit, we recommend that you bring a sun hat, a bottle of water, a lawn chair, and sunscreen. But don’t drink too much water, as there are no bathroom facilities available!

Directions to North lookout: From North Atherton St., travel southwest on Rt 550 towards Stormstown. Turn RIGHT into Eagle Field Lane after 1.6 miles. For the next 0.7 miles, stay on the gravel road. Turn left after passing the small pond on the left into the 483 driveway.

Directions to South lookout: From North Atherton St., travel southwest on Rt 550 towards Stormstown. Turn RIGHT onto Skytop Vista after half a mile. Keep moving 0.7 miles on the driveway to a grassy opening.

Blue Mountain Ski Area

• Dates: Sep 1- Nov 24
• Address: 1660 Blue Mountain Dr, Palmerton, PA 18071
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, broad-winged hawk

The Blue Mountain Ski area is located in the Pocono Mountains, and it offers fun skiing activities in addition to some migrating hawks in the fall. You’ll see more hawk migrations at other sites in Pennsylvania, but you could make a great trip visiting the Poconos!

Learn more at the Blue Mountain Ski Area website. 

Brady’s Bend

• Dates: Aug 20- Nov 20
• Address: 2443 T581, Rimersburg, PA 16248
• Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk

The Brady’s Bend Hawk Watch test site is near the Brady’s Bend Scenic Overlook on Pennsylvania Route 68, at an elevation of 1351 feet. 

It’s a great location if you want to watch raptors that migrate along the Allegheny River. It has fantastic views over the Allegheny Plateau to the east, north, and west and vistas down into the Allegheny River Valley.

Directions: Clarion County is where the hawk watching site is located. It’s located 2.7 highway miles east of the Allegheny River bridge on Route 68 in East Brady.

Chambers Lake Hawk Watch & Migration Count – Chester County

• Dates: Aug 1- Nov 30
• Address: 192-248 Wagontown Rd, Coatesville, PA 19320
• Birds you’ll see: Osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, broad-winged hawk, American kestrel, merlin

Directions: Take the Rt. 82 exit north from the Rt. 30 By-pass. At the first light (Rt. 340), turn left and travel 1.3 miles to Wagontown Rd. Then turn right onto Wagontown Rd. and keep moving for 1.8 miles on this road. Take a left off the road and park at the lake end. 

Council Cup

• Dates: Sep 1- Nov 15
• Address: Council Cup, Wapwallopen, PA 18660
• Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, red-tailed hawk, bald eagle, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, broad-winged hawk, American kestrel

The Talen Power Plant lies just across from Council Cup, a fall hawk watching destination on the eastern side of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River in southern Luzerne County.

Cove Mountain

• Dates: Sept 1- Dec 1
• Address: Cove, Pennsylvania, USA
• Birds you’ll see: Sharp-shinned hawk, broad-winged hawk

Cove Mountain Preserve is in Perry County, an area where land preservation is crucial to local economies that rely on outdoor recreation to attract tourists. Cove Mountain is the meeting point of two ridges. 

Directions: Take the Marysville exit from Rt 81. To get to Marysville, head north and take Rt. 850 West to Pine Hill Rd. in Marysville. Head to the parking lot of state game land parking. On a tree in the parking lot road, there is a small red game lands emblem. You want to backtrack on the road of the parking lot to the emergency road into the woods. There are blue slashes that mark the trail. Follow the trail until it intersects with the Appalachian Trail, then turn left until you reach the gas pipeline clearing. The quickest way is to the summit.

Del. Nature Society’s Kite & Shorebird Watch at Bucktoe Creek Preserve

• Dates: May 17- Jun 6
• Address: 432 Sharp Rd, Avondale, PA 19311
• Birds you’ll see: Bald eagle, osprey

Directions: In southern Chester County, from Kennett Square, take Union Street south to go out of town. This turns into Kaolin Road. Take Hillendale Road to the right. Make a left on Sharp Road after about 1.5 miles. 

The location of the entrance is on the left side, across from the Candlewyck development, at the second hilltop on Sharp Road.  Turn right on the gravel road opposite the first driveway on the left as soon as you enter the driveway. 

