Review Detail
4.0 1 0.5
Lakes, Rivers, Waterways
Winfield Lock & Dam - Watch river barges negotiate the lock
(Updated: October 25, 2021)
Rating
4.0
When in the area, we have stopped by the Winfield Lock & Dam to see the barges and "tugboats" (we always called them "towboats" even though they push the barges) negotiate the lock here from closeup. It is a "hit-or-miss" matter of whether there are barges negotiating the lock. It seems that about 1/3 of our visits we have been lucky enough to see it in action.
Whether or not there is barge traffic, you still get a closeup look at the lock, dam, and the Mississippi River. There is plenty of parking and spartan restrooms (they seem to be seasonally open) located at the upstream end of the parking lot. On nice days, some people just sit in their cars watching the river.
It used to be that just below the Winfield Lock & Dam was located the Winfield Ferry which, as of this writing, is not operating due to financial reasons. We hope that the ferry does get back into service as one was conveniently able to cross over to the Illinois side of the Mississippi River from here.
Whether or not there is barge traffic, you still get a closeup look at the lock, dam, and the Mississippi River. There is plenty of parking and spartan restrooms (they seem to be seasonally open) located at the upstream end of the parking lot. On nice days, some people just sit in their cars watching the river.
It used to be that just below the Winfield Lock & Dam was located the Winfield Ferry which, as of this writing, is not operating due to financial reasons. We hope that the ferry does get back into service as one was conveniently able to cross over to the Illinois side of the Mississippi River from here.
