Rowe Sanctuary's Crane Tours
2025 Visitor Information Guide
Scroll through our interactive guide to learn what to expect during your guided crane tour, and help ensure that you have an unforgettable experience. You can also use the menu bar above to navigate this page.
First, play the video to more about Rowe Sanctuary.
Rowe Sanctuary's mission focuses on conservation of the Platte River ecosystem and the birds that rely on it, including over 1 million cranes.
We are excited to share one of North America's last great migrations with you.
It's time to begin your trip to Rowe Sanctuary!
For directions to Rowe Sanctuary, select the black circle on the lower left hand side of the map and click on "Directions from Interstate 80".
Next, scroll down to learn more about your check-in and the crane tour experience.
We Offer 3 Types of Crane Experiences
1. Guided Crane Experience 2. Guided Crane Photography Experience 3. Overnight Photography Experience
Guided Crane Experience
- 3 hour guided experience in a discovery station
- Photography permitted, tripods and continuous shooting mode NOT allowed
- Sunrise and sunset tours available every day
- Group size: 25 people
- Price: $60/person
Guided Crane Photography Experience
- Designed for photographers
- 3 hour guided experience in a discovery station
- Photography permitted, tripods and continuous shooting mode ARE allowed
- Morning and evening experiences available
- Group size: 12 people
- Price: $120/person
Overnight Photography Experience
- Spend 1 night in blind near crane roosts
- Guests must bring their own camping gear
- Guests must remain in blind from early evening until the guide arrives the following morning
- Portable toilet provided
- Photography permitted, tripods and continuous shooting mode ARE allowed
- Group size: Up to 2 adults
- Price: $275/entire blind
View from inside of the overnight blinds.
Preparing for Your Tour
Guided Crane Experience and Guided Photography Tours take 2-3 hours. Participants must be over the age of 10 to participate in a tour.
Please wear your warmest, dark-colored clothes. Since screens and lights may illuminate your face, please dim your phone screen and use of tablets and flashlights are not permitted during tours.
Arrival
Our parking lot has moved! Once you arrive, check in with the gate attendant at the front gate (red icon on map).
Bathrooms are located in the Audubon Center and porta-potties will be available outside each crane discovery station.
Please have your reservation information ready for a smooth check-in!
Check-in
Check in for your tour in the Lauritzen Great Hall of the Audubon Center (red icon on map). After a short video you will be gathered into groups with a guide who will lead your tour.
To allow for a smooth check-in process and ensure that your tour runs on time, please remember to retrieve all items you need for your tour from your vehicle prior to checking in.
Beginning Your Crane Tour
Next, you will be guided on a quarter- mile walk to a crane discovery station.
Transportation to and from discovery stations is available for guests with ambulatory needs.
For morning tours, it will be dark. Walk slowly and do not use a flashlight or phone to illuminate the trail. Guides will use a red flashlight to minimize disturbance to the cranes.
Crane Viewing Experience
Our crane discovery stations include wall-to-wall windows that allow for an immersive crane viewing experience. Seating is available in all crane discovery stations.
Every discovery station includes a heated room that provides a view of the river. Porta-potties will be available for use.
Viewing Etiquette
Disturbances to cranes while they roost on the river can impact their health and survival.
Move slowly and speak quietly during your tour.
A tour guide will be available to answer questions after the tour.
Viewing Etiquette
Objects such as the bill of your hat, camera lens, and your arm should not extend outside of the discovery station.
Guides will signal when cameras and phones can be used.
All technology should be turned on airplane mode. Camera flash must be turned off. Tripods and continuous shooting mode are allowed only for the Guided Photography Experience.
We appreciate your understanding that every crane viewing experience is unique. Although the weather during your tour and location where cranes choose to roost is beyond our control, we will always do our best to make your Rowe Sanctuary experience unforgettable.
Departing Your Crane Tour
Please stay in the discovery station until the end of your tour.
A guide will lead the group back to the parking lot and close with a short reflection of the crane viewing experience.
Shop All Things Crane
Hats, shirts, and a wide variety of souvenirs are available in our Gift Shop or online! Shop on-site from 9:30am - 5:00pm or choose to ship your order.
Daytime Crane Viewing
During the daytime, cranes lift off the river to find food in nearby fields.
If you plan to view cranes from the roadside, please follow these guidelines:
Do not approach or disrupt cranes or waterfowl while they are feeding in the field.
Do not make loud noises (honking your horn) or shine bright lights on the cranes. It is illegal and disrupts the bird watching experience for others.
Do not stop on roadways, driveways or any other farm road or gated entry.
Continuing Your Support
Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary relies on the generous support of people like you.
Consider supporting our conservation work with a donation or by becoming a volunteer.
Join Our Flock
Sign up for our eNews to stay updated on all things Rowe Sanctuary including events, our conservation work, and so much more!
We look forward to providing you a once-in-a lifetime experience during the 2025 crane season!
"Quite literally the opportunity of a lifetime." - R. Drake
"What a sight to behold!" - Blair
"A religious experience for bird lovers." - Tom Harden
"Bring the family and create a memory you will never forget!" - Eric Salas
Click on each photo to magnify photos taken by crane tour participants.
Bring the magic of cranes to your home with our Explore.org Crane Camera!
Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary's Crane Camera powered by EXPLORE.org
