Prairie dogs at rest
Photo by: Thomas Ricks (Stock Exchange)

Today’s AllCampgrounds blog continues our hunt for the wildest, wackiest, most majestic, and most amazing wildlife you can see at parks and camp grounds around the country. So far, we’ve spotted bald eagles and followed the trail of the American bison, known far and wide as the buffalo. Now, we’ll drop in on nature’s latest TV star, the prairie dog. Prairie dogs are fascinating creatures with habits that have intrigued and enticed everyone from your average nature lover to documentary filmmakers. These manic little ground squirrels are private by nature, but there are some places perfect for getting a glimpse of them – and doing some prime tent camping while you’re at it.

Badlands National Park: This park, in South Dakota, is known for its natural “architecture” – 244,000 acres of rock formations ranging from tall, narrow spires to long, flat buttes cut from the land by thousands of years of erosion. Dotted here and there are burrows full of prairie dogs, who coexist in an ecosystem that also includes buffalo, coyotes, foxes, and ferrets, among others. Camping facilities are ample at Cedar Pass and Sage Creek. Cedar Pass contains just shy of 100 level, developed sites, while Sage Creek is for primitive camping, and is free of charge.

Prairie Dog State Park: If you need to go camping quick, then take your search for prairie dogs to Kansas, where they’re so numerous there’s a park named after them – complete with a giant prairie dog statue at the entrance. There are 58 tent sites here, and though all campsites on the grounds include utilities, you can enjoy primitive camping at your discretion. In addition to a whole “town” full of our prairie dog friends, this park is home to a spectacular variety of birds; the lake is a hot spot for bird watchers during migration season. Visit the local birding checklist for details on what you might see!

Wind Cave National Park: South Dakota is the heartland of “prairie dog country”, and Wind Cave National Park gives you the chance to enjoy almost 30,000 acres of grassy plain and pine forests where prairie dogs roam. Of course, these little guys stay out of the cave that serves as centerpiece of adventuring in this particular park, but don’t pass up the chance to do some spelunking with guided cave tours while you’re there. There are over 100 miles of passages to explore, and as the fourth-longest cave in the world, more chambers are discovered all the time. Winds inside can run up to 70 miles per hour!

KOA Devil’s Tower: Found in Wyoming right within spitting distance of Devil’s Tower National Monument, this Kampgrounds of America site caters to all your camping needs. It’s a great jumping off point for touring the grounds of the Tower, since there are no RV hookups at the monument, though tent camping is available. Anyone who knows camping knows you can’t go wrong with KOA offerings, which range from basic tent sites to posh cabins. KOA Devil’s Tower is served by the western-style Longhorn Cafe and is a popular destination for participants in the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Mountain View RV Park and Campground: Mountain View is another pick for the Devil’s Tower area and for visiting the Tower’s robust prairie dog population. Super-sized pull-through RV sites are the norm here, and offer full electric and water hookup. There are also cabins and ample tent camping, which happens to be convenient to the park’s pool. Mountain View accepts discounts from the Good Sam Club, which we learned about in an earlier post on camping discounts.

The American bald eagle, a “rite of passage” for many bird watchers
Photo by: Rob Sylvan (Stock Exchange)

A while back on AllCampgrounds, we got started with a great new series where we’ll show you just where to go to enjoy some of nature’s most spectacular creatures while you enjoy your tent camping or RV camping vacations. We got started with some of the top camp grounds in the nation for seeing bald eagles and other rare and amazing birds, but there’s just one thing missing: a guide to getting started in this fascinating hobby. After all, everybody should be in on the fun. So, we’re going to talk Birding 101 today.

Basic Equipment for Beginning Birders

Virtually all campsites have some bird population, but if you’ve ever tried to “sneak up” on one, regardless of species, you know that getting a good look can be tricky. Some basic equipment and skills can go a long way toward enjoying your birding trek. The first thing you’re going to need is a strong pair of binoculars, and in this case, a good, long-term investment often beats out a bargain. You’ll need to be able to see your quarry clearly from hundreds of feet away, and they have the advantage of flight – low-end binoculars are tempting, but not if you can’t make out the birds!

The other thing you’ll need to get started is a printed field guide to the local birds. Some of the camp grounds we showcased before do offer detailed descriptions and photographs of nearby species, along with their habitat and dietary preferences; but if you plan to identify your finds, you’ll need to carry a birding guide with you out in the great outdoors. A good birding guide will also offer tips to finding the notable birds in your area, state, or region, with full-color illustrations so you know just what you’re looking at. Some smartphone applications can simulate this, but full-sized pictures are best.

Optional equipment includes a bird call – one that sounds like the birds who live in the area, naturally – and a rough-and-ready camera suitable for outdoor photography. Luckily, camera technology is so advanced these days that you probably won’t have to spend too much to get good shots of birds who are relatively close by. There are even some disposable cameras that do pretty good work in full daylight conditions (but forget about night photography or action shots if you go that route.)

Bird Watching Organizations to Help You Get Started

All campsites known for bird watching are bound to have some helpful information for beginners. But if you’re eager to go camping quick and get started right away, consider joining a bird watching organization. These are stacked top to bottom with eager enthusiasts who are always happy to share their hard-won knowledge with newcomers, and professional bird researchers are often involved. Try the American Birding Association, Association of Field Ornithologists, or the National Audubon Society.

