The New Hampshire-Vermont state line runs through the middle of Wilder Dam Reservoir. If you carefully keep your bird records by county and state, be aware of the location of the state line and use the appropriate eBird hotspots when you submit checklists.
Kilowatt Park near Wilder Dam is most easily reached from US-5 by taking Depot Street to Passumpsic Avenue. The main area is Kilowatt South, but a trail takes one to Kilowatt North and this is worth the walk.
Ducks in the Connecticut River are often too far away to view with anything but a scope. But sometimes they come within camera range. Early morning light is directly off the river and often harsh.
From Jim Block
See all hotspots at Wilder Dam
Wilder Dam, the major hydropower dam influencing the Connecticut River in the Upper Valley, straddles the river between Lebanon and Hartford. The dam impounds (backs up) the river for 45 miles upstream, and receives drainage from a 3,375- square-mile watershed in New Hampshire and Vermont. Wilder’s three turbines have a combined generating capacity of 42 megawatts.
Roadside viewing
Restrooms on site
Wheelchair accessible trail
Entrance fee
Content from Wilder Dam Official Website
Last updated January 11, 2024