Yampa Valley Crane Festival Logo

2013 Yampa Valley Crane Festival: Saturday

Saturday, September 7, 2013 - 12:00am
  • Community-wide

Saturday's Yampa Valley Crane Festival events include two crane viewings, a high-elevation bird walk, crane arts and crafts for kids of all ages, optics displays, and a chance to mingle with fellow craniacs during a picnic at the historic Carpenter Ranch.

Most crane festival events are free, open to the public, and require no pre-registration.  A few activities or services require pre-registration due to a limit on the number of participants and/or a fee. These are indicated in the event descriptions below.

CRANE VIEWING MAPS!
We've been scouting the Greater Sandhill Cranes' hangouts around the Yampa Valley! Download and view maps here to venture out where you're most likely to find them. The document is a four-page pdf for easy viewing and printing at home. During the festival, printed copies will also be available at the festival info desk outside Library Hall at the Bud Werner Memorial Library, 1289 Lincoln Avenue.

Saturday's Yampa Valley Crane Festival schedule:

6:15 a.m.   Sunrise crane viewing
A shuttle departs from the Stockbridge Transit Center at 1505 Lincoln Avenue at 5:45 a.m. and returns there at approximately 8:45 a.m. 
**Pre-registration required for shuttle service only. To reserve a seat on the shuttle call 970-846-5556. $5 suggested donation to help cover fuel costs. Any unreserved seats will be filled first-come-first-serve at the Stockbridge departure site.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Crane displays at the Library
Educational displays about cranes and their habitat on display in the entry to Library Hall at the Bud Werner Memorial Library, 1289 Lincoln Avenue.

10 a.m.-2 p.m.   Crane activities for children & families at the Library
Join crane enthusiasts of all ages outside on the Library Lawn and inside Library Hall and the Storytime Room at the Bud Werner Memorial Library, 1289 Lincoln Avenue, for crane-related games and activities including crane origami, crane crafts,a crane-calling contest, crane dancing and much more.

10 a.m.-2 p.m.   Crane Photobooth
During the family activities, stop by the Crane Photobooth and get your picture taken with a life-size crane. It's a great souvenir, and your $5 helps support the festival.Photobooth will be located in the entry to Library Hall at the Bud Werner Memorial Library, 1289 Lincoln Avenue.

10 a.m.-Noon  Optics display on the Library Lawn
Check out the newest technology in binoculars and spotting scopes. Mogil's on the Mountain will have a hands-on display set up on the Library Lawn at the Bud Werner Memorial Library, 1289 Lincoln Avenue.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.  Crane Festival Art Show at The Depot
The official Crane Festival Art show, in partnership with the Steamboat Springs Arts Council, featuring more than 30 works in a variety of media on display at The Depot, 1001 13th Street.

2:30-4 p.m.   Nature/bird walk at the top of Thunderhead on the Steamboat Ski Area SORRY, THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL!
This event includes a  complimentary gondola ride (about nine minutes) with spectacular views over the Yampa Valley. Walk will start at 9,080 feet in elevation on a mostly flat, but uneven and unpaved, trail. Meet at entrance to the gondola in Gondola Square.
**Pre-registration required. Number of participants is limited. REGISTRATION CLOSED.

5-7 p.m.  Picnic at The Nature Conservancy’s historic Carpenter Ranch in Hayden
Prior to the evening's crane viewing, socialize with fellow crane festival participants on a beautiful ranch that is home to more than 150 species of birds. Tour the historic ranch house or take a self-guided walk along the nature/birding trail next to the Yampa River. Demo binoculars from the optics display will also be provided by Mogil's on the Mountain. B.Y.O. picnic dinner or pre-purchase a box picnic dinner. Water and soft drinks will be provided to all attendees.
**Pre-registration and payment of $15 per person required for purchase of box dinner: Call 970-846-5556. See note below for information about shuttle service to the picnic and crane viewing.

6:45 p.m.   Sunset Crane Viewing & Quick Draw art event
During the crane viewing, watch six artists participating in the Quick Draw capture the beauty of the cranes and their habitat during the magic sunset hour. Quick Draw paintings will be on display and available for silent auction at the Bud Werner Memorial Library on Monday, September 9.
**See note below for information about shuttle service to the picnic and crane viewing.
 
Evening shuttle service:  Shuttle service to the Carpenter Ranch picnic and sunset crane viewing departs at 4:30 p.m. from the Stockbridge Transit Center at 1501 Lincoln Avenue and returns there at approximately 8:30 p.m.  
**To reserve a seat on the shuttle call 970-846-5556. $5 suggested donation to help cover fuel costs. Any unreserved seats will be filled first-come-first-serve at the Stockbridge departure site.

Ongoing      Crane art display at Wild Goose Coffee at the Granary
Visit the display during regular business hours throughout September. Wild Goose Coffee at the Granary is located at 198 E. Lincoln Avenue in Hayden.  

Ongoing      Crane art in Steamboat Springs galleries    
Crane art is being featured at several Steamboat Springs galleries: The Artists' Gallery of Steamboat (1009 Lincoln Ave.) and Images of Nature (730 Lincoln Ave.). After the festival, the official Crane Art Show, in partnership with the Steamboat Springs Arts Council, will be open at the Depot (1001 13th St.) from 11 a.m.- 5p.m., Tuesday-Friday, throughout September.

Links to daily schedules:

About the festival
The second annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival takes place September 6-9, 2013 in Steamboat Springs and Hayden. The Greater Sandhill Crane is an iconic species of the Yampa Valley. Returning in the spring, cranes nest and raise their young in wetland areas throughout the valley. In late summer and early fall, hundreds of cranes from the Rocky Mountain flock join the local birds to rest and feed before continuing their journey south. The festival includes daily crane viewings, expert speakers, films, art exhibits, workshops, family activities and more. All community activities and events are free unless otherwise indicated in the program!

About the festival sponsor
The Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition (CCCC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of Sandhill Cranes in Colorado -- and lead organizer for the Yampa Valley Crane Festival each fall. Help support CCCC and the 2013 Yampa Valley Crane Festival by printing and submitting the donation form (A pdf, "CCCCSupport") at  the bottom of this page.

Festival partners
Abby Jensen Photography, BookTrails/Off the Beaten Path, Bud Werner Memorial Library, Ciao Gelato, City of Steamboat Springs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Conservation Colorado,  Council of the Humane Society of the U.S., Gerhard Assenmacher Photography, Klauzer & Tremaine, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, Steamboat Springs Arts Council, The Nature Conservancy, Tom Thurston at Stagecoach Marina, U.S. Forest Service, Yampa Valley Birding Club, Yampa Valley Land Trust & Yampatika

Questions about the Yampa Valley Crane Festival? Please send us an email.