Greater Prairie-Chicken Trail

Sites on this Trail

Wray Area
Description:
One of the largest towns on the eastern plains, Wray is a great town from which to base yourself when birding in the area. Wray Prairie-Chicken Viewing Tours take place in March and April each year, a cooperative effort of the Wray Museum, Wray Chamber of Commerce, Kitzmuller Ranch, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife--see the website for details. The best birding in Wray is in Rainbow Park and along the river nearby. Although Wray is very nice, the best birding in the area is northwest of town, at the Wray Fish Hatchery and the adjacent Stalker Lake SWA.

Directions:
Wray is at the junction of US 34 and US 385. Rainbow Park is in the northwest corner of town, on the south side of US 34 just where it enters town. To get to Stalker Lake SWA and the Wray Fish Hatchery, head west from town on US 34 about a mile and a half to CR FF and turn north. The entrance road to Stalker Lake is on the left (west) about a mile north of 34. The entrance road to the State Fishing Unit is just a little farther north, on the other side of the draw.

Access:
Open all year
Greater Prairie-Chicken areas
Description:
The sandsage prairie just north of Wray contains the vast majority of Colorado's Greater Prairie-Chickens. The only reliable lek locations at this time are located on private lands. Several groups and ranches operate tours to see the chickens on their leks in spring, and this is by far your best shot at seeing the birds; see the website for details. If you are are really strapped for time, you can look for the birds along the county roads north of Wray and east of US 385 just after dawn in April and May. The chickens are easy to hear from the road but often difficult to see - most of the leks are on the far side of the numerous hills! No matter how close the birds sound, DO NOT LEAVE THE ROADS.

Directions:
To get to the densest concentration of leks, drive north on US 385 from Wray about eleven miles and turn right (east) onto CR 45. This road winds around, eventually looping south to become CR PP, which goes all the way south to US 34 east of Wray. Chickens could be seen all along this route, though the northern half is better. Other leks might be seen along the adjacent stretch of CR RR and along roads KK and 42, south of CR 45.

Access:
Open all year
Lazy LW Ranch
Description:
Nestled in the sandhills northwest of Wray, the Lazy LW offers hiking and birding among the sandsage in Greater Prairie-Chicken country. The Wilsons have a Greater Prairie-Chicken lek on their property and have developed a grazing system to encourage nesting. The shelterbelts around the homestead offer good birding and are a reliable spot for Loggerhead Shrike and Northern Bobwhite.

Directions:

Access:
Open all year, contact owner prior to visit, Dee Wilson (970) 630-7235
Sandsage State Wildlife Area
Description:
This small SWA just west of Wray provides access to a stretch of the South Republican River and adjacent grassland. Check the sparse riparian for Orchard Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Brown Thrasher, and the more open areas can have Eastern Kingbird, various sparrow species, and Lark Buntings. Hunting occurs on this property, so be sure to check for seasonal restrictions before visiting.

Directions:
From Wray: Go 4.5 miles west on HWY 34 to CR 35. Head 1/4 mile west to CR CC and then 1/2 mile south.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Yuma
Description:
Yuma is a fairly large plains town and has lots of mature deciduous trees for birders (and birds) to choose from. City Park in the north part of town might be a good place to start - it has a few large trees that shade a good-sized duck pond. Northeast of town, the Yuma cemetery has medium-sparse vegetation, but its isolation may help it concentrate migrants better than the town. South of the cemetery is one of the nicest sets of sewage ponds on the Eastern Plains - not to be missed by anyone traveling the US 34 corridor.

Directions:
Yuma is along US 34 at its junction with CO 59. To get to the park with the duck pond from US 34, turn north on CO 59 and go about half a mile. The park is one block west of CO 59, just south of the railroad tracks. To get to the cemetery, continue north on CO 59 to CR 39 and turn right (east). The cemetery is about a mile from this intersection on the north side of the road. To get to the sewage ponds, turn south on CR G just east of the cemetery; they are on the east side of the road about three quarters of a mile south, and a quarter mile north of US 34.

Access:
Open all year
Otis
Description:
Small and isolated, this prairie town has a few mature deciduous trees. The cemetery south of town contains some good juniper hedgerows worth a quick look in winter or migration. Just east of town is the town's sole sewage pond, which is small but can attract various waterfowl, ibis, and who knows what else!

