Crane Trust Sandhill Crane Photography Tour Dates for March 2027
The Crane Trust offers unparalleled opportunities to capture images of the largest migration of Sandhill Cranes in the world. Over a million Sandhill Cranes visit this region during the month of March each year.
Led by award-winning photographer Cheryl Opperman, Sandhill Crane Photography Tours at the Crane Trust provide an immersive experience for intermediate and advanced photographers, using a digital SLR or mirrorless camera. Cheryl has been leading Sandhill Crane Photography Workshops and Tours at the Crane Trust for over 10 years.
Participants have numerous opportunities to photograph from custom-built Crane Trust photography blinds on private land along the Platte River as hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes leave the river at first light and return to the river at sunset. Additionally, during the Sandhill Crane Photography Tours at the Crane Trust, there will be opportunities to photograph cranes and other wildlife on county roads, as well as the Crane Trust bison herd and prairie landscapes on the Crane Trust property.
If you are interested in a 2027 Sandhill Crane Photography Tour at the Crane Trust, please be sure to call or email us so we can reserve your spot. The Sandhill Crane Photography Tours at the Crane Trust are very popular with limited space available in order to keep our group sizes small.
Due to insufficient demand, we are no longer offering the Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop with classroom sessions and in-depth instruction. We will provide help as need during the tours, but if you are looking for comprehensive workshops about photographing sandhill cranes or other birds, please email info@cherylopperman.com for online classes or other options.
Click here to read Cheryl’s article about the sandhill crane migration in Wild Eye Magazine (Click here to close):
We do get cancellations and may add additional dates when possible, so be sure to email info@cherylopperman.com or call 303-829-9453 to join a waitlist for notifications if the dates you want are full.
Customize your own PRIVATE trip dates during Crane Season (for groups as small as 1 person to a maximum of 10 people)! – Please call (303) 829-9453 for more information, available dates, and pricing.
2027 Crane Trust Sandhill Crane Photography Tour Dates
- March 10-12, 2027 Only 2 Spots Left or
- March 12-14, 2027 Registration Open
- March 16-18, 2027 Full (Waitlist Only)
- Cost: $2500.00 per person (includes 4 blind sessions, lodging, meals, and local transportation)
- Single Supplement $250 (if you want a room without a roommate)
- $500 Non-refundable Deposit – Final Payment Deadline November 15, 2026
Please follow the link below to choose your dates and sign up. We will email the invoice for payment once we receive your registration form.
Instructor/Guide Cheryl Opperman
303-829-9453
info@cherylopperman.com
Email can get lost in the cloud, so if you do not hear back, please just give us a quick call.
Jenny McIvor
Travel Insurance:
We strongly encourage you purchase comprehensive travel insurance and we work with InsureMyTrip to offer our clients hand selected plans that will help protect your trip from a number of different perils. Feel free to follow the link below to visit the InsureMyTrip website. The site is easy to use to shop for plans and their staff is extremely helpful if you have any questions. They also have a number of informative articles about travel and insurance under the “Learn” tab on their website. Please be aware that some plans will not cover pre-existing conditions unless you purchase the policy shortly after making the FIRST deposit.
Travel Insurance Quotes – Compare & Buy Trip Insurance
Why choose us?
Learn from a professional with both formal education and over 30 years of field experience
Choosing a qualified instructor with the best skill set can mean the difference between an average experience and a great experience. Teaching photography requires more than just knowing how to take beautiful photographs. Truly exceptional instructors must have extensive knowledge about fundamental photographic principles, utilize the latest technology, and be able to explain and apply the appropriate techniques in the field.
Cheryl Opperman’s degree from one of the world’s best photography colleges, plus over three decades of real-world experience, makes her one of the most skilled professionals in the industry today.
Whether you are just beginning to learn photography or have been taking pictures for years, Cheryl is passionate about sharing her knowledge to help you discover new techniques, develop your own unique style, and reach your photographic goals.
Benefit from the efforts of a local conservation Organization while also supporting their work
Working with a local organization is equally important for a successful photo workshop or tour. The Crane Trust was established in 1978 to protect this diverse and vital mixed and tall grass prairie ecosystem. It is home to numerous wildlife species including a genetically pure herd of bison and contains the largest sandhill crane roost in the world during the annual migration. Sandhill crane workshop and tour participants benefit from the expertise of the Crane Trust biologists and staff and can rest assured that a significant portion of their workshop and tour fee helps to support their important mission of habitat preservation.
Access to private land and custom photo blinds
All of the sandhill crane photography tours are conducted on the Crane Trust’s private land using custom blinds built specifically for photography. The blinds are positioned for the best light with an unobstructed view of the river and the viewing windows are designed to accommodate large lenses with plenty of room to pan with the birds in flight as they land in or leave the river. Special tripod slots allow participants to position their gear through the windows and comfortably sit behind their mounted cameras in a provided chair. The blinds themselves are camouflaged so well that the cranes are unaware of our presence which protects these magnificent birds and allows photographers to capture only natural behaviors.
The Crane Trust has exclusive access to these blinds which ensures only small Crane Trust photography groups use each blind location on the river. These unique conditions all allow for better photographic opportunities. Participants in the Crane Trust Photo Tour will also have access to photograph the Crane Trust’s genetically pure bison herd.
Small tour sizes
The Crane Trust Photography Tours are limited to 4 to 8 people depending on dates.