plains conservation center

We are regular attenders of Prairie Preschool at the Plains Conservation Center. Most day trip visitors see the teepees and the homestead portion, but there is lots more to see. Check their website for special programs (most are rather inexpensive) and go on a guided hike or wagon ride to see the wildlife. You might get lucky and see a bald eagle or some pronghorn.Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Plan on walking on dirt paths and getting dirty. In the summer it is hotter than nearby areas because there is little shade and in the winter it is cooler than nearby areas because it is wide open and can be windy. Always bring sunscreen, sunglasses and water, regardless of the season!

This is a small but great example of the way the settlers lived on the plains. From a cabin to stables, farm animals, wildlife, etc. A great place to take the kids. Special events throughout the year.

Me and my classmates had to go her to learn about Colorado History which includes back in the pioneer days and about the Indian tribes. I LOVE this place so much and I want to go back

I had no idea this place was here until I studied a map and realized that I could bike most of the way on Aurora's trail system. It was a pleasant destination that made a nice little morning trip, though there's not a lot to see here so don't plan more than an hour unless you want to walk in the adjacent grassland or have a special interest in birdwatching or plains history. There's a small cluster of tipis that would be fun for kids to explore, as they can step inside, and some sod houses a 5 minutes' walk farther on which would probably be more interesting, though when I stopped in a school group was engrossed in a tour all around these buildings. i was offered a brochure of events and loved the idea of the summer sunset wagon rides that they seem to offer weekly, though i didn't get a chance to take advantage of one this year. The interpretive center is small but cozy - wish this was also a coffee shop and I'd spend the day reading in one of its comfortable chairs!

We spent an afternoon exploring and having a picnic at the Plains Center. We saw an old style homestead as well as tipis to give us an idea how different people would have lived on the plains in the 1800's. We also saw many, many prairie dogs, a few antelope, and a bison. The homestead area also had a chicken coop with a bunch of chickens. This was a lovely area for a short hike around the grounds although it was hot as there was no shade.There were several picnic areas and we found one covered area where we could eat lunch in the shade. We also drove the loop to see if we could observe any more antelope. We did see several on the return end of the loop. Be warned, the road was a rough dirt road and slow going. There was also a resource center with some hands on activities for kids. The Center also hosts events and classes.