There’s something undeniably wild about winter on Colorado’s southeastern plains. Under wide-open skies, golden grasslands stretch to the horizon, and sharp-eyed raptors patrol a landscape shaped by prairie dogs, pronghorn, bison, and other iconic wildlife. Join Reefs to Rockies for a four-day wildlife safari through the windswept grasslands of southeastern Colorado, where winter brings exceptional opportunities to experience the region’s wildlife at its most dramatic.

Our adventure takes us to two remarkable private landscapes that are not open to the general public. We’ll spend a full day at Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve, Southern Plains Land Trust’s largest preserve, where landscape-scale conservation is restoring vast, connected prairie ecosystems. We’ll also explore May Ranch, an Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly working cattle ranch where expansive shortgrass prairie, prairie dog colonies, seasonal wetlands, and riparian areas provide important winter habitat for birds and mammals.

Raptors are the stars of this winter safari. We’ll search for golden eagles, ferruginous hawks, prairie falcons, bald eagles, American kestrels, merlins, northern harriers, and the occasional great horned owl, watching not just for species but for the behaviors that make a prairie come alive. Prairie dogs are especially important to the story: these keystone animals shape the grassland and provide an important source of prey for golden eagles, ferruginous hawks, and other predators, while supporting an astonishing array of wildlife. If we’re lucky, we may even witness the dramatic interactions that unfold around prairie dog colonies, including coyotes and raptors competing for the same prey.

From our four-wheel drive safari van, affectionately known as the Roaming Bison, we’ll have comfortable, unobtrusive access to the open prairie. Custom-designed by two wildlife biologists, the van’s pop-top and panoramic views allow it to function like a rolling blind, ideal for watching hunting raptors, wandering bison, pronghorn, and other wildlife without disturbing the rhythms of the landscape.

This is a wildlife safari in the truest sense—four days immersed in the expansive winter prairie, with raptors as our focus and the entire grassland ecosystem as our backdrop.

Day 1 | Denver to Lamar

Depart Denver this morning and begin our journey to Lamar with multiple stops along the way, giving everyone a chance to develop their search image for Colorado’s winter raptors. We’ll scan open country, agricultural fields, and roadside perches as we get acquainted with the species and habitats we’ll be exploring over the coming days. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, featuring locally sourced, seasonal dishes.

Accommodations: Historic Cow Palace Inn
Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 | Heartland Ranch Safari

After breakfast, we’ll spend the day exploring Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve and surrounding areas. Where we go today will depend on recent sightings, weather, and other factors. Our focus will be on locating and observing winter raptors in action—ferruginous hawks, golden eagles, bald eagles, red-tailed and rough-legged hawks, prairie falcons, American kestrels, and more. We’ll keep an eye out for shrikes and may also spot other prairie icons like bison, pronghorn, mule deer, and badgers. We’ll take time to observe behavior, interactions, and the broader ecological relationships that make these grasslands so dynamic in winter.

Accommodations: Historic Cow Palace Inn
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 | May Ranch Safari

Get ready for another full day exploring the winter prairie. Today’s featured destination is May Ranch, an Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly working cattle ranch where intentional management for wildlife supports abundant grassland mammals and birds. Explore prairie edges and open fields where prairie dog colonies attract ferruginous hawks, golden eagles, and other birds of prey, not to mention the many other prairie species that call this ranch home.

Accommodations: Historic Cow Palace Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 | Final Wildlife Viewing and Departures

Our final day includes a morning in the field before we wrap up with lunch and head back to Denver. We’ll make the most of our final time together, revisiting hotspots or exploring new areas based on the group’s interest and any updates from the field. Expect more time with raptors, prairie dogs, and sweeping prairie vistas before parting ways in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Price: $2375* per person based on two people sharing double occupancy accommodations. Add $200** if you prefer private, single occupancy accommodations.

Inclusions: accommodations, Expedition Leader – Sheridan Samano, transportation in custom 4WD safari van from Denver meeting point, daily guided wildlife viewing with spotting scope available, special access fees, and meals as listed.

Exclusions: transportation to/from the meeting point in Denver, 1 dinner, activities not listed, travel insurance, hotel staff gratuities, and personal expenses.

*Price is for payment by check or ACH. Credit card fees, if applicable, will be assessed at time of payment based on card used.

**If you are a solo traveler who prefers to share a double occupancy room but we can’t find a suitable roommate for you, the private room surcharge will apply.

Group Size: Min 4; max 7 participants, plus Expedition Leader. We are known for keeping our groups small, allowing for a more personal experience and a strong guide-to-guest ratio.

Level of Difficulty—Easy: This trip primarily involves short walks on mostly level gravel roads, paths, or open prairie terrain. Conditions may be windy or chilly, but walks will be under one mile with daily totals no more than three miles. Blankets will be provided in the safari van for added comfort. All outings are at a leisurely pace with ample time for observation.