2026 Yampa Valley Crane Festival

The 15th annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival will be held on September 3 ­– 6, 2026 in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig, Colorado.

Join us for guided crane viewings, bird walks, expert speakers, live raptors, films, family activities, and more. Speakers include:

  • Keynote speaker Anne Lacy, Vice President of North America Programs, International Crane Foundation
  • Noah Strycker, author, photographer, and bird man
  • Ted Floyd, author, birder extraordinaire, and editor of the American Birding Association’s Birding magazine
  • Sandra Noll, naturalist and crane expert
  • Van Graham, retired wildlife biologist and expert on the Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes, CCCC emeritus board member
  • Meg Karschner, Executive Director, Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition

View the complete festival schedule. 

Registration is LIVE! 8 am, July 15, 2026.

To stay current on the latest festival-related announcements and more, click the button below to subscribe to CCCC’s newsletter:

Additional Festival Information

Festival Information Desk

Outside Library Hall
Thursday, September 3: 12 – 8 pm
Friday, September 4: 9 am – 8 pm
Saturday, September 5: 9 am – 4pm
Sunday, September 6: 10 am – 3 pm

Festival Store

Crane-themed merchandise will be for sale in the Library Conference Room next to Library Hall:
Thursday, September 3: 3 – 8 pm
Friday, September 4: 10 am – 5 pm
Saturday, September 5: 10:30 am – 4pm
Sunday, September 6: 10 am – 3 pm

Optics Store

Front Range Birding Company/Opticron will have optics and other merchandise for sale in the Library Conference Room next to Library Hall:
Thursday, September 3: 3 – 8 pm
Friday, September 4: 10 am – 5 pm
Saturday, September 5: 10:30 am – 4pm
Sunday, September 6: 10 am – 3 pm

Riverside Cafe

First floor, Bud Werner Memorial Library
Regular Business Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Special Festival Hours:
Saturday, September 5: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, September 6: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Save the Date for the 15th annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival:

September 3 – 6, 2026

Yampa Valley Crane Festival

Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition, Inc. presents the annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival every fall. The festival occurs during fall staging – when cranes gather in large numbers in the fall to feed and gain energy for their migration south. The festival is held in beautiful Northwest Colorado with events in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig. The festival features guided crane viewings, bird and nature walks, expert speakers, films, crane and bird art, children and family activities, and more.

Behind the Scenes of the Yampa Valley Crane Festival

Join along and experience the dedicated effort that goes into producing the crane festival each fall with this video produced by Jo Smith.