Sage-Grouse Lek Viewing Guide
The greater sage-grouse is the largest species of grouse in North America. Each spring, male sage-grouse perform an elaborate sunrise display on communal breeding grounds known as “leks”. While sage-grouse require sagebrush landscapes to survive, leks are often located in open areas where the males can be better seen and heard by females. The dramatic display makes viewing sage-grouse a popular recreational activity in March and April across much of Wyoming.
The Wyoming Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan recommends that only a small number of lek viewing sites be publicized along with information on how to minimize viewing disturbance to the grouse. This information is designed to implement that recommendation.
When you follow the American Birding Association’s Principles of Birding Ethics, you prevent harm to sage-grouse and their habitats. Respect and practice these principles while birding in Wyoming. Your impact, impacts sage-grouse negatively.
Your cooperation is needed to ensure protection and perpetuation of Wyoming’s sage-grouse populations.
Lek Viewing Ethics
- Arrive at lek sites at least one hour before sunrise
- Don’t drive onto the lek. Park away from the edge of the lek.
- Turn off the vehicle lights and engine.
- Use binoculars and spotting scopes to observe birds.
- Stay in your vehicle.
- Do not make loud noises or sudden movements.
- Do not leave until the birds do.
- Keep pets in your vehicle. Better yet, leave them home.
- Do not trespass on private land.
- Postpone your visit if roads are muddy.
- Do not construct wildlife or photography viewing blinds on or near lek.
- Be especially cautious with viewing activities during late March and early April when breeding activity usually peaks. Late April is a better time to visit because most of the breeding is complete but the males are still actively strutting. The weather is usually better too.
What Else You Can Do
- Respect the birds providing your recreation.
- Always practice ethical and responsible bird watching.
- Keep pets under control and away from all wildlife. Dog training on sage-grouse outside the hunting season is not legal.
- Don’t camp on desert springs or wet meadows in late summer.
- Restrict your ORV use in sage-grouse habitats. Stay on established roads and trails. Off-road use in the spring can disturb or destroy nests.
- Visit WGF’s sage-grouse web page to learn more about sage-grouse conservation: Sage-Grouse Management
Report harassment of sage-grouse, or any wildlife, to the STOP Poaching Hotline:
1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847) or
Text keyword WGFD and message 847-411.
Available Sage-Grouse Lek Locations
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Lek Locations
BLM Road
Take Hwy 189 east/northeast from Kemmerer about 19 miles to the Opal Cut-off (Hwy 240). Go right (south) on Hwy 240 about 2 miles. There you will see a sign with directionsto the lek. The lek is about 2 miles from the first sign. Travel east about 1 mile to another lek direction sign and then take another left (north) to the parking area.
Blue Bank
Go 16 miles east of Worland on Hwy 16. Turn south at the Bluebank Rd sign. Go about 1.5 mi and turn east onto the old Worland/Tensleep Hwy. Go about 0.25 miles and turn south again on the Bluebank Rd and continue south for approximately 4 miles. Birds should be visible close to road.
Calpet 2
Take Hwy 189 south of Big Piney for about 3.25 miles to the Big Piney Calpet Rd/Calpet Hwy and turn west onto the Calpet Hwy. Proceed west-southwest about 11 miles to Pinegrove Rd. Turn west onto Pinegrove Rd and go about 0.25 miles. The lek is on the north side of the road.
Christian 2
Take I-90 east of Buffalo about 7 miles to Exit 65 for Red Hills / Tipperary Rd. Take Tipperary Rd, County Rd 54, 9 miles north until the pavement ends and the road turns to gravel. Go about 0.5 miles and turn right onto Luddecke Rd (County Rd 187) at the "Christian Jack Pine Ranch" sign. Continue southeast up Luddecke Rd. approximately 2.5 miles, the Christian II lek is on the right hand side of the road.
County Road Reservoir
Take Hwy 220 west of Casper for approximately 40 miles. Just west of mile post 73, turn right on Oregon Trail Rd. (Natrona County Rd 319). Proceed northeast along County Rd 319 for approximately 9 miles. There is a stock pond on the north side of the road; park there and look south. The lek is on the south side of the road.
Dunham 4
Turn west on the Dunham Rd off of Hwy 16 (at the north end of the Newcastle Airport). Drive
approximately 3.5 miles. At the crest of a hill is a fence and cattle guard across the road. Lek is located about 300 yards north, up the fence line, and 300 yards west, in an open flat.
