{"id":34670,"date":"2025-09-29T12:54:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T18:54:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=34670"},"modified":"2025-10-08T11:39:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T17:39:54","slug":"pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/","title":{"rendered":"A \u2018different Colorado\u2019: 5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"The
The Pawnee Buttes in the Pawnee National Grassland. On this September day, smoke from western wildfires filled the prairie. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before Colorado\u2019s early settlers heading west would have seen the towering snow-covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains, they would have traveled across the wind-swept prairie of what is now eastern Colorado and the Pawnee National Grassland.<\/p>\n

With 193,000 acres of mostly open short-grass prairie in the northeast corner of Colorado, the land provides an awe-inspiring experience of a different Colorado, a space as wide open as the opportunities that it inspired.<\/p>\n

\"Glassland
The Pawnee National Grassland provides a “different” Colorado experience. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A little history of the Pawnee National Grassland<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Pawnee National Grassland is broken up into two sections: east and west. It\u2019s a checkerboard of both private and public lands with roads crisscrossing and pioneer towns in between.<\/p>\n

\"broken
This old windmill is part of the Pawnee National Grassland’s Crow Valley Recreation Area farm equipment exhibit. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The United States officially acquired the area in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, but it wasn\u2019t until Native Americans were forcibly removed in the late 1880s that thousands of \u201cfarmers\u201d flocked to the area to homestead. The railroad moved in, creating towns like Grover and Keota, and large cattle herds from Texas traveled through the area on their way to Montana.\u00a0 The land was unforgiving, drought and harsh winters often drove many away, and the 1930s Dust Bowl caused many more to flee.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Soil Conservation Service moved in after the Dust Bowl period, replanting native grasses and trees to rebuild the soil ravaged by poorly cultivated cropland. The U.S. built new roads and improved soil conditions, and in 1954, transferred the land to the U.S. Forest Service, which established the Pawnee National Grassland in 1960. Over the years, the area has become a world-renowned bird-watching<\/a> mecca and a haven for people of all ages who enjoy hiking, nature, wildlife, and geography.<\/p>\n

\"open
The prairie of the Pawnee National Grassland. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Exploring the Pawnee National Grassland<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whether by car, foot, horseback or bicycle, the Pawnee National Grassland provides miles of land to wander and explore.<\/p>\n

For this adventure, go old school. Instead of relying on your phone for a map, get a Pawnee National Grassland Motor Vehicle Use Map<\/a> from the Colorado State Forest Service. The map will not only help you get to one of the main hiking attractions: Pawnee Buttes, but it also directs you to approved primitive camping, small historic cattle towns, a campground, and also helpful, the way home.<\/p>\n

Once populated with hopeful pioneers as a result of the Homestead Act of 1862, not many residents remain within the area\u2019s few settlements, including Keota, southwest of the area\u2019s main attraction, Pawnee Buttes.<\/p>\n

\"A
One of two towering buttes located within the Pawnee National Grassland. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Pawnee Buttes rise 300 feet from the flat prairie to an elevation of 5,375 feet. The two buttes are about a half-mile apart and home to many of the area\u2019s birds of prey. From the parking lot, where you can access bathrooms and shaded picnic areas, you travel into a maze-like arroyo that will take you to the north side of the buttes.\u00a0Be sure to\u00a0bring enough water<\/a>, as the weather<\/span>\u00a0can be hot and dry. Dogs are allowed on the trails, but having them leashed is important as it is “rattlesnake country.” There is also an overlook trail and equestrian trails, as well as educational signs providing geological and historical information about the area.<\/p>\n

\"people
Hikers follow the arroyo trail at The Pawnee Buttes. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Camping in the Pawnee National Grassland<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"hiking
Arroyo and smaller gullies provide endless exploring fun within the Pawnee National Grassland. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a true pioneer camping experience, then look no further than the Pawnee National Grassland. With thousands of acres, primitive camping areas are abundant just off the grid of dirt roads (but make sure you camp within the allowed 300 feet of the road).<\/p>\n

Although these spots provide no release from what can be desert-like heat, exploring sand-swept gullies and arroyos surrounding your camp provides hours of adventurous fun \u2014 and some shaded areas when the sun is not directly overhead.<\/p>\n

Another option \u2014 if you plan ahead \u2014 is the Crow Valley campground just off Colorado Highway 14 at Briggsdale, Colorado. Mature cottonwood and elm trees provide ample shade for 10 family campsites. Bird-watching trails veer off in several directions, and there is an old farm equipment exhibit and several group picnic and camping areas.<\/p>\n

Reservations must be made for family campsites on recreation.gov<\/a> during the year, except for Sept. 20-Nov. 14 when it is first-come, first-served. You can also enjoy a sand volleyball court, a baseball field, and horseshoe pits. You have to pay a fee to camp, but not to enjoy trails and other public areas.<\/p>\n

When the sun descends in the Pawnee National Grassland, the area\u2019s \u201cnightlights\u2019\u2019 turn on. On a clear night, millions of stars light the sky. Make sure you\u2019ve tucked away your camp for the night because as the stars come alive, so can the wind, and it can easily take your belongings with it.<\/p>\n