Directions:
Otis is along US 34 thirteen miles east of Akron and thirteen miles west of Yuma. The sewage pond is just north of US 34 on the west side of CR SS.

Access:
Open all year
Akron
Description:
The county seat and largest town in Washington County, Akron has some decent large trees worth checking in migration. It also has more amenities than most of the other small towns in the area.

Directions:
Akron is along US 34, about 25 miles east of Brush.

Access:
Open all year
Longspur and Plover areas in Washington County
Description:
Typically Chestnut-collared Longspur breed on private land in Washington County on Road KK between Road 19 and Road 20. McCown's Longspur and Mountain Plover have also been seen in this vicinity, and pronghorn and jackrabbit are very common; even badgers may be seen. When looking for wildlife, you need to stay on the public road.

Directions:
From Akron, head 21 miles south on CO 63 to CR 20 and turn left (east). Road KK is seven miles east at a T intersection.

Access:
Open all year, Dawn to dusk
Last Chance
Description:
Last Chance is a tiny town without services. However, it does have a rest stop backed by a small city park, and the grove of trees there is a legendary stopover spot for exhausted migrant birds traversing the dry treeless plains. Don't drive past it without stopping in spring and fall--you never know what you might find.

Directions:
Last Chance is at the intersection of US 36 and CO 71. The rest stop thicket is on the southwest corner of this intersection.

Access:
Open all year
May Farms
Description:
May Farms features a 1/2 mile of West Bijou Creek that includes a deciduous riparian forest. Look for Great Horned Owls, Bald Eagles and variety of other raptors and songbirds that nest on the property. A pond also attracts waterfowl all year long. The May family has been pioneering agritourism since the early 2000’s; they offer a variety of opportunities to enjoy while visiting this farm less than an hour from Denver.

Directions:
From Denver: head east on I-70 for approximately 42 miles to Byers. Take exit 316/Main Street and go south. At HWY 36, head west for 0.9 miles. The entrance to May Farms is on the north.

Access:
, Contact host
Cope
Description:
Cope is a small and charming town with a lot of big trees but few amenities. Eurasian Collared-Dove is abundant here, and rare doves sometimes occur. Look out for migrant landbirds in spring and fall, and sapsuckers sometimes spend the winter.

Directions:
Cope is along US 36 at its junction with CO 59, between Last Chance and Idalia.

Access:
Open all year
Idalia
Description:
This small town has some nice big trees, both deciduous and coniferous, and so may function as something of a migrant trap, possibly worth a stroll in fall or spring. Collared-Doves are numerous, and Great-tailed Grackles may breed.

Directions:
Idalia is along US 36 two miles west of US 385.

Access:
Open all year
Sandy Bluffs State Wildlife Area & State Trust Land
Description:
A large and beautiful piece of state land north of Idalia, Sandy Bluffs overflows with sandsage, yucca slopes, and eroded outcrops. Watch for Rock Wren, raptors, and sparrows (Cassin's, Lark and Vesper in the warmer months, White-crowned and possibly White-throated and Harris' in the colder months). Coyotes, pronghorn, jackrabbits and even bobcats and porcupines may be found on the property. The land is bisected by the Arikaree River, and a good deal of the mature cottonwood forest along the river bottom is accessible on foot.

Directions:
Drive north from the town of Idalia on CR DD about eight miles to the property, which is on both sides of the Arikaree River. Obey posted limits on access.

Access:
September 1 to May 31 (Closed in summer), 4 am to 9 pm
Beecher Island area
Description:
The Beecher Island Battleground, a National Historic Site, is on private land that permits public access. The site contains a memorial, an informational display, a beautiful picnic area in the middle of mature riverbottom cottonwoods, and a one-mile nature trail through native sandsage prairie, river bluffs, and trees. The Arikaree River bottom mostly lacks underbrush, but some junipers around the buildings provide cover, and the tall trees are likely to host woodpeckers, nuthatches, owls and migrant passerines in season.

Directions:
From US 36 a few miles west of the Kansas line, drive north on CR LL about 10 miles to Beecher Island Battleground, on the west side of the road and the north side of the Arikaree River.

Access:
Open all year