This buffalo is ready for his close-up
Photo by: Gabriela Pernecka (Stock Exchange)

One of the most iconic scenes of the American prairie is of the herd of buffalo, some of the most striking and powerful animals out of our shared heritage.

Buffalo, also known as American bison, are the largest land animals in North America and are exclusive to this continent.

In the Old West, the buffalo meant survival to frontier settlers; and as time went on, these giant creatures were nearly hunted to extinction for their meat and hide.

Luckily, the buffalo is one of nature’s great success stories, with a little help from concerned naturalists.

Today, there are camp grounds throughout the Midwest that offer prime opportunities to see the American bison live and in person. Let’s visit a few now.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge: This federal nature preserve in Oklahoma is where the buffalo first began to stage its comeback in 1907. The land is kept in an “open range” condition suitable for sightseeing via automobile, and drivers must be extremely aware of the wildlife. Doris Campground provides single-unit and group tent camping, including some “semi-primitive” camp grounds. There are just under 100 sites total, administered wholly on a first-come, first-serve basis. RVs are also permitted, but must meet strict rules on length and occupancy. For info on buffalo sighting, see the American Bison page.

Denver Mountain Parks: The Denver Mountain Parks system in Denver, Colorado is known for maintaining two healthy, vibrant bison herds. Around Interstate 70 or just off Exit 188 on Interstate 25, you’re likely to see full-grown bulls and cows wandering by roadside fences, especially in the fall. There are eighteen parks with ample camp grounds in the Denver system, but the keystone for bison-watchers is Genesee Park. Genesee serves as caretaker to one herd and is the largest mountain park, over 2,400 acres. When you’re not viewing bison, you can enjoy great mountain hiking trails. Daniels Park also keeps a herd, on 1,000 acres with plenty of scenic overlooks.

Terry Bison Ranch: Open all year round in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Terry Bison Ranch offers an RV park and campground as well as plenty of tent camping areas. Bison tours by train and guided trips down local trails by foot or horseback are available every day but Christmas. There’s also a full-service restaurant, The Senator’s Steakhouse and Brass Buffalo Saloon. They sure do know how to eat down in Cheyenne, and one of the weekly staple events is the Sunday lunch train, with beef, chicken, pork, and salmon. The trains not only bring you right through “bison country” – you can also catch sight of goats, donkeys, camels, and plenty of other critters. Extensive photos are available.

Antelope Island State Park: Located on the biggest island in the Great Salt Lake of Utah, Antelope Island State Park is home to 500-700 wandering buffalo depending on the season. Camping is available at the Bridger Bay campground for both tent and RV, and you can make reservations any time of the year. The centerpiece of the island is a working ranch, and guests are encouraged to go on driving “safaris” to see the famous herd.

The black-headed bunting, one of about 2,000 bird species in North America
Photo by: Akbar Nemati (Stock Exchange)

Today on AllCampgrounds, we embark on a whole new journey to find the best camp grounds for your nature-watching needs.

Just about everyone who loves camping loves to enjoy nature up close, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than a good, clear view of local wildlife you just can’t see day-to-day.

Of course, we all know that you’ve got to “leave no trace”, and nobody is better at this than experienced bird watchers. So, to get started, we’ll be picking out the best of all campsites for birding.

Great Camp Grounds and Guides for Birding

Chickasaw National Recreation Area: Chickasaw, in Oklahoma, is the home of the famous annual Bald Eagle Watch Tour. During the winter, the area sees up to 1,000 migratory bald eagles, and is one of the most important regions for the ongoing return of this once-endangered species to American skies. Eagle watch programs are abundant from October to January, as the locals are justly proud of their role in protecting eagle habitats. There are six public camp grounds to choose from, including year-round tent camping near the Lake of the Arbuckles, which is prime birding territory.

Bean’s VIP Campground: Bean’s, on the eastern edge of Texas in Sabine County, is one of the smaller campgrounds we’ve showcased here: it has only 20 RV sites and 8 places for tenting, all campsites including both water and electric. But where it really shines is in the huge variety of activities for seeing and enjoying wildlife, including bird watching. The camp area is home to over 40 species of bird, including the bald eagle, great blue heron, cardinal, painted bunting, and many more. For birding photos from around the park and region, click to the Toledo Bend Gallery, an affiliated site.

Coronado National Forest: Sprawled across almost two million acres in southern Arizona and New Mexico, Coronado National Forest offers a lush variety of local desert and forest dwellers for your viewing pleasure. For maximum birding fun, try out Tohono Chul Park, occupying a corner of Coronado. There are plenty of guided tours, outreach programs, and other great cultural enrichment activities set at Tohono Chul, and you can see curve-billed thrashers, cactus wrens, and other southern species.

Bryce Canyon National Park: Found in Bryce, Utah, Bryce Canyon has a rim elevation up to 9,100 feet and is pleasant for most of the year, though snowfall and sub-freezing temperatures can occur between October and April. Bryce is known for stargazing, which has been organized in the valley for almost 50 years, and – of course – bird watching. Bryce is a great place to start an amateur birding odyssey, since – in addition to terrific tent camping and the kind of service you’d expect from a national park – it offers all kinds of materials to help you find local birds. Check out the Bird Checklist, for example. Plus, a quick search yields detailed pages on just about every native species.