Wyoming Wakes Up: A Guide to Spring Wildlife Viewing Near Cheyenne

Spring comes slowly to southeastern Wyoming, but when it arrives, it arrives with a flourish. The high plains shake off winter, the grasslands shift from gold to green, and the skies fill with the movement of birds returning north. For wildlife enthusiasts and casual nature lovers alike, the Cheyenne area offers some of the most rewarding spring viewing in the Rocky Mountain West, and you do not have to travel far to find it.

Each spring, large ungulates, including elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and pronghorn, traverse Wyoming in search of fresh flora, returning to higher elevations as snow melts and plants re-emerge. Meanwhile, the skies above southeastern Wyoming become a busy flyway. Wyoming sees yellow-rumped warblers, spotted sandpipers, vesper sparrows, and western kingbirds moving through in notable numbers, and the yellow warbler is a particular spring highlight, especially around Cheyenne’s lakes. Knowing where to look makes all the difference.

For a guaranteed bison encounter, look no further than Terry Bison Ranch, just south of Cheyenne near the Wyoming-Colorado border. The ranch offers custom-built train tours that take you out to see the herd up close, and guests are invited to hand-feed the bison along the way. The ranch’s history stretches back to the 1800s, when it was once owned by F.E. Warren, the first governor of Wyoming. It is an easy, fun outing for families and a uniquely Wyoming experience that never gets old.

Start close to home. Just north of Cheyenne’s downtown, Lions Park ranks among Wyoming’s top birding hotspots in terms of species seen. It is a designated Important Bird Area, recognized in part for its importance to migrant songbirds, and it is surrounded by the kind of easy, walkable terrain that makes it accessible for all skill levels. Sloan Lake within the park draws waterfowl throughout the season, and the cottonwood corridors channel migrating songbirds right through the heart of the city.

About 20 miles west of Cheyenne on Happy Jack Road, Curt Gowdy State Park offers some of the richest wildlife habitat in the region. Three reservoirs within the park, Granite, Crystal, and North Crow, host an abundance of waterfowl throughout spring, summer, and fall. The coniferous forests here host nutcrackers, nuthatches, and chickadees, while the reservoirs attract a spring migration of waterfowl. The park’s rolling terrain and pine-studded hillsides also provide excellent cover for mule deer and pronghorn.

For dedicated birders, this private ranch, a few miles east of Cheyenne, welcomes visitors and has been designated an Important Bird Area. Mature cottonwoods along Crow Creek act as a magnet for migrants, and the range of species, from wading birds to shorebirds to sparrows, adds up to a list of more than 240. Two reservoirs on the property attract nesting ducks, grebes, and wading birds. Spring is prime time for a visit.

A short drive southwest toward Laramie brings you to one of the region’s most productive wetland habitats. Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge comprises lakes and wetlands in a vast arid region, making it an oasis for many waterbird species. More than 15 species of ducks are seen regularly in migration, and nearly 30 species of shorebirds have been recorded in spring and fall. The open grasslands surrounding the refuge are also reliable territory for pronghorn and raptors riding the spring thermals.

Dawn and dusk are the most active times of day for wildlife viewing. Bring binoculars, dress in layers, and keep your distance: the rule of thumb is at least 25 yards from any animal. For real-time sightings, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s free eBird app lets you see exactly what other observers have spotted near you on any given day, which is especially useful during peak migration weeks.

After a morning on the trails or along the lakeshore, Little America Cheyenne is the kind of place you will be glad to come back to. Settle into a Wyoming Suite, enjoy a made-from-scratch meal at Hathaway’s Restaurant, and let the wide Wyoming sky be the last thing you see before a good night’s rest. Spring in Cheyenne is short and spectacular, and there is no better place to experience it.