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Pawnee National Grassland

The Pawnee National Grassland lies 35 miles east of Fort Collins, CO and 25 miles northeast of Greeley, CO in Weld County. Contained within the 30-by-60 mile area are 193,060 acres managed by the Pawnee National Grassland. The rest of the land is a checkerboard of private land, State of Colorado ownership and the Central Plains Experimental Range.

Please refer to a Motor Vehicle Use Map for location of public lands, as it is intermixed with a lot of private land. There are also some two-tracks that are closed to the public.

The area is rich in history and wildlife. A wide variety of plants and animals call the Pawnee National Grassland home. The wildflowers, flora and fauna are adapted to the environments of the area.

Come visit for a day or stay a while. Your national grasslands have much to offer year-round.

Recreation Sites

Showing: 1 - 10 of 12 results

Baker Draw Designated Shooting Area

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
The Baker Draw Designated Shooting Area is located near the intersections of Weld County Roads 96 and 63. It has dirt berms providing 25-, 50- and 100-yard shooting opportunities. The site includes a…

Birdwalk Trailhead

Hiking
Enjoy a short walk within the Crow Valley Recreation Area, across a dry creek bed and into a cottonwood stand. You may be surprised by how many birds you are able to hear and see, especially during…

Crow Valley Campground

Site Open
Crow Valley Recreation Area family campground has ten sites.  Each single family site can accommodate up to eight people and each double site can accommodate up to 16 people. One RV or tents and…

Crow Valley Group Campground

Site Open
Crow Valley Recreation Area’s “Hawk,” “Plover” and “Lark” group campsites can accommodate up to 30 people each. All sites are wheelchair accessible. There are three to four picnic…

Crow Valley Picnic Site

Site Open
Picnicking
Located in the Crow Valley Recreation Area, this oasis on the prairie has cottonwoods and elms which provide shade, small meadows, short nature walks, a ball field, volleyball and horse shoe area…

Crow Valley Recreation Area

Site Open
Outdoor Science and Learning Hiking Picnicking
Crow Valley Recreation Area is set in the Pawnee National Grassland, a very popular site with bird enthusiasts. Over 200 species can be found in the area. This oasis on the prairie has cottonwoods…

Lee and Dorothy Rhoads Farm Implement Museum

Site Closed
Outdoor Science and Learning
Mid-19th century pioneers settled on the short-grass prairie, in northeastern Colorado, and tried their hand at farming.  A Pawnee chief once said, “Grass no good upside down." During the Great…

Main Draw OHV Area

Site Closed
Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
The Main Draw Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) area is the only location on the Pawnee National Grassland where non-licensed vehicles are permitted. The area, usually open November 1 through April 9, is in…

Pawnee Bird Tour

Outdoor Science and Learning Scenic Drives
The Pawnee National Grassland Bird Tour (pamphlet) is 21 miles long and passes through a variety of bird habitats. The kinds of birds present will depend upon the season of the year, weather…

Pawnee Buttes Trailhead

Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning
The Pawnee Buttes are located in the northeast corner of Weld County, Colorado, approximately 13 miles south of the Wyoming border. A predominant geologic feature within the Pawnee National…

Last updated March 17th, 2025