Take a quick trip to Colorado’s high plains to experience life on the prairie then and now.  The Plains Conservation Center is a nature preserve and educational center with replicas of a homestead village and tipi camp that showcase pioneer and plains Native Americans life in the late 1800's. It encompasses over 1,100 acres of short grass prairie with breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains, located at 21901 E. Hampden Ave. Aurora, CO 80013. 

Visit the nature center before you head out on the trails to pick up a map and learn about the history of the site.  Visitors can hike along rolling trails and are likely to see bald eagles, prairie dogs, pronghorn, coyotes and red-tailed hawks.

 
 

Hours of Operation
Wednesday - Friday: noon - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Tuesday: CLOSED

View the site map 

Educational Programs

Plains Conservation Center Wagon Tour
Get to know the prairie in a whole new way. On our ride across the plains, participants watch for wildlife in the landscape. With stops at the sod homes and tipi camp, your group will experience what it was like to be a homesteader and a Native American living on the prairie in the 1800s. Tours are on most Saturdays with registration through the Denver Botanic Gardens website. Cost is $10 per person, children ages 2 & younger are free. 

SCFD Free Day Offerings @ PCC

Every third Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. the Plains Conservation Center, in partnership with the Denver Botanic Gardens, will participate in the 2019 Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Free Days program by offering special ecological and historical educational programming including wagon rides, sod-village tours and refreshments. 
(Except the months of Sept. and Oct.)

Explore more programs and events at Plains Conservation Center, here! 

View the Aurora Nature News to find out about upcoming nature programming. Sign up here to receive it in your email inbox every quarter.

Contact
21901 E. Hampden Ave Aurora, CO 80013
303.326.8380
nature@auroragov.org