Annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival

Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition, Inc. presents the annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival every fall. The festival occurs during fall staging - when cranes gather in large numbers in the fall to feed and gain energy for their migration south. The festival is held in beautiful Northwest Colorado with events in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig. The festival features guided crane-viewings, bird and nature walks, expert speakers, films, crane and bird art, children and family activities, and more.

Schedule of Events:

5:45am-8:45am: Guided Sunrise Crane Viewing

Stockbridge Transit Center

Shuttles will transport you to two locations where you can get off the shuttles to view the cranes flying overhead and feeding in agricultural fields. Paul Tebbel will address your questions and provide pertinent info about Sandhill Cranes and their behavior to enhance your crane viewing experience. The shuttles depart and return to Stockbridge Transit Center. Click here for directions.

8:30am-10:30am: Mt. Harris History and Guided Bird Walk

Led by Lisa and Paul Williams, Yampa Valley Birding Club, with history talk by Laurel Watson, curator of Hayden Museum
Learn about this historic coal-mining town and bird along the Yampa River's unique cottonwood-dogwood-box elder maple plant community. Click here for details.

8:30am-10:30am: Carpenter Ranch Guided Bird Walk

Led by Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine, assisted by Andrew Floyd.
Bird at The Nature Conservancy's historic Carpenter Ranch, a birdwatcher's paradise located along the Yampa River west of Steamboat Springs. Click here for details.

8:30am-10:30am: Fish Creek Falls Guided Bird Walk

Led by Noah Strycker birder extraordinaire. Bird at the scenic waterfall just outside of town in montane shrubland and aspen groves. Click here for details. Note: There is a $5/day vehicle day use fee.

9:00am-10am:  Birding the Steamboat Springs Core Trail

Led by by Chip Clouse, ProStaffer for Opticron optics and long-time bird tour leader.
Join Chip for a casual stroll along the core trail outside the Bud Werner Library. As you walk along the trail that parallels the Yampa River, Chip will help you identify the birds and other fauna of the area. Bring binoculars, water, and wear comfortable shoes. Meet on the core trail next to the Bud Werner Library parking lot. This walk will be easy and on a paved surface. Click here for details.

9:00am-10:30am: Sketch-a-Bird Workshop

Taught by local artist, Joanne Orce with Nature's Educators live birds and crane taxidermy - Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
All ages welcome and supplies provided. Meet in Library Hall for this FREE workshop. No registration required.

10:00am-11:30am: Children and Family Activities

Library Lawn near the raptor booth and Children's Library
Enjoy educational bird and nature activities presented by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Yampatika. FREE and no registration required.

10:00am-12 noon: Guided Nature Walk

Led by botanist and naturalist, Karen Vail - Steamboat Ski Resort

Take the gondola up at the Ski Resort to learn about the flora, the animals, and the forest habitat at the Ski Resort, complete with amazing views of the valley. The walk will involve a gondola ride to the top of Thunderhead and walking up to 1 mile on an uneven dirt road. Meet at the entrance to the gondola at Steamboat Ski Resort. Passes to ride the gondola are included as part of registration. Click here for directions.

11:00am-4:00pm: Nature's Educators Live Raptor Booth

Library Lawn near Children's Library

Visit with live owls and other raptors on the Library Lawn. This is a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with amazing birds of prey.

11:30am-12:45pm: "Into Whooperland - A photographer's journey with the rarest crane in the world"

By Michael Forsberg, conservation photographer - Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library

Renown photographer Michael Forsberg spent the last five years camera-in-hand exploring the natural history of Whooping Cranes across the continent, meeting people that love them, and discovering how these tall, magnificent and rarest of cranes are navigating our 21st century world. In this multimedia presentation, Michael will take you on a wild, wonderful, and sometimes heartbreaking journey from their wintering grounds along the Texas Gulf Coast to their remote nesting grounds in northern Canada, and on migration through the heart of the Great Plains. Not to be missed!

1:00pm-1:15pm: Photo Contest and Creative Arts Scholarship Contest Awards

Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library

1:30pm- 2:45pm:  Keynote Presentation - "A Community Approach for Whooping Crane Conservation along the Texas Coast"

By Dr. Liz Smith, Senior Research Associate, International Crane Foundation - Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library

Whooping Cranes were officially listed as endangered in 1967 and 1973, as a result of unregulated hunting and habitat loss across their historic range. The increase from less than 20 individuals in 1940's to above 500 today is largely due to concerted efforts of dedicated leaders and concerned individuals effecting the conservation effort. Share Dr. Smith's journey as a scientist, conservationist, and now a retired craniac addressing some of the challenges and triumphs to save the Whooping Crane's winter world.

4:30pm-8:45pm: Take a shuttle to Carpenter Ranch Picnic Dinner and Talk, followed by guided crane viewing

This event will be held at The Nature Conservancy's historic Carpenter Ranch in Hayden. Enjoy a buffet-style dinner from Big Air Catering or bring your own food.Please note that you must be pre-registered for a shuttle (25$ fee) to participate in the sunset crane-viewing. No private cars will be allowed on the crane-viewing.

5:00pm-7:00pm: Provide your own transportation to Carpenter Ranch Picnic Dinner and talk

This event will be held at The Nature Conservancy's historic Carpenter Ranch in Hayden. Enjoy a buffet-style dinner from Big Air Catering or bring your own food.

Click here for Registration