Bald Eagle Pair - McHenry Dam has a resident bald eagle pair. They nest across the dam. They can be viewed from the parking area, about three quarters of the way to the end. Look across the Fox River into the trees. Binoculars give a great view.  They usually begin updating  the nest in February. 

Herons and Egrets - many birds fish at the dam but you can usually find great blue herons and great egrets fishing right at the dam.

Double Crested Cormorants - There are several trees in the middle of the Fox River down from the dam that the cormorants call home. 

Purple Martins - McHenry Dam has some nesting boxes for purple martins and they come every year.

McHenry Dam, nestled in the southwest corner of Moraine Hills State Park, is a large and peaceful destination in itself. With the quiet roar of the dam in the background and a stand of large, dense trees, the dam offers a lovely place to relax for fishermen and picnickers alike. Moraine Hills State Park’s system of hiking trails connects the dam to the rest of the park, but the dam has its own parking area and facilities as well.

To find the dam, set your GPS to 42°18’36.3″N 88°14’59.1″W, or look for the intersection of South River Road and McHenry Dam Road southeast of McHenry at the bottom of Moraine Hills State Park. Then just follow McHenry Dam Road until it ends in the parking lot.

McHenry Dam is the starting point for the Fox River Trail. The AllTrails Website has details on the hike itself.