When was the last time you had a chance to have an experience worthy of the pages of National Geographic or Animal Planet? If you have been watching nature documentaries or skimming through the pages of your favorite glossy magazine about wildlife of North America, there is one creature that has bound to come up. The mating dance of the Greater Sage Grouse has been featured in all the greats, and for good reason. Few other birds have given birdwatchers and biologists alike the ability to see the complexities of a ritualistic mating dance that has been around for tens of thousands of years, if not longer!

One small community in the Colorado Rocky Mountains has some of the best preserved mating grounds for these incredible birds, as well as access that is almost guaranteed to let you see what goes down every Spring. The North Park Area Chamber of Commerce is offering curated tours in April 2025 that will be perfect for animal lovers, bird watchers, and wildlife photographers. The Chamber has been offering these exclusive tours for years, but the rules have changed for 2025, allowing for more visitors to experience the mating dance of the greater sage grouse. 

What Are the Greater Sage Grouse?

The greater sage grouse were first documented by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805. They are about the size of a chicken, with larger males boasting their signature ornate tailfeathers, which are part of their charms to attract the plainer females, as well as large air sacs they inflate to display for potential mates as well as to intimidate rivals. 

The greater sage grouse are among the largest of the North American grouse and are named for the sage brush that covers much of the high desert and basins of the American West. They rely on the sage brush for food, shelter, and nesting. Their breeding grounds are called leks, and each year the grouse return to these places to dance and mate and continue on the legacy of the species.

Unfortunately, the greater sage grouse—like most other wildlife in North America—are facing serious problems as cities and industry continue to encroach on their habitat and mating grounds. The leks are often desirable to builders and agriculture because of their proximity to water and flat, wide open views. One of the reasons the leks in North Park have become such a draw for bird watchers is due to our remoteness and undeveloped high desert scrublands. The lack of development has allowed the greater sage grouse to thrive in what is otherwise considered a very harsh and remote environment. (Photo courtesy of Kathi Manville)

Importance of Sagebrush Habitat

Some might consider endless miles of sagebrush an eyesore, but to the greater sage grouse, it looks like home. Sagebrush provides everything a grouse needs to thrive. With their plumage, sage grouse are camouflaged from predators such as coyotes and raptors. They can swiftly pass through the maze-like clumps of these highcountry shrubs as chicks or use them to buy some time to take wing as they get older. Greater sage grouse live off the seeds and greens produced by the sagebrush and might play a part in propagating and spreading the sage brush. Sage brush works well at holding fine sandy soil down in windy environments and can subsist on very little water.

Unfortunately in Colorado, sagebrush is often considered a nuisance and one of the first things to be cleared when new construction begins. Invasive species such as rabbit grass are also closing in on sage grouse habitat. Rabbit grass is not only susceptible to wildfires, but thrives in burned out areas where rival ground cover has been cleared out. Rabbit grass spreads quickly, but has no real nutritional value for the greater sage grouse. 

Fortunately for the greater sage grouse, rabbit grass and other invasive species haven’t taken hold in North Park the way they have in other areas. North Park offers a stark environment with a rugged beauty that is just right for the greater sage grouse.

The Mating Dance

What is the attraction to the greater sage grouse? After all, many other birds have mating dances they use to attract mates. The greater sage grouse has one of the most dramatic methods of courtship, and the process can be heard for miles across a still prairie in the morning. 

The male grouse put their tail feathers on display and inflate and deflate large air sacs on their chests. The sacs can vary in color, from a pale tone to a deep blue. Some scientists believe that the color might indicate the health of the bird, drawing females to a healthier mate to pass these traits onto their young. When the males inflate and deflate these air sacs, they cause a characteristic “boom” that can be heard for miles. The entire spectacle seems choreographed, often driving the drama between competing males and seemingly indifferent females.