For about half a mile, follow the gravel road to the pavilion on the left and the parking lot on the right.

Jacks Mountain

• Dates: Sep 13- Oct 31
• Address: Wills Rd, Belleville, PA 17004
• Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, black vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

Jacks Mountain is located in Mifflin County, at the peak of Jacks Mountain Road. The hawk watch is held on a tiny hill above the west parking area. In the spring, counts are done on occasion, but there is no systematic spring watch. But sometimes, spring weekends are covered.

Learn more at the Jacks Mountain website. 

Lehigh Gap Hawkwatch

• Dates: Feb 1- Jun 1
• Address:8844 Paint Mill Rd, Slatington, PA 18080
• Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, black vulture, osprey, sharp-shinned hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel

The Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge, managed by Wildlife Information Center, is located in the northern Mountain between the PA Turnpike Tunnel and the Lehigh Gap.

Directions: The site is in the north of Slatington in the Lehigh Gap. Rt. 873 leads to the Osprey House, which is then reached through Paint Mill Road. 

Militia Hill

• Dates: Sep 1- Nov 15
• Address: 449 Militia Hill Rd, Fort Washington, PA 19034
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

Since 1988, the Militia Hill Hawk Watch has counted an impressive number of raptor species. So, it’s definitely a hawk watching site that should be included on our list. 

Presque Isle – The Best place to watch hawk migration in Pennsylvania

• Dates: Mar 1- May 31
• Address: 301 Peninsula Dr, Erie, PA 16505
• Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, rough-legged hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, merlin

The Presque Isle Hawkwatch is near the Presque Isle State Park entrance in the parking lot of the newly constructed Tom Ridge Environmental Center on Rt. 832. Birders have been flocking to this site for almost 50 years to see spring hawk migrations.

For a small town, there’s lots to do in Erie too! Check out erieactivities.com for tons of indoor and outdoor places to visit!

Directions from Erie Airport: Turn right into West 12th Street after exiting the airport. At the third light, turn left onto Peninsula Drive.  It will take you north to Presque Isle State Park. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center sits on the right side of the road prior to the park gate and hill.

Directions from Jamestown: I-86 to I-90 is the route you want to take first. To get to I-79 North, take I-90 West. Take I-79 north until you reach exit 183B. 12th Street will be to the west, so move to it. Turn right into Peninsula Drive at the fourth light. Peninsula Drive will take you north to Presque Isle State Park. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center sits on the right side of the road before the park gate and hill.

Directions from Pittsburg: Take I-79 north until you reach exit 183B. 12th Street is to the west. Move to Peninsula Drive at the fourth light. Peninsula Drive will take you north to Presque Isle State Park. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center sits on the right side of the road prior to the park gate and hill.

Learn more at the Presque Isle website. 

Rocky Ridge

• Dates: Sep 1- Dec 1
• Address: 3699 Deininger Rd, York, PA 17406
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel

Rocky Ridge is located at a public park on the boundary of suburban and rural York on a ridgeline roughly 900 ft above sea level. The Kittatinny Ridge can be viewed from a distance of almost 20 miles. It’s a site that offers a pretty good number of migrating hawks to watch.

Rose Tree Park

• Dates: Aug 30- Nov 30
• Address: 1671 N Providence Rd, Media, PA 19063
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch is located in Media, Pennsylvania. This is a perfect place for you if you want to enjoy hawk watching with your family.

Learn more at the Rose Tree Park website. 

Second Mountain

• Dates: Aug 1- Dec 31
• Address: Ft. Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, USA
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

The Second Mountain Hawk Watch is at the summit of Second Mountain in Ft Indiantown Gap. Thanks to the flat parking area, you can easily watch migrating hawks with a telescope or chair.

Directions: Take the Fort Indiantown Gap exit from Interstate 81 and move north on Fisher Avenue. To get to Funck’s Restaurant, drive about a mile. To get to the top of Second Mountain, move to the left and keep following the Hawk Watch signs. 

Turn right off Cold Spring Road at the top of the mountain and drive about half a mile to the parking area and hawk watching site.

Learn more at the Second Mountain website. 

Stone Mt., Pa.

