Nebraska Guide
| Rating | Park | Link | Notes |
| Chimney Rock National Historic Site | National Park Service | Chimney Rock has become one of the most famous landmarks in the American West. This unique formation--the most noted on the Oregon Trail--has come to symbolize the greatest voluntary migration in the history of mankind. The Visitor Center features museum exhibits explaining the westward migration of the nineteenth century and the significant role Chimney Rock had in the memories of those who traveled the trails west. | |
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Sandhill Crane Migration |
Crane Meadows Nature Center Fort Kearny State Recreation Area Grand Island's Official Online Visitor's Guide Great Platte River Road Archway Monument National Geographic Magazine Crane Cam Nebraska Game and Parks Commission - Spring Migration Guide |
The Platte River between Kearney and Grand Island. Greatest number of Sandhill Cranes are by the Rowe Sanctuary (which is about 10 miles east of Kearney). Over 14 million birds (500,000 Sandhill cranes, 14-16 million ducks and geese, plus hundreds of indigenous and migratory birds) migrate through here from mid March to mid April. The Sandhill Cranes start arriving about February 14th, reach peak numbers around March 17th and are mostly gone by about April 15th. The cranes stay about a month. In the morning, the cranes leave the river all together providing a fantastic site. The ducks and geese only stay overnight, so you will not see as many as the cranes. Good chance of seeing a bald eagle. Good article in March 2004 issue of Outdoor Photographer. Also seen on Canon Photo Safari. |
| Rowe Sanctuary (Audubon Society) | The best place to see the Sandhill cranes do there morning take-off. | ||
| Scotts Bluff National Monument | National Park Service | A prominent natural landmark for emigrants on the Oregon Trail, Scotts Bluff, Mitchell Pass and the adjacent prairie lands are set aside in a 3,000 acre national monument. This site preserves the memory of the historic Oregon, California and Mormon Trails. The monument museum contains exhibits about the human and natural history of the area and also holds a unique collection of watercolor paintings by the frontier photographer and artist William Henry Jackson. | |
| Valentine National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Northern edge of Nebraska. The Valentine National Wildlife Refuge is nestled in the heart of the vast Sandhills, which stretch across north-central Nebraska. The Sandhills region is the largest tract of mid- and tall-grass prairie in North America. The many wetlands, small lakes, meadows, and large expanses of native prairie attract more than 260 species of birds and provide an ideal setting for bird- and wildlife- watching. May, September, and October are the best times for bird-watching. During spring, observation blinds allow visitors to watch prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse during their elaborate courtship rituals. |
| Stuhr Museum | Stuhr Museum | |||
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04/27/09