\"arroyo
Arroyo walking trail within the Pawnee National Grassland near The Pawnee Buttes trailhead. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stargazing at Pawnee National Grassland<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With a minimal amount of light pollution and a flat landscape, the Pawnee National Grassland makes for a great place to stargaze in Colorado.<\/p>\n

Late fall, when the nights are longer and the sun sets a little earlier, is the best time for stargazing.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips for stargazing:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Print out a monthly star chart<\/a> for Colorado and take it with you. There are apps for your phone, but the service is not always reliable, and as you\u2019ll read below, your phone can lessen your stargazing experience.<\/li>\n
  2. Lessen artificial light. Turn off (or don\u2019t use) your cell phone or your flashlight, as both affect how well you\u2019ll see the night sky. If your flashlight has a red light option, that is best if you need to find something \u2014 or your way back to camp.<\/li>\n
  3. For a closer view, a telescope is nice, but it isn\u2019t something you have to invest in. Binoculars, which come in handy for the other opportunities in the Pawnee National Grassland, also provide a closer look at the stars.\n
    \"sign
    Informational signs and bird-watching trails at Crow Valley within the Pawnee National Grassland help visitors enjoy the abundance of wildlife. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Bird watching at Pawnee National Grassland<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Each spring, thousands of migrating birds stop to visit the Pawnee National Grassland. More than 300 species have been identified<\/a> in the area, including resident birds like Lark Bunting, Horned Lark, Burrowing Owl, Mountain Plover, Vesper Sparrow and numerous raptors.<\/p>\n

    \"bird
    Bird-watching trails head off into the wide-open prairie of the Pawnee National Grassland. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    At Crow Valley Recreational Area and campground, there are several bird-watching trails to explore. In riparian areas, you may spot Mourning Doves, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Black-billed Magpies and Gray Catbirds.<\/p>\n

    The best time of year to visit for bird-watching is May and June, during migration and nesting times. Early mornings and evenings are optimal.<\/p>\n

    And the recreation area is not the only place to spot birds. The sedimentary rock formation that forms the Buttes also shelters the area\u2019s birds of prey. From March to June, it is their critical breeding and nesting season.<\/p>\n

    The Main Draw HOV area at Pawnee National Grassland<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    The unique landscape of the Pawnee National Grassland provides a fun \u201cplayground\u201d for non-licensed vehicles such as motorcycles and ATVs. There is one designated 2-mile area<\/a> in the northwestern corner of the Grassland that allows for such activities from Nov. 1 through April 1.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s an easy day trip, or even an afternoon trip, to pack a lunch and head out,\u201d said Carly Nabors, a Greeley resident who frequents the area with her husband and 8-year-old daughter.<\/p>\n

