7 Canopy Walks Where You Can Get a Bird’s-Eye View of Spring Migration

Action-packed as spring birding often is, it can be a strain to spot tiny songbirds darting through foliage high above. If the birds won’t come down to you, why not go up to them? Canopy walkways around North America make spring birding a breezy outing, and most options featured here are wheelchair-accessible. They’re a way to fulfill “every birder’s dream—to be up in the treetops with the birds," says British Columbia–based naturalist Ann Nightingale, who regularly visits the Malahat Skywalk included below

Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary – Texas (above)

Ascend a ramp to the Kathrine G. McGovern Canopy Walkway in High Island, Texas, and you’ll be at eye level with Prothonotary Warblers, while alligators bask in the murky water below. Overlook platforms offer an intimate glimpse of nesting Great Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, and Black-crowned Night Herons. “You’re in the realm of birds,” says Jed Aplaca, president and CEO of Houston Audubon, which operates the walkway.
Opens at 7 a.m.; $10 for a sanctuary day pass

Malahat Skywalk – British Columbia, Canada

Overlooking fjords and peninsulas at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the Malahat Skywalk, which is raised 65 feet above ground for most of its length before culminating in a spiral up to a height of 130 feet, is a great place to see not only birds of the Pacific Northwest but also any whales that may pass below. Visitors might encounter Violet-green Swallows zipping past, Townsend’s Warblers and Red-breasted Nuthatches flitting amid Douglas firs, or raptors like Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons perched in the treetops. Elusive species like Sooty Grouse are possible here, too; keep an ear out for their low booms in spring.
Opens at 9 a.m.; $46.95 CAD ($34.50 USD)

Blacklick Woods Metro Park – Ohio

Constructed in 2024, this 40-foot-high canopy walk is a perfect perch for spotting migratory songbirds. Cerulean Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, and American Redstarts dart through the foliage of oaks, maples, and beeches, while Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks pop by the boardwalk’s hanging feeders. For the more adventurous, traverse the walkway’s rope bridges, fireman’s pole, and treehouse. This year from April 20 to May 22 the canopy walk will open two hours early—at 7 a.m.—to provide access during peak bird activity.
Opens at 9 a.m.; free
 

Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge – Texas

Located in one of the most biodiverse regions in the United States, this 20-foot-high swinging bridge provides treetop views of tropical birds rarely seen in the rest of the country. Great Kiskadees, Green Jays, and Groove-billed Anis are common sights here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, along with many migrating songbirds that stop to refuel at the refuge, including Golden-winged Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chats. Santa Ana is also a destination for migrating raptors such as Broad-winged and Swainson’s Hawks. If you’re lucky, you may even spot rare raptors like Hook-billed Kites. 
Opens at sunrise; $5 parking fee

Whiting Forest, Dow Gardens – Michigan

Immersed in a forest full of pines, maples, and oaks, this 40-foot-high canopy walkway is one of the longest in the country. Winding for about 1400 feet, you’ll come across a wide variety of habitats, such as stands of mature red pines, wildflower meadows, and not one—but two—forest ponds. Peer into the trees for species like Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Buntings, and Pine Warblers, or Tree Swallows dipping along the water.
Opens at 9 a.m. (10 a.m. in winter); $15 for adults

Myakka River State Park – Florida

Taking you 25 feet high above the hammock forests of southwest Florida (with a tower reaching up to 75 feet in the air), this walkway requires a climb of 100 stairs. Look for Black Vultures circling above your head, Swallow-tailed Kites soaring in the distance, or Palm Warblers flitting amidst the oaks. This is also a great place to check out treetop insects like colorful treehoppers, or alligators swimming in the wetlands below.
Opens at 8 a.m.; $6 parking fee per vehicle

Wild Walk at the Wild Center – New York

Towering up to 30 feet above balsam firs in the Adirondack Mountains, the Wild Walk takes a bird’s perspective to the next level. This immersive walkway features large tree snags, swinging bridges, and even a life-size replica of a Bald Eagle nest! There is also a special observation area with bird feeders, baths, and blinds, great places to spot Black-capped Chickadees and Hairy Woodpeckers. You can also scan the conifer forest for migrants like Ovenbirds, Blue-headed Vireos, and Hermit Thrushes.
Opens at 10 a.m.; $26 

This story originally ran in the Spring 2026 issue as “An Elevated Look.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today.