Plains Conservation Center

I had no clue this place existed until I went looking for Girl Scout outings.We had a wagon tour of the place and it was absolutely phenomenal. I wish I could remember his name but he said he had been there about 5 years. And there wasn't a question asked that he couldn't answer. We learned about erosion at the water table. We learned about prairie ecosystems. We experienced what it was like living in a sod homestead. And we got a brief overview of the Cheyanne way of life. All of this was followed by s'mores.We saw the eagle nest and several pronghorn and dozens of prairie dogs. The eagles weren't around but they should be back in the spring.If you are looking for a fun and educational experience not too far from Denver, this is the place you are looking for.

Solid free day experience with my little one! It was definitely geared for older kiddos but it was still fun to get out and about with my 1.5 year old. She really enjoyed chasing the bunnies we saw near the homestead.

I bought tickets for a wagon ride at the center. I have never visited this natural space even though o have driven past it many times before. We drove through the entrance and towards buildings. There were two signs directing us to the parking lot. We walked towards the wagon and were directed to check in at the visitor center. They had craft tables set up in the visitor center. Also restrooms available. They announced the ride would begin soon and for us to gather outside. We boarded the wagon and took advantage of the cushioned mats for us to sit on. They also had quilts for the cold. I must have not read the description well because the naturalist, David, told us Santa was riding with us! What a surprise. He was the western Santa with cowboy hat and curled mustache. Slightly bumpy ride but David told us lots of interesting facts about the area and plants and animals which thrive there. The ride stopped in different areas for us to look at the various locations of interest. The herd of pronghorn were amazing. We saw a bald eagle nest and the bald eagles. That was even more amazing. After the ride we got to visit with Santa, Mrs Claud and an elf. Drink hot chocolate or cider and sit by the fire. Restrooms were available in that building as well. I complete the chime stick craft I started before the ride and made an ornament for our tree as a momento. What a fun day. Even my son enjoyed it. I was afraid it would be boring for him as he had visited the center twice before. Another memory made.

Go to this place when it's SCFD free day because they have a full day of fun things. When we went, HawkQuest was there with Kin introducing us to an owl, Harris Hawk, Bald Eagle, and Perrigrine falcon. Next there was a wagon ride where we learned about all those pronghorns and prairie dogs who we're watching us pass by. We got introduced to Cherokee Indian artifacts while inside one of the teepees. The sod houses are interesting to see too as they remind us that the are was once without trees. The staff is always so informative and engaging.

The Plains Conservation Center is such a cool and beautiful place. It's definitely a bit out there, but it's worth it to feel a bit more out of the city. They have some nice walking trails and it's cool to see all of the historic artifacts and buildings. Highly recommend checking it out!

The PCC is an excellent glimpse into Colorado's past. I went there one late afternoon and there were no activities, but it's not hard to see this place would be an excellent place for kids and school groups, and adults will enjoy this place to.While walking down the gravel road, I took in the vast plains views, and contemplated what life would be like in the eastern plains as a settler trying to carve out a living in what is essentially a barren wasteland much of the year. I enjoyed the geese flying in formation, the cattle running in the distance but did not, unfortunately, see the antelope.I wasn't certain how much of the structures were real versus reproduction, a testament to the quality of the work put into the park.The road is lined with the remains of farm implements from several different periods of history. The trails provide a beautiful place to get a long gentle hike.If you love history, scenery and wildlife, this is the place to go. Just minutes from Denver, yet a world away.

I recommend calling in advance of your visit to confirm open hours. Their website currently lists weekday visitor hours as 8 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday. I drove to the center today (Thursday morning) to discover a permanent-looking sign at the gate listing today's opening time as noon. Disappointing as I was looking forward to exploring the prairie ecosystem and viewing birds. It was a drive out of my way and a waste my time and gas. Please-update your website!

This is a fun interactive place to tour. It's a gem near Aurora, Denver, and Centennial. We rode the wagon on a Saturday tour with Julie, who was knowledgeable and fun. Tourists ranged for 5 to 80 years old and it looked like it could accommodate a wheelchair. Binoculars were even provided. Julie shared some interactive props illustrating how much water the area gets per year and we all got to touch prong horn antlers and skin. We saw many animals and learned a lot about short grass prairies. We hiked around a bit too and checked out the teepees. I'd recommend this as a nature experience to anyone into the open plains, old west history, or viewing wildlife.

What an absolutely fantastic place! I am very thankful that the Yelp community introduces me to these types of hidden gems! This place is a wonderful place for hiking, star gazing, learning, and more! If you have not checked the Plains Conservation Center out, pick a sunny day and make it happen! Great, great experience!

It was absolutely stunning to visit the Plains Conservation Center. I often imagine what Colorado looked like before the malls, housing developments, and shopping centers were erected and I was so happy to get a glimpse of this during my visit.The staff were extremely friendly and approachable. The bones, furs, and live snakes/turtles within the nature center were really fantastic. I especially enjoyed posing with the stuffed pronghorn and bison heads.Within a short walk from the parking area I enjoyed feeding chickens and perusing the blacksmith shop and Johnson homestead. There were also some tipis to explore which I was excited to learn are available for camping.I look forward to returning to the Plains Conservation Center with out of town guests as well a to walk/run/snowshoe their many trails.