Colorado Grouse Tour
April 8-14, 2026
Birding Tour in Colorado for grouse, prairie-chickens and ptarmigan
Springtime in the Rocky Mountains!
Five species of lekking grouse inhabit the prairies and northern valleys of North America: Greater and Gunnison Sage-Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Greater and Lesser Prairie-Chickens. All are noted for their spectacular mating displays, and all can be exceedingly difficult to find away from their leks. This tour will focus on viewing/photographing these birds and their mating rituals. From the sandhills of western Kansas to the high sagebrush parklands of the mountains, we’ll witness booming prairie-chickens, dancing Sharp-tailed Grouse and strutting sage-grouse. We’ll also search for Dusky Grouse and White-tailed Ptarmigan, two very challenging species to see at any time of year -- one or both are often missed.
Our route will take us from Denver across the Continental Divide to the western slope and back to the eastern plains, over 1,500 miles with a few long drives. Along the way, we may see Golden Eagle; Ferruginous, Rough-legged and Swainson’s Hawks; Prairie Falcon; Sandhill Crane; Mountain Plover; Lewis’s Woodpecker; Mountain Bluebird; Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs as well as a host of waterfowl and shorebirds. The scenery is breathtaking. No other location in America provides opportunities to observe and photograph so many game birds!
Colorado Grouse Tour
Dates: April 8-14, 2026 (7 days, 6 nights)
Cost: $3,250 per person double occupancy ($600 single supplement)
Guide: Peter Burke
Highlights:
See all five species of lekking grouse plus Greater and Lesser Prairie-Chicken!
Search for elusive White-tailed Ptarmigan and Dusky Grouse.
Excellent opportunities for photography and videography.
View wild game birds in their breeding plumage on both sides of the Continental Divide.
Rocky Mountain Birding tours are small and fill quickly!
Book today! Please click on the button below and complete the simple form based on your birding interests. We will be in touch to walk you through your birding or wildlife adventure of your choosing!
Learn More:
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Included:
Guided birding for seven days.
Lodging for six nights.
All access fees for private leks, state and national parks.
Portable blinds to facilitate close viewing and great photo/video opportunities.
Meals beginning with dinner on the first night through breakfast on the final day.
Transportation including airport pickup and drop off at Denver International Airport (DEN).
Optics – I will have a Kowa 99mm scope available throughout the tour.
NOT Included:
Flights to and from Denver International Airport (DEN).
Lodging/Meals prior to or after the tour dates: Apr. 8-14, 2026.
Personal items such as alcohol with meals, laundry, etc.
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Wednesday, Apr. 8 – Arrivals at Denver International Airport (DEN)
Depending on arrival times, we may make a stop at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal to look for raptors, waterfowl and early migrant grassland birds.
Night at Holiday Inn Express, Golden
Thursday, Apr. 9 – Golden to Gunnison
After an early breakfast, we’ll drive into the mountains en route to Gunnison. On the way we can make a few strategic stops to try for White-tailed Ptarmigan and up to three species of Rosy-Finch. We’ll hope for good weather as this is a beautiful drive through the Rocky Mountains and over the Continental Divide!
Night at Holiday Inn Express, Gunnison
Friday, Apr. 10 – Gunnison Sage-Grouse Lek
A pre-dawn start will take us to the first of our five grouse leks, this one for the highly endangered Gunnison Sage-Grouse. Distinguished from Greater Sage-Grouse by its billowy filoplume crest, more prominently banded tail and smaller size, this grouse is range-restricted to southwestern Colorado and just into Utah making it one of the most endangered birds of North America. Though this lek is not close, we should have scope views of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse displaying.
After breakfast, we’ll drive to Craig with a few stops along the way.
Night at Best Western Plus, Craig
Saturday, Apr. 11 – Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek
Another early morning will find us at a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek. This is the Columbian subspecies, smaller than the Sharpies found on the prairies. Their display behavior is terrific, with tails held high and wings spread parallel to the ground, they stomp their feet and dart around the lek. I will provide portable photography blinds to give us some shelter and allow us to get close to the birds without stressing them.
We will continue to Steamboat Springs where we can enjoy a nice meal and then try for Dusky Grouse on private land that I have access to. Then we’ll continue to Walden where we’ll spend the night.
Night at the Antlers Inn, Walden
Sunday, Apr. 12 – Greater Sage-Grouse
The Coalmont lek is one of the most reliable spots for Greater Sage-Grouse, and the birds are generally found quite close to the access point, making for great photography. Once again, our portable blinds will allow close viewing and shelter from weather as we watch these birds strutting and hear the popping of their air sacks.
After breakfast we’ll wrap up the mountain section of our tour with a drive back over the Continental Divide and across the plains. We’ll make a few stops before finally arriving in Wray for the night.
Night at Cobblestone Inn & Suites, Wray
Monday, Apr. 13 – Greater Prairie-Chicken
This morning, we will view Greater Prairie-Chickens on a private Ranch. After the birds have dispersed, we’ll return to Wray for breakfast and then explore the Colorado/Kansas sandhills for birds and wildlife as we make our way to western Kansas for our final stop.
Night at Kansas Country Inn, Oakley
Tuesday, Apr. 14 – Lesser Prairie-Chicken
One last early morning! Lesser Prairie-Chickens are extremely range-restricted and their population has been drastically reduced due to over hunting and the loss of habitat as short grass prairie has been converted to agriculture. The lek is located on private land about 30 minutes from our hotel. We’ll celebrate an awesome morning and an awesome week over a hot breakfast before returning to the Denver Airport with time to catch flights home!
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