According to the agency website: "The Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area consists of 11,855 acres of land; 6,313 acres of land owned by the State of New York and 5,542 acres of land on which the State owns conservation easements. The Area and the surrounding landscape consist of forested rolling hills which are deeply dissected by streams and rivers. Soils are thin and rocky, particularly along the steeper slopes bordering the Mongaup River and its associated reservoirs. Human population is sparse and development is mostly residential.
The Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in southwestern New York approximately 75 miles northwest of New York City in the Towns of Bethel, Lumberland, Forestburgh, and Highland in Sullivan County and the Town of Deer Park in Orange County. The Area is bordered by the Delaware River at its southernmost point and encompassed by State Routes 42 to the east, 17B to the north, and to the west by State Route 55 and Sullivan County Routes 32 and 31.
Eagle viewing blinds, located on County Route 43 and Plank Road at Rio Reservoir, are provided to assist visitors in watching the eagles without disturbing them. Please stay in the blind or in your vehicle as you watch the birds. Visit the Bald Eagle Viewing page for more helpful tips.
There is accessible parking at both viewing blind locations and a wooded access path to the Plank Road blind.
Directions to the eagle viewing blinds
Take State Highway 42 from Monticello or Port Jervis. In the Town of Forestburgh, turn to the west on Forestburgh Rd. (County Rte. 43). Proceed 0.75 mile to Plank Rd. Turn left onto Plank Road and proceed 2.5 miles to the parking area on the right. To visit the second viewing blind, return north to County Rte. 43, turn left and proceed 1.5 miles to the bridge at the head of the reservoir."
Department Of Environmental Conservation Accessible Recreation Destination
Wildlife Observation, Viewing Blinds, Hunting, Trapping, Wildlife Photography
Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area Map
Plank Road Eagle Viewing Blind
Plank Road Viewing Blind Interior Signage