Sandhill Cranes
Each spring the most incredible migration event in the world passes through the North Platte, Nebraska area. More than 400,000 Sandhill Cranes spend about six weeks in the North Platte River valley fortifying themselves for the nesting period to come. While they are here, the North Platte River is the perfect place to view the spectacular concentrations of Sandhill Cranes as they come to strategically roost for the night, or as they awake and take off for another day of feeding. In between their rests on the river, they will spend their days dancing in our cornfields. They engage in beautiful courtship and pair-bonding behaviors. Courting cranes are magnificent as they stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow, and leap into the air in a graceful and energetic dance. Parents will dance with their chicks for the entire first year of their lives. Juvenile Sandhill Cranes will use the complex dance steps they learned to select a mate when they are two to five years old. They will mate for life, though continue to show their affection to their mates each spring with their dancing prowess. The only way to understand the magic of this migration is to see it for yourself. Join us this spring in North Platte: Nebraska's best kept Crane secret.
Tickets for 2024 guided birding tours are now available on the Dusty Trails website! These are viewing tours only, as hunting Sandhill Cranes is not allowed in the state of Nebraska. Tours include Sandhill Crane Daytime Bus Tours, Sandhill Crane Evening Blind Tours, Sandhill Crane Morning Blind Tours, and Prairie Chicken Tours. Sandhill Crane tours will run March 12th, 2024 - April 1st, 2024. Prairie Chicken Tours will run March 13th, 2024 - April 20th, 2024.
More information on guided tours as well as self guided public viewing options is available below!
Experience Sandhill Cranes in the North Platte Area
Weather you plan to catch a glimpse of the Cranes as you pass through, or you are looking to combine all four unique Sandhill Crane and Prairie Chicken tours into an incredible, multi day spring birding experience, North Platte has you covered!
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At sunrise and sunset the North Platte river is the perfect place to view the spectacular concentrations of sandhill cranes as they awake and take off for another day of feeding and dancing, or as they come to strategically roost for the night.
Dusty Trails, your outdoor specialists in North Platte, has partnered with a landowner along the North Platte River to place a Crane viewing blind near a large roost.
All tours are accompanied by an experienced guide. The morning blind tours will involve walking into the blind in complete darkness and remaining in the blind until all of the birds have left the river. The evening blind tours will involve walking into the blind before sunset and remaining in the blind until full dark. Your guide will lead you to and from the blind. Please review all guidelines and the list of what to bring with you on the Dusty Trails website.
Two public viewing blinds are available for those wanting to venture on their own. Please see the North River Wildlife Area Blind and the North Platte City Blind on our brochure.
Both of these locations are available on a first come, first served basis, and both areas are open to the public and free of charge. Please dress warmly, as neither of these blinds are heated and temperatures can be quite low before sunrise and after sunset. It is also highly encouraged that you look over the Public Blind Etiquette ahead of time. If you are planning on watching the Cranes during sunrise, we also recommend visiting the blind the day before so you are familiar with the area before you make the trek in complete darkness. Please keep in mind, that while the patterns of the Sandhill Cranes are fairly reliable, we cannot guarantee their presence at any particular location during your visit.
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The spectacular Dance of the Sandhill Crane is something that can’t be experienced in a viewing blind on the river. One of the best ways to watch the Dance of the Sandhill Crane is to use your car as a mobile viewing blind along the rural roads.
To aid you in your experience of the Sandhill Crane migration, Dusty Trails, your outdoor specialists in North Platte has developed tours during the most active time of the day for the Sandhill Crane courtship behaviors.
All tours include a round trip through the North Platte River valley between North Platte and Hershey. The tour will linger along the rural roads wherever there are large groups of Sandhill Cranes so that you can observe, video and photograph as much as you would like. While on the tour, you will be treated to information about the Sandhill Cranes, their migration and behaviors you may observe in the fields. Please review all guidelines and the list of what to bring with you on the Dusty Trails website.
We recommend using your personal vehicle as a mobile viewing blind during this time of day. The Golden Spike Tower here in North Platte is also a great place to catch some views of the dancing Cranes. Please see our recommended driving route, the Buffalo Bill State Historical Park Blind, and the Golden Spike Tower in our brochure.
Please note, that the blind at Buffalo Bill State Historical Park is mobile and is sometimes utilized for other events, but even if it is not there, this is still a great viewing area to see the Sandhill Cranes from your vehicle. If using your vehicle as a mobile viewing blind, please use caution when parking along roadsides and remember that most areas along the driving route are private property so please do not trespass. It is also highly encouraged that you look over the Birding Etiquette ahead of time. If you are planning to visit the Golden Spike Tower, there is a charge to visit/view the birds from the 7th and 8th stories. Please keep in mind, that while the patterns of the Sandhill Cranes are fairly reliable, we cannot guarantee their presence at any particular location during your visit.
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In the spring the hearts of the Nebraska Greater Prairie Chickens turn toward love. To successfully attract a female mate, the male Prairie Chickens must impress them with their dancing prowess. Males will gather in large numbers on dancing grounds known as leks.
Dusty Trails will hosts excursions to a large and busy Prairie Chicken lek located south of Sutherland.
Visitors will be transported to the lek by bus or van, a trip of about an hour and arrive at the lek prior to sunrise. This tour will remain at the lek for about three hours allowing visitors to enjoy the amazing sights and sounds of these incredible birds as they practice and perform various mating rituals. They will cackle, jump and stomp their feet, sometimes scuffling with a rival. Then they will scrunch down and inflate their bright orange neck sacks and emit an eerie booming sound. The ladies on the other hand will observe the shenanigans circumspectly, examining the prospects with a critical eye. However, if they see something they like, they may come forward for a brief, flurried assignation. Please review all guidelines and the list of what to bring with you on the Dusty Trails website.
The NCORPE project offers a public viewing option to see the dance of the Prairie Chickens. To request a viewing date, you must make a reservation. Please see NCORPE on our brochure for directions.
You must make a reservation in advance to view the Prairie Chickens here. Viewers will need to arrive at the NCORPE office 1 hour and 15 minutes before sunrise. The public is advised to dress accordingly (dark clothing recommended) and to bring all personal gear needed for viewing wildlife. Only a viewing blind will be provided. No flashlights, camera equipment, binoculars, and/or personal gear will be provided. No restrooms available. Please note, this location is approximately a 30 minute drive from North Platte. Reservations can be made by contacting Kyle Shepherd at (308)534-6752 or
kshepherd@urnrd.org. -
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Approaching cranes or waterfowl will only cause them to fly away.
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Avoid loud noises or flashing lights around cranes, as it is illegal and disrupts the birds.
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Do not stop on highways, driveways, or any other private farm road to watch wildlife.
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Respect private property. Do not trespass! Most land in the Platte River valley is private.
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Use your vehicle as a Viewing Blind to avoid disturbing the birds.
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Wanting to see other bird species during your visit? Check out these suggested routes!
