Rowe Sanctuary’s Overnight Crane Experience offers an unapparelled opportunity for close encounters with cranes while they roost on the Platte River. From sunset silhouettes of cranes as they filter into the river valley to the chorus that erupts in the early morning air, this overnight experience will leave you with unforgettable memories and once-in-a-lifetime photography moments to preserve them.
Wonder if this experience is right for you? Read our Q&A and check out testimonials from past visitors below!
Q&A with a Rowe Sanctuary staff member
Q: What is the process of getting to and from the overnight blind like? A: When guests arrive, they should park in the back of the parking lot and check in at the front desk of our visitor's center. From there, a volunteer or staff member will coordinate the pick up of your gear from your car with a UTV, and you will get a ride out to the riverside overnight blinds. In the morning, a volunteer picks overnighters up after cranes have left the river (around 8:30-9:30 am).
Q: The overnight blinds are 6 ft. H x 8 ft. W x 6 ft. D., with carpeted 4 windows designed for seated viewing. Is there enough space for two people plus gear? A: The blinds are a pretty cozy set up, with just enough room for 2 sleeping bags. There is enough room for photography equipment (i.e. 2 tripods) and 2 chairs if you wait to set up your sleeping bags until bedtime.
Q: Rowe Sanctuary provides a bucket toilet for bathroom breaks. How did that work with 2 people? A: Guests are not allowed to exit the overnight blinds once they are settled in to prevent disturbance to birds on the river. That meant that bathroom breaks needed to take place inside the blind. Rowe provides a bucket toilet and toilet bag. Since I camped overnight with my friend, we used the provided shower curtain in the blind for privacy during bathroom breaks. The bucket toilet had a lid and the bag had a deodorizing powder and could be sealed, which made the experience a bit more tolerable. Ear plugs aren't a bad idea!
Q: What happens if there is a medical or weather emergency while I am in an overnight blind? A: In the case of a medical emergency, guests should call 911 first and provide them with the address listed on the door inside the overnight blind. Then they should call a staff member from the list on the back of the door, and inform them of the situation. A staff member will arrive within 20 minutes and will provide instructions for medical personnel to drive out to the blind. If the National Weather Service issues a weather warning, Rowe staff will call overnighters to arrange for evacuation from the blinds. Nebraska routinely reaches below freezing temps in March at nighttime. Cold weather is not considered a weather emergency, and overnighters are expected to prepare adequately for cold weather camping before arrival.
Q: What are some useful camping gear hacks that help to make for a more comfortable experience? A: I always bring two sleeping pads (one closed cell foam pad and one air mattress), a zero degree sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, and thick blankets. I also bring a surpluss of hand and foot warmers. For clothing, I bring moisture wicking thermal base clothing layers, a lined winter stocking cap (you can purchase them in the Rowe gift shop!), insulated gloves, a winter coat, and wool socks. I also place my phone, portable battery pack, and all camera batteries inside my sleeping bag to prevent my batteries from draining.
Q: Camp stoves with open flames are not allowed and there is no electricity. How do you cook food? A: I would recommend bringing a couple hot water thermos and filling it up at the visitor's center before leaving for the blinds. You can bring MRE's and use the hot water to make them, or you can bring food that doesn't require a heat source to make.
Interested in making an Overnight Crane Experience reservation? Click here to learn more.
Tour reservations open online on Wednesday, January 8, 2026, at 9:00 am CST.One of the greatest wildlife spectacles in North America, this gathering of cranes is the largest in the world.
