Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary
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Crane Season

Plan Your Trip

Tips to help you maximize your visit.

The next opportunity to attend our overnight experiences will be March 4 through April 7, 2026. Tour reservations open online on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 9:00 am CST.

Spring Migration 

Every March, over a million Sandhill Cranes converge on the Platte River Valley in central Nebraska to fuel up before continuing north to their nesting grounds. Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary is at the heart of this magnificent crane staging area. Sandhill Cranes typically begin arriving around Valentine’s Day and leave around Tax Day.

We encourage you to use the information here to plan ahead! 

A frequent question from visitors is: When is the best time to view the cranes? 


Here are some guidelines to consider as you plan your visit:

All Season

  • Crane viewing experiences vary over the course of the season, with unique benefits to early, mid, and late season viewing.
  • We want visitors to be able to see cranes!  Our tours coincide with the dates when we have 30,000 cranes or more on our stretch of the river (data based on 5-year average, data courtesy of the Crane Trust).  This typically means excellent viewing regardless of your visit timing.
  • Numbers aren’t everything!  Rowe Sanctuary is one of the best locations to experience one of the world’s last great migrations, with open-air, riverside blinds that provide an up-close and immersive experience. While visitors often seek ‘peak numbers’, seeing even 10,000-20,000 cranes can still be truly breathtaking!  

Early Season (Early March)

  • Cranes spend a lot of time foraging in the fields when they first arrive in the river valley, which makes for prolonged daytime viewing opportunities.
  • High numbers of migratory Geese (Snow, Canada, Cackling, Greater White-Fronted) – often in the thousands!
  • Higher likelihood of Bald Eagles in large communal gatherings on the river.
  • Great winter sparrow viewing on our prairie and woodland trail network.
  • Lower visitor numbers, leading to less crowding in viewing blinds and at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center.

Mid Season (Mid-late March)

  • Largest numbers of cranes to be found across the Platte Valley.
  • Most reliable likelihood for ‘peak’ numbers.

Late Season (Early April)

  • Warmer weather and more comfortable temperatures for viewing.
  • After several weeks of resting and refueling, cranes spend more time socializing on the river in the mornings, making for prolonged viewing opportunities.
  • Higher likelihood of seeing migration behavior such as kettling (large numbers of cranes circling in air thermals).
  • Greater likelihood for spotting Whooping Cranes, as their migration peaks later than Sandhill Cranes.
  • Chance to see early shorebird arrivals in the river valley.

The photo on the left was taken in early March, and the photo on the right was taken in April. 

Early March crane viewing. Photo: Luke Franke/Audubon
Late season sandhill cranes
Sandhill cranes in mid-April along the Platte River. Photo: Photo: Don Brockmeier

Check out this article to learn more: Witness the Wonder All Season

 

Travel and Airport choices  

Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island and Kearney.  Check with your booking agent. Kearney airport provides daily non-stop flights to Denver, and rental cars are available .  

Do I need reservations to see the Sandhill Canes? 

Our guided tours to our Discovery Stations (viewing blinds) require registration. Options can be found here. Discovery Stations are located close to historical crane roosts.  Viewing from the Discovery Station is the best possible chance to see cranes up close! Roosting sites will vary, but cranes will be flying overhead and our tours consistently provide a one-of-a-kind experience in the heart of the world’s largest gathering of cranes. Because the tour involves wildlife, each experience is different. 

Reservations are not required for our Visitor's Center, and many visitors will see cranes flying overhead or roosting in cornfield during the day.  Rowe Sancutary has two roadside viewing lots, and additional information about public viewing locations in the area can be found here. 

Where to stay 

Rowe Sanctuary is approximately 20 miles east of Kearney via Interstate 80. Kearney has a good selection of hotels/motels to choose from. Visit Kearney has additional listings for lodging and restaurants. Kearney can be a very busy community during March, so reserve your lodging as soon as possible. Grand Island, Hastings, and Minden are also nearby. 

What to expect | Click here for a virtual experience walk-through

Get fully prepared for what to expect during your guided crane tour, and help ensure that you have an unforgettable experience. 

What to bring 

Temperatures in March and April regularly reach below freezing. Pack clothing that can be layered and removed when temperatures rise. We encourage dark colored outer wear for the tours. Cameras, binoculars, and other photography aids are encouraged.  More information is available through the booking process.

What else can I see and do while I'm there? 

Many visitors choose to add a class, workshop, or lecture series to their crane viewing itinerary. Rowe also has hiking trails available to explore our prairies, meadows, and riparian woodlands.  For more information, including open hours, please see this page.

Visit Kearney provides excellent information about amenities such as museums and other attractions in the Kearney area!

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