Crow Valley

About

Crow Valley Recreation Area occupies a rare patch of shade in the vast Pawnee National Grassland, where cottonwood and elm trees provide relief from the open shortgrass prairie. The family campground has 10 sites, five reservable through Recreation.gov and five first-come, first-served. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and charcoal grill. Vault toilets are provided, but there is no potable water, so campers must bring their own supply. The grassland is a premier birding destination, with over 200 species recorded including Mountain Plover, Burrowing Owl, and various raptors. The Pawnee Buttes, towering sandstone formations visible from the nearby scenic byway, anchor the landscape. Beyond birding, visitors enjoy star gazing under some of Colorado's darkest skies, exploring nature trails, and browsing the Lee and Dorothy Rhoads Farm Implement Museum, which preserves tools from the homesteading era. Three group campsites (Hawk, Plover, Lark) accommodate up to 30 people each for larger gatherings. The campground sits at 4,800 feet elevation about 23 miles east of Ault via Highway 14. Roads can become slick or rough after rain, and spring flooding occasionally causes temporary closures.

Directions

From Ault, Colorado at the intersection of US Highway 85 and Colorado 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.