Pawnee National Grasslands
What is now a sea of grass and sky was once littered with hopeful frontier families foraging westward in humble wagons. The Homestead Act brought around six million settlers to the West's plains by 1890, but harsh winters and droughts crushed their hopes of growing crops. Today the 193,060-acre Pawnee National Grasslands celebrates the courage of these pioneers and the dramatic landscape they called home. Here's a two-day schedule of things to do:
Day One: Crow Valley Recreation Area
Set up shop at this elm- and cottonwood-shaded camping and picnicking area. Tables, water, fire grates and grills, a baseball diamond, volleyball court and horseshoe pits make it a fun place to spend time with a group. From the camping area you can hike into the open prairie for world-class birding. Or bring your mountain bike to explore the surrounding county roads. The free Birding on the Pawnee by Automobile or Mountain Bike brochure comes with a map and instructions detailing what you'll see on the 36-mile route. Keep in mind that dusk and dawn are wonderful times to be out on the grasslands—there's great lighting for photographs, and the wildlife is more active.
Located a quarter-mile north of CO 14 on Weld County Road 77, near Briggsdale. Campsites are $10 a night for a single unit and $14 a night for double units.
Day Two: Pawnee Buttes
They're a little tricky to find, but these pinnacles rising straight out of the flat Grasslands will be obvious when you see them. And one you get here, there is lots to do. A 1.5-mile hiking and horseback trail leads from the parking lot to an overlook, Lips Bluff and West Butte. The second butte, East Butte, is located across private land, so access is prohibited. Look closely along your journey for fossils—it's been said that the Buttes are one of the world's best sites for vertebrate fossils. In fact, some 100 species have been located near here. And don't forget your binoculars. Hawks, falcons and swallows nest in the surrounding cliffs, which are closed to the public from March through June. And they are just a few of diverse birds that call the grasslands home. In addition, there are over 400 species of plants to check out. While you're exploring, look for arrowheads and other archeological remains. But don't remove them—it's against the law.
The buttes are located about 13 miles south of the Wyoming border north of CO 14.
For information and a specific map of the Weld County access roads, call 970-353-5004 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf.