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Silhouetted against an orange sky, sandhill cranes fly near the Platte River in Nebraska.
Sandhill cranes come to roost along the Platte River in Nebraska. © Chris Helzer/The Nature Conservancy

Legacy Journeys

Platte River

Relish the wide-open spaces of Nebraska's Great Plains and witness one of the greatest migrations on Earth.

This trip is full. To join the waitlist, contact Peg Abbott at
(866) 900-1146 or travel@naturalistjourneys.com.

Vaccination for COVID-19 is required for all travelers on 2022 Legacy Journeys.

Explore the Journey

March 13-19, 2022

Full Itinerary

March 13-19, 2022 | WELCOME TO THE GREAT PLAINS OF NEBRASKA, and the heart of the Central Flyway, where a 75-mile stretch of nature hosts an annual migration of sandhill cranes that’s as old as time itself. With wings spanning more than 6 feet, these majestic creatures can’t be missed, especially at sunset, when thousands descend on the wetlands surrounding The Nature Conservancy’s private duck blind, which we’ll visit on the banks of the Platte River. We’ll also explore other natural hot spots within this Midwestern mosaic of farms, wetlands and woodlands, including the Calamus Reservoir to look for bald eagles and American white pelicans, and get an insider’s look at a working ranch in the Nebraskan Sandhills.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Witness the spectacle of sandhill crane migration when numbers peak in the hundreds of thousands.
  • Take a tour of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, frequently ranked as one the world’s best zoos.
  • Attend a demonstration about how TNC processes native seeds for prairie restoration.

Explore our Work in this Region

Information & Reservations

Reservations for all trips will open on Tuesday, September 14 at 12 p.m. ET. and can be made with the trip specialist listed below.

Peg Abbott
Phone: (866) 900-1146
Email: travel@naturalistjourneys.com

 

Vaccination for COVID-19 is required for all travelers on 2022 Legacy Journeys.

Explore All the 2022 Legacy Journeys

Brown grasses spot the surface of the Platte River as the dawn sky reflects pinks and yellow colors on its still shoreline.
Platte River TNC's Derr wetland at sunrise. © Chris Helzer/TNC
A solo sandhill crane flies across a blue sky.
Sandhill Crane Sandhill crane © Russ Schnitzer
Purple and yellow flowers, seen in summer months, grow amongst green prairie grasses under a partly cloudy sky.
Platte River Prairies Silky prairie clover and restored sand prairie at The Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies, Nebraska. © Chris Helzer/TNC
Dozens of sandhill cranes stand in shallow water.
Sandhill Cranes Sandhill cranes refuel at the Platte River in south central Nebraska during their annual migration. © Chris Helzer/TNC
A black bird with a white crown and back perches on a tall grass frond.
Male bobolink Bobolink in restored prairie. The Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies, Nebraska. Dahms 2000 prairie restoration. © Chris Helzer/TNC
Dozens of sandhill cranes gather on the shores of the Platte River.
SANDHILL CRANES Overnight roost along the Platte River in Nebraska © Chris Helzer/TNC
× Brown grasses spot the surface of the Platte River as the dawn sky reflects pinks and yellow colors on its still shoreline.
× A solo sandhill crane flies across a blue sky.
× Purple and yellow flowers, seen in summer months, grow amongst green prairie grasses under a partly cloudy sky.
× Dozens of sandhill cranes stand in shallow water.
× A black bird with a white crown and back perches on a tall grass frond.
× Dozens of sandhill cranes gather on the shores of the Platte River.