The 14th annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival will be held on August in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig, Colorado.
Join us for guided crane viewings, bird walks, expert speakers, live raptors, films, family activities, and more. Speakers include:
- Keynote speaker Dr. George Archibald, International Crane Foundation Co-Founder and Senior Conservationist
- Dr. Dan Collins, USFWS Rocky Mountain Sandhill Crane Expert
- Sue Riffe, Owner-Guide for She Flew Birding Tours and Bird Song Expert
- Paul Tebbel, Crane Expert
- Rebecca Weiss, author of Birds of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley, Aspen-based birding guide and naturalist
- Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine
- Meg Karschner, CCCC Executive Director
- Nature's Educators showcases live raptors up close during a special presentation
Schedule of Events:
8:30 - 10:30 am: Carpenter Ranch Guided Bird Walk
Led by Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine.
Bird at The Nature Conservancy's historic Carpenter Ranch, a birdwatcher's paradise located along the Yampa River west of Steamboat Springs.
-Advance registration and $26 fee required.
4:30 - 8:45 pm: Carpenter Ranch Picnic Dinner and Talk, Followed by Guided Crane Viewing
This event will be held at The Nature Conservancy's historic Carpenter Ranch in Hayden. Enjoy a buffet-style dinner from Big Air Catering and a talk by Ted Floyd and Rebecca Weiss.
-Please note that you must be pre-registered for a shuttle (Option 1) to participate in the sunset crane-viewing. No private cars will be allowed on the crane-viewing.
- Advance registration required, Choose one of two options:
Option 1:Dinner with shuttle and crane viewing - $52 fee, OR
Option 2:Dinner, provide your own transportation (NO crane viewing) - $32 fee.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free options available for dinner.
Option 1:
4:30 pm: Shuttles depart from the Stockbridge Transit Center in Steamboat (directions here). Shuttles arrive at the Carpenter Ranch between 5:00 and 5:15 pm:
5:00 - 6:15 pm: Enjoy a buffet dinner by Big Air Catering and Chef Steve Carlson
6:15 - 6:45 pm: Presentation by Ted Floyd and Rebecca Weiss.
6:45 pm: All shuttles leave the Carpenter Ranch for guided crane viewing.
8:45 pm: (approx.) Shuttles arrive back at the Stockbridge Transit Center in Steamboat.
-Please note that NO private cars will be allowed to follow the crane viewing shuttles.
Option 2:
4:30 - 5:30 pm: Arrive at the Carpenter Ranch
5:00 - 6:15 pm: Enjoy a buffet dinner by Big Air Catering and Chef Steve Carlson
6:15 - 6:45 pm: Presentation by Ted Floyd and Rebecca Weiss.
7 - 7:30 pm: Enjoy a relaxed walk with Ted and Rebecca around a portion of the Carpenter Ranch.
