Spring Magic in Nebraska
Trip Overview
Join us for a magical springtime prairie tour in Nebraska, timed to one of nature’s most extraordinary migrations.
Each March, more than half a million sandhill cranes gather along Nebraska’s Platte River to rest and refuel on their way north. Jane Goodall has called it “without a doubt one of the most spectacular events in the natural world.” The sight—and sound—of this ancient migration is truly unforgettable, and you’ll have front-row seats.
Beyond the cranes, we’ll search for other iconic grassland species, from greater prairie-chickens performing their booming dawn displays to singing meadowlarks, all under the guidance of expert naturalist Carly Crow. Along the way, we’ll explore the essential role grassland ecosystems play and the vital conservation work underway to protect them.
Our tours in Nebraska are designed to slow down and tune in to nature, to place, and to the joy of spring’s return. With cozy accommodations, small-group camaraderie, and expertly guided experiences, Spring Magic in Nebraska is your chance to witness one of the world’s great wildlife events—and support conservation efforts that make a difference.
Itinerary
Day 1 | From Denver to the Plains
Our journey begins in Denver, where we’ll hit the road and travel northeast across the plains to Ogallala, Nebraska. Along the way, we’ll get to know one another and begin to watch the landscape shift as we head into the heart of crane country. Our day ends with our first crane fly-in.
Accommodations: Overnight in Ogallala
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2 | Sandhill Crane Spectacle
After breakfast, we’ll spend the day birding en route to North Platte, exploring key migration rest stops and keeping our eyes out for eagles, owls, and early arriving grassland birds.
As sunset approaches, we’ll step quietly into an intimate viewing blind for an unforgettable evening with the cranes—watching thousands come in to roost, filling the sky and riverbanks with sound and movement.
Accommodations: Overnight in North Platte
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3 | Prairie Birds and Conservation Stories
Our route today takes us deeper into prairie country as we travel to McCook, birding as we go. We’ll visit wildlife-rich habitats and scenic backroads to search for species like northern harriers, meadowlarks, and migrating waterfowl.
This evening, we’ll gather for a special discussion on greater prairie-chicken conservation and learn about the efforts to protect these unique birds and their disappearing habitats.
Accommodations: Overnight in McCook
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4 | Prairie-Chicken Lek and Return to Denver
It’s an early start for the prairie chicken tours in Nebraska, but for good reason: Today, we experience the greater prairie-chicken lek, a dawn ritual of booming, dancing, and strutting by males competing for mates. It’s a breathtaking glimpse into the wild heart of the prairie.
Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast before making our way back to Denver, hearts full of all we’ve experienced during our birding tours in Nebraska for women.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
About Your Expedition Leader
Meet Carly Crow, your naturalist guide with a passion for wildlife and a deep desire to share the wonders of nature with others. Originally from Georgia and now based in Denver, Colorado, she holds a Bachelor of Science in ecology and a master’s in biology, with a focus on ecology and evolution. Her time as a field ornithologist has taken her around the world—including to the wilds of Costa Rica—and now she’s bringing that experience to you as a Her Wild Life Expeditions guide. Though she’s often asked about her favorite bird or mammal, Carly believes that’s a forbidden question—like asking a parent to pick a favorite child! When she’s not guiding or chasing birds, you can find her drawing, hiking in the Rockies, or curled up with a book. If she won the lottery, she’d buy some land to keep chickens and bees and run a roadside stand selling eggs and honey.
Details
Price: $2475* per person based on private, single-occupancy accommodations. If you are traveling with someone and prefer to share a room, a double occupancy rate is available.
What’s Included: round-trip transportation from Denver in the Roaming Bison custom safari van; 3 nights of lodging as listed (single occupancy included); all meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 4; activities and entrance fees as listed; expert naturalist guide Carly Crow; daily birding walks and wildlife viewing sessions; field snacks and water; gratuities for local guides in North Platte and McCook and for restaurant meals; and a conservation donation to Southern Plains Land Trust.
What’s Not Included: airfare or other transportation to/from Denver; travel insurance (quotes available); optional activities not listed; pre- or post-trip hotels; room upgrades; gratuities for expedition leader and hotel staff; personal expenses.
*Reflects payment by check or ACH. Credit card fees, if applicable will be assessed at time of booking.
Group Size: 5-7
Every Her Wild Life expedition is crafted for women’s adventure travel groups who want full, active days of authentic, immersive wildlife experiences. This often means being active when wildlife is most active. The birding tours in Nebraska for women are carefully planned to put you in the right place at the right time, while acknowledging that unforgettable wildlife encounters require both a bit of luck and the expertise of your guide team.
This Nebraska expedition involves:
- Full, enriching days in the field, centered around two core wildlife viewing opportunities: the sandhill crane migration and the greater prairie-chicken lek.
- Early mornings, especially on the day we visit the lek, to catch birds at their most active.
- Daily birding walks and roadside stops, with most activities involving light walking or standing for periods of time, including walks of up to a mile and birding session lasting 30 minutes to an hour.
- Variable March weather, which may include wind, cold winter conditions, or mild spring sunshine.
- Quiet, respectful time in unheated bird blinds, with sessions typically lasting two hours and designed to minimize disturbance to wildlife.
- The ability to climb in and out of a lifted 4WD passenger van using a provided stool.
Conservation Impact
The Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT), founded in 1998, creates and protects a network of shortgrass prairie preserves, ensuring a future for native flora and fauna. A donation to SPLT to aid in their land acquisition efforts will be made on behalf of all participants.