• Dates: Jan 1- Jan 1
• Address: Allensville Rd, Allensville, PA 17002
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

With an elevation of 2100 feet, The Stone Mt. Hawkwatch is located 20 miles south of State College in central Pennsylvania. It’s also a good destination for birders who are keen to watch many varieties in one place.

Summit Mountain Hawkwatch

• Spring dates: Feb 22- May 15
• Fall dates: Aug 31- Nov 30
• Address: 101 Skyline Dr, Farmington, PA 15437
• Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel

Disclaimer: You have to get permission from the Site Administrator to visit the site.

The Summit Mountain Hawkwatch is located on Chestnut Ridge, near Uniontown, in southwestern Pennsylvania. Birders are permitted to count at the Summit Golf Course and Laurel Caverns hawk watching sites, which are private property. The Summit Mountain Hawkwatch is searching for reliable volunteers (that might be you!) to undertake migratory counts because this is a newly-founded hawk watching location. 

Tuscarora Summit

• Spring dates: Apr 1- May 1
• Fall dates: Sep 1- Dec 1
• Address: 18700-18734 Lincoln Hwy, Mcconnellsburg, PA 17233
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, merlin

Tuscarora Summit is a volunteer-run hawk watching location that is open during the fall months.

Directions: The site is 18 mi west of Chambersburg, on the mountain summit, just off Route 30 and south of the Mountain House Bar and Grill. It’s 4 mi east on Route 30 from McConnellsburg. 

You can either walk along a path starting from the restaurant’s parking lot or drive back a short distance along a private drive to a parking lot on the right. You shouldn’t continue past this turnoff to the parking lot.

Waggoner’s Gap

• Dates: Aug 1- Dec 31
• Address: Waggoners Gap Rd, Landisburg, PA 17040
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, northern goshawk, golden eagle, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

Waggoner’s Gap, also known as Blue and North Mountain, is a gap located in the Kittatinny Ridge. Hawks have been counted from 2 locations over the years. It’s a site packed with hawk species in the fall migration season, so make sure to check this one out as well! 

Lake Nockamixon

• Dates: Sep 1- Sep 30
• Address: 1542 Mountain View Dr, Quakertown, PA 18951
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, osprey, bald eagle, cooper’s hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, broad-winged hawk, American kestrel, Merlin

Lake Nockamixon is the largest lake in Bucks County, and it is located in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is the centerpiece of Nockamixon State Park. A modest number of migrating hawks pass  by this area in September. 

Peace Valley

• Dates: Sep 1- Sep 30
• Address: Peace Valley Nature Center 170 North Chapman Road Doylestown, PA  18901
• Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, broad-winged hawk, American kestrel

In Peace Valley, you’ll get to enjoy Lake Galena, miles of trails, beautiful wildflowers in the summer and plenty of wild animals and raptors. While there is no official hawk watch here, you’ll certainly see many beautiful birds during your visit.

Learn more at the Peace Valley website.

Okehocking Preserve Hawkwatch

• Dates: Apr 1- Apr 30
• Address: 5316 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073
• Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, Northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk

There’s a hawk watching building within the preserve that was built atop the pole barn, where visitors get to watch a good number of hawk species during the birds’ migration.

Little Gap

• Dates: Aug 15- Dec 10
• Address: Little Gap, PA 18071
• Birds you’ll see: Black vulture, turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, Northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, Northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine falcon

This place is a village on the Aquashicola Creek in eastern Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon County. You can cross the little gap via a covered bridge. It’s a destination for many hawk species during the fall migrating season.

FAQs about Hawk Migration IN Pennsylvania

Wrap-up- Where to Watch Hawk Migration in Pennsylvania

Whether you want to watch hawk migration in Pennsylvania in Erie, Pittsburg, central PA, or near Philadelphia, you’ll find a spot that’s perfect for you.

Some places for watching hawk migration in Pennsylvania are staffed by volunteers who count and identify hawks. Others may have limited numbers of volunteers.

But no matter which site you choose for observing hawk migration in Pennsylvania, you’ll experience a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature and fascinating birds of prey.

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More Hawk Migration Locations

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• Visit our list of all hawk migration locations in alphabetical order by state
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• Where to watch hawk migration in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont
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• Where to watch hawk migration in Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland
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