Spring Safari on the Southeastern Colorado Prairie

Experience the vibrant spring life of Colorado’s shortgrass prairie up close.

Winter has passed, and the southeastern Colorado plains are alive with movement. Grasslands wave under endless skies as raptors wheel overhead and songbirds stake out their summer territories. Prairie dogs stand sentry at their towns, offering chances to spot burrowing owls and attracting predators like ferruginous hawks and badgers. On the horizon, bison graze in small herds, and pronghorn glide effortlessly across open country. Migrating songbirds from the south add flashes of brilliant color, making spring on the prairie a season of spectacle and renewal.

This exclusive weekend trip offers rare access to two protected properties that few people ever get to experience, creating extraordinary opportunities for wildlife viewing across the Southern Plains. We’ll spend time at May Ranch, an Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly working cattle ranch intentionally managed to conserve native grasslands and wildlife habitat. Here, birds and mammals thrive within a rich mosaic of shortgrass prairie, grassland ponds and beaver meadows, and active prairie dog complexes – habitats that support an abundance of life.

We’ll also explore the largest preserve of Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT), where landscape-scale conservation has restored vast, connected prairie ecosystems. These protected lands provide critical habitat for bison, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and other iconic prairie species, offering guests exceptional chances to observe wildlife moving freely across open terrain. SPLT’s work includes streamside and riparian restoration to welcome beavers and strengthen entire ecosystems, along with the removal of barriers such as unsafe fencing—allowing bison, pronghorn, and other wide-ranging wildlife to roam as they once did.

Our Roaming Bison American safari van offers comfortable seating and a pop‑top for panoramic viewing, functioning like a rolling blind—ideal for observing grassland wildlife without disturbing the natural rhythms of the prairie.

About Your Expedition Leader: Carly Crow from Reefs to Rockies is thrilled to host this small‑group wildlife expedition to southeastern Colorado. A passionate birder and field biologist since 2017, Carly specializes in bird banding and field studies. Her work across the U.S. and abroad has deepened her appreciation for avian diversity and prairie ecosystems, and she brings curiosity, discovery, and enthusiasm to every trip she leads.

Conservation Impact: This trip directly supports the long-term protection of North America’s grasslands. On behalf of all participants, a donation will be made to both Southern Plains Land Trust and Audubon Rockies, helping advance complementary conservation efforts across the region. Founded in 1998, Southern Plains Land Trust creates and protects a network of shortgrass prairie preserves that secure a future for native prairie wildlife through land acquisition, restoration, and stewardship. Audubon Rockies works to conserve and restore vital grassland and bird habitats, supporting science-based conservation measures that benefit birds, wildlife, and working landscapes alike. Together, these organizations ensure that the landscapes we explore, and the wildlife that depends on them, continue to thrive.

ITINERARY

Day 1 (Fri, May 15): Departure from Denver & May Ranch ~ Depart Denver in the morning in the Roaming Bison safari van, heading southeast through widening prairie. In the afternoon, arrive at May Ranch, where intentional management for wildlife supports abundant grassland mammals and birds. Wander prairie edges and open fields where prairie dogs herald the presence of burrowing owls, horned larks, lark buntings, and western meadowlarks. Raptors such as northern harriers and Swainson’s hawks cruise the warming air. By evening, we’ll settle into our hotel in Lamar and enjoy dinner together.

Accommodations: Historic Cow Palace Inn
Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 (Sat, May 16): Southern Plains Land Trust ~ After breakfast, spend the day at a Southern Plains Land Trust preserve. Explore sweeping shortgrass prairie where restoration efforts have expanded habitat for native wildlife, including opportunities for beavers to engineer riparian areas and support birds and other animals.

Watch for free‑roaming bison grazing the grasslands and pronghorn coursing across open terrain. Scan the skies for ferruginous and Swainson’s hawks, and listen for kingbirds, meadowlarks, and other songbirds amid the spring chorus. On the ground, keep an eye out for elusive mountain plovers, often seen near prairie dog colonies, which draw attention from predators and provide lively viewing, while badgers may be seen patrolling the edges of burrows. Take time to savor the interactions of mammals and birds across this working prairie landscape.

Accommodations: Historic Cow Palace Inn

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3 (Sun, May 17): Return to Denver ~ Enjoy a final morning exploring some of the region’s best spots for spring migrants, with our route guided by the latest reports and the group’s interests. After a farewell lunch in Lamar, we’ll return to Denver in the afternoon, wrapping up our spring prairie adventure.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

DETAILS

Price: $1950* per person based on two people sharing double occupancy accommodations. Add $115** if you prefer private, single occupancy accommodations.

Inclusions: double occupancy accommodations, Expedition Leader (Carly Crow), transportation in custom 4WD safari van from Denver meeting point, daily guided wildlife viewing with spotting scope available, special access fees, and all meals starting with lunch on Day 1 through Lunch on Day 3. Conservation donations to Audubon Rockies and Southern Plains Land Trust will be made on behalf of all participants.

Exclusions: transportation to/from the meeting point in Denver, activities not listed, travel insurance, gratuities, and personal expenses.

*Price is for payment by ACH or check. Credit card fees, if applicable, will be assessed at time of payment.

**If you are a solo traveler who prefers to share a double occupancy room, but no suitable roommate is available, the private room surcharge will apply.

Group Size: Min 5; Max 7 participants + guide. This trip starts and ends in Denver, Colorado.

Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Ability to climb up and down from a passenger van that is lifted for 4WD (stool provided) is required. This trip involves multiple short daily walks on varied terrain with most walks between 1.5–2.5 miles in length and a total distance of up to 3–5 miles on a given day.