The lek is on private property. Use of binoculars or a spotting scope is a must.
approximately 3.5 miles. At the crest of a hill is a fence and cattle guard across the road. Lek is located about 300 yards north, up the fence line, and 300 yards west, in an open flat.
The lek is on private property. Use of binoculars or a spotting scope is a must.
Keyton 1
Around milepost 37 on Hwy 450, take Lynch Rd (County Rd 7A) approx. 6 miles south to its junction with Cheyenne River Rd (County Rd 54). Turn right and continue west approx. 300 yards onto Keyton Creek Rd (USFS Rd 937). The lek is about 0.5 miles down Keyton Creek Rd, near a solar well.
The lek is on private property. Use of binoculars or a spotting scope is a must.
The lek is on private property. Use of binoculars or a spotting scope is a must.
Moulton East Lek
This lek is in Grand Teton National Park and is generally active in April and May. The Park Service has special viewing regulations to minimize human disturbance. A Park Naturalist leads tours at the site several days a week in the spring. Contact Grand Teton National Park Headquarters for more info at 307-739-3300 or www.nps.gov/grte.
Mule Creek Pass
From Laramie head north on Hwy 30 for 42 miles. Turn right onto Fetterman Rd and continue for 10.5 miles. Stay left at the Y intersection and continue on Fetterman Rd for another 22.5 miles to the junction with Mule Creek Rd. Turn left onto Mule Creek Rd and continue for 9 miles. The lek will be on the left side of the road.
North Halfway Hollow
From Green River travel 20 miles south on Hwy 530. Take the two-track road on the left (east) about 0.5 miles. Take next dirt road to the left for about 0.25 miles and park. Lek is to the east.
Pass Creek 24
From I-80, at Walcott Junction, take Wyoming Hwy 130 south about 8 miles. Turn left on County Rd 406 and travel east for approximately 2 miles. Lek is on the right side of the road.
Schoonover
From Gillette travel west on I-90 about 22 miles to Exit 102 for Barber Creek. Take Barber Creek Road about 2 miles south to Schoonover Road. Travel southwest on Schoonover Road about 3 miles and cross a cattle guard. The sage-grouse will be strutting on, or adjacent to, the road 200 to 300 yards past the cattle guard.
Speedway
At milepost 73 on Hwy 191, about 27 miles south of Pinedale, turn east onto Muddy Speedway Rd. (County Rd 113). Travel 3 miles and stop. The lek is about 400 yards south.
Twin Creek
Take Hwy 287/789 southeast of Lander 8.3 miles to the Rawlins Junction. (Intersection of Hwy 28 and Hwy. 287/789). Travel east on Hwy 287/789 about 9.7 miles (1 mile past the Twin Creek Rd). Turn left (north) onto a pipeline road through a cattle guard. Stay to the right on a two-track road about 0.4 miles to the edge of a clearing in the sagebrush at the end of a pond dam. The grouse strut in the clearing just to the left of the dam. Avoid the two-track road if muddy.
Upper Red Creek
Take Hwy 789 north of Baggs about 7 miles to the Sand Creek Rd (no sign), which is on the west side. This road is about 0.6 miles south of a large metal building that is on the east side of Hwy 789. Go west on the Sand Creek Rd. about 4.3 miles to an intersection and then go north (right) about 0.5 miles. The lek is on the west (left) side of the road.
West Sage Creek
Take Hwy 120 south from Cody for 4.3 miles. Take the first right (west) past the Landfill Road turn-off. From the cattle guard, drive 0.7 miles then turn left (south) at the powerlines. Drive 0.3 miles then turn left (east), turning away from the powerlines. Drive 0.3 miles then veer right (south) at the fork. At the next fork in 0.5 miles, veer right. In 0.3 miles, the road dead-ends at a water reservoir, park here. Sage-grouse should be strutting to your right and across the water.
Do not drive on roads if muddy. Drive safely around semi-trucks on the haul road.
Do not drive on roads if muddy. Drive safely around semi-trucks on the haul road.
Windy Flats
From Cody take Hwy 120 south about 2.9 miles or 2.5 miles past WGFD regional office to first turn off to left (east). Take the gravel road east 0.8 miles past a large gravel pit on right. Stop on the hill and look 0.25 miles southeast to see the lek in a large flat along Sage Creek.