    \"walking
    Young hikers take off on the trail leading to The Pawnee Buttes. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    As with all areas of the Grassland, the wind can be powerful, she warns, and there is no shade. It is highly used during the weekends, but also very family-friendly.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s a big playground atmosphere. There are lots of kids, so it\u2019s great for learning,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s where I taught my daughter to ride a dirt bike when she was 6.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Users must have non-licensed vehicles registered with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. They cannot be longer than 50 inches and must have a spark arrester. There are no facilities, but a fenced parking area is available for trailers and RVs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Before Colorado\u2019s early settlers heading west would have seen the towering snow-covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains, they would have traveled across the wind-swept prairie of what is now eastern Colorado and the Pawnee National Grassland. With 193,000 acres of mostly open short-grass prairie in the northeast corner of Colorado, the land provides an awe-inspiring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2164,"featured_media":34675,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[2474,9187,4792],"class_list":["post-34670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-live-colorado","tag-hiking","tag-readysetco","tag-to-do-in-colorado"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With acres of open short-grass prairie and two towering buttes, the Pawnee National Grassland offers an awe-inspiring "different" Colorado.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A \u2018different Colorado\u2019: 5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With acres of open short-grass prairie and two towering buttes, the Pawnee National Grassland offers an awe-inspiring "different" Colorado.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UCHealth Today\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-29T18:54:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-08T17:39:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/09\/29093604\/PNG-butte1-tiny.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kati Blocker, UCHealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kati Blocker, UCHealth\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kati Blocker, UCHealth\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/2974962d9c19ae1bbcec3250ab830fbc\"},\"headline\":\"A \u2018different Colorado\u2019: 5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-29T18:54:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-08T17:39:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1564,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/29093604\\\/PNG-butte1-tiny.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Hiking\",\"Ready. Set. CO\",\"To do in Colorado\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Live Colorado\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/\",\"name\":\"5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland - UCHealth Today\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/29093604\\\/PNG-butte1-tiny.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-29T18:54:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-08T17:39:54+00:00\",\"description\":\"With acres of open short-grass prairie and two towering buttes, the Pawnee National Grassland offers an awe-inspiring \\\"different\\\" Colorado.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/29093604\\\/PNG-butte1-tiny.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/29093604\\\/PNG-butte1-tiny.webp\",\"width\":800,\"height\":533,\"caption\":\"The Pawnee National Grassland provides a \\\"different\\\" Colorado experience. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A \u2018different Colorado\u2019: 5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\",\"name\":\"UCHealth Today\",\"description\":\"UCHealth Today\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UCHealth\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/24135149\\\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/24135149\\\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"UCHealth\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/uchealthorg\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/uchealth\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/uchealth\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/school\\\/14839\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/uchealthorg\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UC41SJI79yjZIe96OajzN22g\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/2974962d9c19ae1bbcec3250ab830fbc\",\"name\":\"Kati Blocker, UCHealth\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/62cfc49002cce7d835ff120702e1e8cd4b871b3468a4fed7137fbfa60674c6b3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/62cfc49002cce7d835ff120702e1e8cd4b871b3468a4fed7137fbfa60674c6b3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/62cfc49002cce7d835ff120702e1e8cd4b871b3468a4fed7137fbfa60674c6b3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Kati Blocker, UCHealth\"},\"description\":\"Kati Blocker has always been driven to learn and explore the world around her. And every day, as a writer for UCHealth, Kati meets inspiring people, learns about life-saving technology, and gets to know the amazing people who are saving lives each day. Even better, she gets to share their stories with the world. As a journalism major at the University of Wyoming, Kati wrote for her college newspaper. She also studied abroad in Swansea, Wales, while simultaneously writing for a Colorado metaphysical newspaper. After college, Kati was a reporter for the Montrose Daily Press and the Telluride Watch, covering education and health care in rural Colorado, as well as city news and business. When she's not writing, Kati is creating her own stories with her husband Joel and their two children.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/author\\\/katieblocker\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland - UCHealth Today","description":"With acres of open short-grass prairie and two towering buttes, the Pawnee National Grassland offers an awe-inspiring \"different\" Colorado.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A \u2018different Colorado\u2019: 5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland","og_description":"With acres of open short-grass prairie and two towering buttes, the Pawnee National Grassland offers an awe-inspiring \"different\" Colorado.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/","og_site_name":"UCHealth Today","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/","article_published_time":"2025-09-29T18:54:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-08T17:39:54+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/09\/29093604\/PNG-butte1-tiny.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kati Blocker, UCHealth","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@uchealth","twitter_site":"@uchealth","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kati Blocker, UCHealth","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/"},"author":{"name":"Kati Blocker, UCHealth","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/person\/2974962d9c19ae1bbcec3250ab830fbc"},"headline":"A \u2018different Colorado\u2019: 5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland","datePublished":"2025-09-29T18:54:52+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-08T17:39:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/"},"wordCount":1564,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/09\/29093604\/PNG-butte1-tiny.webp","keywords":["Hiking","Ready. Set. CO","To do in Colorado"],"articleSection":["Live Colorado"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/","name":"5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland - UCHealth Today","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/09\/29093604\/PNG-butte1-tiny.webp","datePublished":"2025-09-29T18:54:52+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-08T17:39:54+00:00","description":"With acres of open short-grass prairie and two towering buttes, the Pawnee National Grassland offers an awe-inspiring \"different\" Colorado.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/09\/29093604\/PNG-butte1-tiny.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/09\/29093604\/PNG-butte1-tiny.webp","width":800,"height":533,"caption":"The Pawnee National Grassland provides a \"different\" Colorado experience. Photo by Kati Blocker, UCHealth."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pawnee-national-grassland-history-camping-stargazing-hiking-off-road-exploring\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A \u2018different Colorado\u2019: 5 ways to enjoy the Pawnee National Grassland"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/","name":"UCHealth Today","description":"UCHealth Today","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization","name":"UCHealth","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/24135149\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/24135149\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"caption":"UCHealth"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/","https:\/\/x.com\/uchealth","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/uchealth\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/14839\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/uchealthorg\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC41SJI79yjZIe96OajzN22g"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/person\/2974962d9c19ae1bbcec3250ab830fbc","name":"Kati Blocker, UCHealth","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62cfc49002cce7d835ff120702e1e8cd4b871b3468a4fed7137fbfa60674c6b3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62cfc49002cce7d835ff120702e1e8cd4b871b3468a4fed7137fbfa60674c6b3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/62cfc49002cce7d835ff120702e1e8cd4b871b3468a4fed7137fbfa60674c6b3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Kati Blocker, UCHealth"},"description":"Kati Blocker has always been driven to learn and explore the world around her. And every day, as a writer for UCHealth, Kati meets inspiring people, learns about life-saving technology, and gets to know the amazing people who are saving lives each day. Even better, she gets to share their stories with the world. As a journalism major at the University of Wyoming, Kati wrote for her college newspaper. She also studied abroad in Swansea, Wales, while simultaneously writing for a Colorado metaphysical newspaper. After college, Kati was a reporter for the Montrose Daily Press and the Telluride Watch, covering education and health care in rural Colorado, as well as city news and business. When she's not writing, Kati is creating her own stories with her husband Joel and their two children.","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/author\/katieblocker\/"}]}},"coauthors":[{"id":2164,"name":"Kati Blocker","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/author\/katieblocker\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2164"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34670"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86211,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34670\/revisions\/86211"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}