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 EAGLE CREEK PARK

                       Marion County

Park Office: 7840 West 56th Street Indianapolis, Indiana  46254            Phone: (317) 327-7110                    Hours: Dawn to Dusk                         Fees: Daily Pass - $4.00 (2005)       Annual Pass: $55.00 (2005)            Website: www.indygov.org/parks

 

                   INTRODUCTION

Eagle Creek Park is in the northwest corner of Marion County, just outside the I-465 loop. One can access the park via I-465 from the 71st Street, 56th Street (exit only) and 38th Street exits. Going west on 71st Street will take you directly to the north entrance of the park.  Going west on 56th Street will lead you to the south entrance of the park.  38th Street will lead you to the Eagle Creek Dam, which is just north of 38th Street. Turning right (north) on Dandy Trail Road will lead you to Rick's Cafe, where views of the Dam and Eagle Creek Reservoir can be obtained.

Eagle Creek is the 4th largest city park in the United States. It is 4,395 acres large. It consists of 3,930 acres of land and 1,360 acres of water. The wide variety of habitat makes Eagle Creek Park the top birding site in Central Indiana. When water levels are low, mudflats can stretch from the far northeast section of the reservoir (by the I-65 overpass, north of 71st Street), south through the channel to the southern border of the Coffer Dam (Bird Sanctuary Lake). Wetlands are scattered throughout the park. The most notable wetlands are found on both sides of Reed Road, at the Ice Skating Pond and Warming Hut. Three cattail marshes are found on the east side Reed Road. On the west side of Reed Road is a partially wooded wetland with scattered, open brush areas. At the Starling Nature Sanctuary, an observation platform overlooks a creek and cattail marsh [the east (1st) entrance to the Sanctuary on Wilson's Road]. Most of the 3930 acres of land consists of mature forest, providing abundant habitat for migrating and nesting woodland species. Grassland areas can be found at the Starling Nature Sanctuary (tall grass prairie), at the southeast section of Parkway East Drive and along the North Loop [accessed from the Coffer Dam Road (unmarked)-turn right (west) immediately after the 71st Street entrance, then right (north) at the first fork in the road ("No Motor Vehicles" sign)]. Most of the 1360 acres of water is Eagle Creek Reservoir. The south end of the reservoir starts at the Dam (38th Street). The dam and reservoir can be viewed from the parking lot at Rick's Cafe (on Dandy Trail). The reservoir stretches north beyond 56th and 71st Street to the I-65 overpass.

For precise and detailed directions on how to bird Eagle Creek Park, click on the buttons at the top-left side of this page.

 

          Eagle Creek Photo Tour-Winter

               Starling Nature Sanctuary - West Unit

                      To make the photo full size, left click on the image.

1. The Starling Nature Sanctuary sign at the west entrance on Wilson's Road.

2. The entrance to the Starling Nature Sanctuary on Wilson's Road.

3. The grassland area on the west side of the Sanctuary trail. The woodland edge of the Sanctuary is in the background

4. This trail leads south to the creek and forested areas of the Starling Nature Sanctuary.

5. The foot bridge over the creek at the Starling Nature Sanctuary.

 

 

6. A view of the creek at the Starling Nature Sanctuary, looking west from the foot bridge.

7. A view of the creek at the Starling Nature Sanctuary, looking east from the foot bridge.

8. The foot trail at the Starling Nature Sanctuary, south of the foot bridge.

9. A view of the Starling Nature Sanctuary, looking west from the foot trail.

10. The foot trail leads south, up a forested hill toward the former Block Estate.

 

 

            Starling Nature Sanctuary-East Unit

 

11. The gated, gravel loop parking lot at the east unit of the Starling Nature Sanctuary.

12. A view of the tall grass prairie, from the gravel loop parking lot of the east unit of the Starling Nature Sancturay.

13. A view of the tall grass prairie, looking south.

14. The tall grass prairie trail, which leads south to the marsh observation deck. Prairie is to the left, woodland edge to the right.

15. The marsh observation deck at the south end of the tall grass prairie - Starling Nature Sanctuary-East.

 

 

16. From the marsh observation deck, looking south toward Eagle Creek Reservoir.

17. From the marsh observation deck, looking west.

18. The Eagle Creek Park sign at the 71st Street Entrance Gate.

19. The Eagle statue at the 71st Street Entrance Gate.

20. The valley northwest of the 71st Street Entrance Gate.

 

 

                Coffer Dam - Bird Sanctuary Lake

 

21. The Coffer Dam parking lot, looking west.

22. The Bird Sanctuary Lake at the Nature Center Complex. The Coffer Dam (levee) is at the top-right of the photo.

23. The Coffer Dam Road leads south and encircles the Bird Sanctuary Lake. The Sanctuary is on the left, the north channel is to the right (west).

24. From the Coffer Dam parking lot, looking northwest into the channel. The tiny white dots are gulls resting on the rocks.

25. From the Coffer Dam parking lot, looking northeast into the north channel.

 

 

                                    The North Loop

26. The Bird Sanctuary Lake, looking south from the Coffer Dam Road.

27. The Coffer Dam Road leads west to this fork in the road. The road veering right (north) is the beginning of the North Loop.

28. The North Loop Road leads you to a bridge over a tiny creek. The road splits just beyond this road to form the North Loop.

29. From the bridge at the North Loop, looking east.

30. From the bridge at the North Loop, looking west.

 

 

31. Open-brush habitat along the North Loop, looking north.

32. Brush piles along the east side of the North Loop Road. Good for sparrows.

33. This foot trail leads east, to the far northeast section of Eagle Creek Reservoir.

34. The far northeast section of Eagle Creek Reservoir. The I-65 overpass is at the top of this photo. Note the mudflats just below the overpass.

35. The far northeast section of Eagle Creek Reservoir, looking north.

 

To continue the Photo Tour, click on the "Photo Tour 2" button at the top-left corner of this page.

 

 

 

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Copyright © 2003 Steve Pancol
Last modified: 02/08/07