Lock and Dam 13 (Fulton)
Illinois
An elevated platform four miles north of Fulton puts you directly over a working lock chamber -- this is one of the Army Corps of Engineers' flagship winter eagle-watch sites on the whole river, with flocks of bald eagles, white pelicans, and cormorants converging on the ice-free tailwater.
Why Roamward picked it
A second, distinct Illinois-side lock-and-dam eagle site (not to be confused with Lock and Dam 15 upstream at the Quad Cities), pairing naturally with Fulton's Dutch-windmill riverfront for a two-stop small-town detour on the Illinois Great River Road.
Hours, admission, and access change — confirm with the official source before you plan the detour.
On the drive · A stop on Des Moines → Chicago
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