Conservation Matters

Wildlife in North America was once abundant, but due to the encroachment of towns and cities, pollution, and mismanagement of resources, nearly every species on the continent is facing the challenge of survival. As our wild places continue to disappear, with them will go vital habitats and eventually their numbers will decline to levels of endangerment and possibly extinction.

Our wildlife in North America is a finite resource. When the first western settlers came to North America, accounts of flocks of passenger pigeons that could block out the sun were recorded. By the beginning of the 20th Century, they had been hunted to extinction. No one knows the impact their absence has had on an ecosystem they once played a part in for tens of thousands of years, if not longer. The greater sage grouse are in a similar situation. Their numbers are in decline. Not only from habitat destruction, but also sudden attacks such as poaching and even avian flu.

Seeing these animals in real life—instead of some nature channel or TikTok video you can flip through—gives them a presence that is impossible to ignore. By promoting awareness of their existence and the part they play in the balance of a finely tuned ecosystem, we can begin to understand their place in the bigger scheme of things.

Not to mention how cool it would be to see something like this up close!

Why Sage Grouse Tours are Important

Why are tours so important? First of all, North Park has hundreds of square miles and several leks throughout Jackson County, CO.  The simplest answer is it helps to know where to look. The tours have been running for years, and in collaboration with private and public landholders, the sage grouse tour guides know where to take you for the best viewing opportunities. 

Tours also offer the least amount of impact, which in the case of the greater sage grouse mating dance, it is important to keep as undisturbed as possible. Tour guides draw from a background of wildlife guiding and outfitting as well as a strong history of professional wildlife photography. These viewing opportunities are almost like a safari or curated hunt, where your chances of seeing something increase exponentially, rather than driving around for hours looking for mating grouse.

The tours begin shortly after dawn. Not only are there many miles to cover over a variety of locations that have been scouted out, you also need to consider the time of activity for the mating dance.

Courtship begins with the rising sun and continues on with a peak of early morning. By 10am, the dance is mostly done for the day. 

Grouse Tour Details

Two weekends are being offered this year: April 18-19th and April 25- 26th.

In previous years, spaces were very limited, and tours included accommodations and dining. This year, however, where you stay and where you eat in North Park is up to the visitor. This allows for more visitors and better flexibility on room and board.

Prices have also changed, with the cost per person lowered down to $275 for each weekend. Follow this link to the North Park Area Chamber of Commerce to register today. Space is limited as are accommodations in North Park, so get your spot early! Tours typically begin early in the morning, around 6am and last until 10am. 

Please contact the North Park Chamber of Commerce at (970) 723-4600 with any questions you have about how to  enroll in the sage grouse viewing tour. The sage grouse tour is a once in a lifetime experience avid birders won’t want to miss.

Best Places to Stay in North Park and Walden, CO

For this year’s Sage Grouse Tours, book your lodging in a hotel, VRBO or AirBnB property in Walden, CO. Here are the best hotels in Walden, CO and other places to stay in North Park:

• Antlers Inn Call: (970) 723-8690
• North Park Inn and Suites Call: (970) 723-4271
• Chedsey Motel Call: (970) 723-8201
• Lake John Resort (970) 723-8201
• And many others! 

A Big Year for the Greater Sage Grouse!

This year promises to be a big year for sage grouse viewing in North Park. Aspiring wildlife photographers as well as professionals are encouraged to bring their fast lenses, extra batteries, and SD cards. Action is very quick, so bring your telephoto lenses with fast shutter speeds and wide apertures if you want that perfect shot. Videographers can expect the pageantry of the mating dance as well as some great captures on the sound the males create!

Weather conditions can often be cold and sometimes swing between spring and winter. Be sure to dress in layers for protection against cold weather and moisture, but also to give yourself a way to cool off once the sun is up.

Don’t pass up this opportunity for some amazing nature photography delivered by some experienced guides. The best time for greater sage grouse viewing happens only once a year and in some very select places. North Park offers some of the best places to see sage grouse mating dances in the USA. Book your tour today!