Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NORTHEAST COLORADO
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Pawnee National Grassland
If, like some of us, you happen to be fishtailing at high speeds along the graded dirt roads
that thread through the 193,060-acre
Pawnee National Grassland
(
camping reservations 877-444-6777,
Crow Valley Recreation Area, Briggsdale 970-353-5004, Greeley Ranger District Office 970-346-5000;
www.fs.usda.gov
;
)
as dusk descends on another summer day, you'll notice a few things. As
the sun slants down it captures all the many shades of green and gold in this savanna that
seems to roll unending in all directions. These are the Pawnee Grasslands. With more and
more gas exploration in the area, you don't quite capture the atavistic adventure of yore,
but there are still windmills (both old and new) and plenty of birdwatching opportunities.
The heart of the grasslands are the blond, sandstone towers that are the historic and
majestic
Pawnee Buttes
. From Sterling, take Hwy 14 west to New Raymer and Weld County
Rd 129, where signs will lead you to the buttes. Be sure to fill up your gas tank before you
come here.
Northeast Colorado was hard hit by the 2013 floods. The Pawnee Grasslands were
closed at the time of writing as a public safety precaution.
Sleeping
If you wish to camp in the grasslands, head to the
Crow Valley Recreation Area
(
www.colorado.com/Articles.aspx?aid=42011
;
www.fs.usda.gov
; Weld County Rd 77; sites $10-14; )
off Hwy
14 near Briggsdale. It's not the most stunning campsite of your life, but it is elm and cot-
tonwood shaded, with potable water, restrooms and fire pits. It even has a volleyball court
and baseball diamond.
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Fort Morgan
POP 11,315 / ELEV 4324FT
