Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway
a day / 76 miles / 2 hours 31 minutes
Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway moves through radiant wetlands full of wildlife, prairie vistas with immense skies, and rural communities shaped by nature and the entrepreneurial spirit. Clouds of Sandhill and Whooping Cranes descend; and pelicans, Bald and Golden Eagles, shorebirds, ducks, and geese gracefully rest here, capturing the spirit of this byway.
Day 1
9:00 - 6.7 miles / 13 minutes - 9:13
The Nature Conservancy Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve
The Nature Conservancy owns and manages more than 7,300 acres of critical wetlands in the midst of this world-class natural wonder. These shallow marshes -- averaging less than one foot deep -- are ideal habitats for wading shorebirds. The Conservancy seeks to preserve and maintain these vital wetlands so that the multitudes of migrating birds, which have relied on this great marsh for thousands of years, may continue to find safe haven.
9:13 - 5.4 miles / 10 minutes - 9:24
Cheyenne Bottoms Scenic Overlook
This overlook provides the only elevated view of the entire Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands basin. It provides the traveler a vantage point from which to experience the vastness of the prairie wetlands and contains the first of many interpretive signs along the byway. The site includes an observation area, picnic tables, and an interpretive kiosk.
9:54 - 63.8 miles / 2 hours 7 minutes - 12:01