Today the 193,060-acre grasslands celebrates the courage of these pioneers and the dramatic landscape they called home. Here's a two-day schedule of things to see in the area:
Day 1: Crow Valley Recreation Area
Set up shop at this elm- and cottonwood-shaded camping and picnicking area. Tables, water, fire grates and grills, a baseball diamond, volleyball court and horseshoe pits make Crow Valley Recreation Area a fun place to spend time with a group. From the camping area you can hike into the open prairie for world-class birding. Keep in mind that dusk and dawn are wonderful times to be out on the grasslands — there's great lighting for photographs, and the wildlife is more active. The area is located a quarter-mile north of CO 14 on Weld County Road 77, near Briggsdale.