Founded in 1978, the Crane Trust is an independent nonprofit conservation organization located on the beautiful Platte River in South Central Nebraska. We ensure a future for wildlife in Nebraska’s Big Bend area of the Platte River through scientific research, habitat management, and outreach & education.

The beautiful Nature and Visitor Center welcomes guests to the Crane Trust’s rare, protected lands year-round and to the great Sandhill Crane migration in the spring. Come explore nature trails, interactive exhibits, tourism information, and a unique gift shop and art gallery. Located at Interstate 80 Exit 305, the Center is open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 4pm.

Crane Trust is dedicated to protecting, preserving, and educating about critical habitat for endangered Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes, and other important species in the Central Platte River Valley. In addition to offering tours of one of the greatest spring migrations in the world, the Trust works year-round to protect and preserve nearly 10,000 acres of critical habitat.

Crane Trust offers a variety of options in March to make your crane viewing experience truly magical. These experiences are all led by expert guides. Our riverfront blinds are located along the largest Sandhill Crane roost in the world. We invite you to book a Public Crane Viewing Tour, Daytime Driving Tour, or Footbridge Tour. For an elevated premier experience, you can stay one or two nights with us for a VIP Overnight Experience. Crane Trust members can join us from anywhere in the world for Virtual Crane Tours. 

Generous support from Crane Trust’s donors and members helps ensure a future for wildlife in Nebraska’s Big Bend region of the Platte River.

Visit our Support page to find out ways to donate, volunteer, or become a Member.

Crane Trust is an independent non-profit organization that depends on your generous support to protect and preserve critical habitat for the endangered whooping crane and sandhill cranes. You can help ensure that cranes and other migratory birds will continue to thrive along the Platte River for years to come.

The Crane Trust is a 501(C)3 non-profit formally named the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, Inc. EIN 47-0623996

Members get exclusive benefits including access to our 24/7 river cam and early access to crane viewing reservations. Your support is essential for successful habitat restoration and protection, outreach efforts to engage the community, and other projects to sustain resources for cranes and countless other species sharing fragile river and prairie ecosystems. Read More by clicking the link above.

We take your privacy seriously. We do not sell or otherwise disclose information about our volunteers or supporters outside of our immediate organization. do not sell or exchange your information with any other organizations, public, private or nonprofit.

The best time to see sandhill cranes in Nebraska is during their spring migration. Generally, Sandhill Cranes begin arriving in the area in the middle of February, increase in numbers during March, and disperse by early April. During this time, you can witness thousands of cranes as they stop to rest and feed before continuing their journey north. We highly recommend booking sunrise and sunset viewing expereinces in our riverfront blinds! You can also see the cranes foraging and socializing in the fields during the daytime. Stop in at our Nature & Visitor Center for info on best viewing spots day to day.

Sunrise and sunset are your best opportunities to catch them on the Platte River. Book a public viewing tour with us for a riverfront blind experience with expert guides. 

During the day, take a self-guided driving tour to view cranes foraging in fields, prairies, and wet meadows near the Platte River. Several designated safe viewing areas are within a few miles of the Center.  Stop in and check with our volunteers for the most current daytime viewing locations. For more information about self-guided crane viewing, visit: https://visitgrandisland.com/events/sandhill-cranes-migration.html

Reserve an all-inclusive overnight experience, with a private room & bath, catered meals, and guided crane viewings in our heated riverfront blinds. Enjoy an elevated experience while helping to support Crane Trust’s mission and conservation work. For details, please contact reservations@cranetrust.org or 308.833.3808.

To learn about lodging, restaurants, and other attractions in our area, please see https://visitgrandisland.com/ and https://visitkearney.org/

Children under 12 are not allowed in the blinds by the river, but there are plenty of activities at the Visitor Center for them to enjoy. Visit the animal display room, explore the footbridges and nature trails. Find field guides, learning tools, and toys for purchase in our gift shops.

During the day, cranes can be seen feeding in the nearby cornfields. The Visitor Center provides information on where to find the cranes, making it a great opportunity for families to observe them from the comfort of their vehicles. Also check out our guided Daytime Driving Tours for ages 6 and up.

For the safety of all guests and wildlife, pets are not allowed on the property. Service animals are welcome in the Center but are not permitted in the blinds by the river. Thank you for your understanding.

The Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center is located in Central Nebraska at Interstate 80 Exit 305 (the Alda exit). 

Our street address is 9325 South Alda Rd. in Wood River, Nebraska

The Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center is open all year, Monday through Saturday 9am – 4pm.

In March, we are open every day for extended hours.

Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm
Closed on holidays and December 25 – January 1

OPEN daily in March during the spring migration
8am – 5pm before time change
8am – 6pm after time change
Gift Shop closes 30 minutes before building close
Nature Trail hours are limited to protect roosting cranes