Colorado / Weld County / Pawnee National Grassland

Crow Valley

Closed — Closed for the season. Typically operates spring through fall, with potential temporary closures due to spring flooding. Sites may be available first-come, first-served outside the reservation season.

About

Crow Valley Recreation Area is set in the heart of the Pawnee National Grassland, a 200,000-acre expanse of short grass prairie in north-central Colorado. At 4,800 feet elevation, the campground is one of the few places on the grassland with water and established shade trees, making it an oasis for both campers and wildlife. Cottonwood and elm trees dot the family campground, providing pleasant shade, though the group sites remain more exposed to the open prairie. The area is highly regarded among bird enthusiasts, with over 200 species documented throughout the year, particularly during spring and fall migration. The combination of trees, water, and surrounding grassland habitat creates ideal conditions for viewing everything from grassland specialists to migrant songbirds. Beyond birding, the campground offers excellent opportunities for stargazing in the dark prairie skies, hiking nature trails, and wildlife viewing. Recreation amenities include a volleyball court, horseshoe pit, and ball field. The Lee and Dorothy Rhoads Farm Implement Museum, located within the recreation area, preserves a collection of tools donated by homesteader descendants, offering a glimpse into pioneer life on the Colorado plains. The campground provides access to both units of Pawnee National Grassland and the 128-mile Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic Byway, which winds through wide-open terrain to the iconic Pawnee Buttes.

Directions

From Ault, Colorado, at the intersection of US Highway 85 and Colorado State Highway 14, take Highway 14 east for 22.7 miles, then turn north on Weld County Road 77 and travel 0.3 mile to the campground entrance on the west side of the road.

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