​Garden County’s Sandhill Crane Season
 
It's early March, and Sandhill Cranes are beginning to arrive. Come see them while you can!

​Sandhill cranes flock to Garden County every year during the spring migration, and over the years, their numbers are growing. The best time to catch this spectacle is from mid March to early April. 

We Recommend: 
 

• Roadside Birdwatching: Garden County offers several dirt roads where you can watch cranes. The best place to start is on Highway 92 and one of the many public dirt roads that meets its path. If you want to stop and watch cranes, we suggest pulling off to the side of the road and staying in your car. Leaving the car can spook the birds and irritate passing drivers. Stay tuned for more information on birding etiquette! 

 

• Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area: Open to the public from February 15 – Thanksgiving Weekend, this riverside wetland area is a great place to see cranes as they feed, preen and fly. The area offers parking and even a few blinds for the ambitious birder. In addition to cranes, you’ll have the opportunity to see many kinds of wildlife including Bald Eagles, White Tailed Deer, and many other kinds of migratory birds. 

 

• Sunset at the Old Lewellen Bridge: Sandhill Cranes roost in shallow waters at night, and the North Platte River offers exactly that. The Old Lewellen Bridge has successfully hosted many cranewatchers over the years and it is a great place to safely view these birds without interfering with their nightly routine. 

​Where To Stay: The Gander Inn and the Lewellen Lodge offer lodging in Lewellen, whereas the Shady Rest Motel offers lodging in Oshokosh if you wish to drive west. Book early as spaces are limited. 

Garden County’s Winter Wonderland
 
Late winter is an exceptional time to take in the scenery. There’s a special stillness about the land when ice freezes over the North Platte River and snow glistens against the sandy dry grass. Canada Geese graze amidst the golden stocks in harvested cornfields, crimson Cardinals duck in and out of cedar shrubs, and Bald Eagles pose on the ice, waiting for unassuming fish. If you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon Trumpeter Swans or Sandhill Cranes arriving early from their wintering grounds. 

We Recommend: 
​

• Ash Hollow Trail Walking & Bird Watching: Ash Hollow State Park offers a number of trails that are open year-round. It is a great location to spot yearlong residents winter visitors who make the most of the winter. 

 

• Roadside Duck and Goose Sightings: Highways 92 and 26 offer many opportunities to look for Canada Geese, Snow Geese and the many species of ducks that call Garden County their winter home. Stop by the Old Lewellen Bridge to watch waterfowl during the sunrise and sunset hours. 

 

• Bald Eagle Watching on Lake McConaughy:  Though technically on the borders of Keith and Garden County, Lake McConaughy offers a wide array of nature viewing activities and wildlife loves to take advantage of the broad open waters where the lake meets the North Platte, and sandbanks are plentiful.  This year, the lake is lower than usual, so Omaha Beach is a perfect location to visit and watch for the many Bald Eagles that call this area their winter home. 

​If you’ve never been here, you don’t know what you’re missing. Our wild and pristine landscapes offer a wonderful escape where you can watch wildlife or participate in a number of outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking and birdwatching. 
 
With and end in sight to winter, and spring on the horizon, there is so much to see this time of year.