47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

This was previously posted in the Links section. I've revised it and am reposting here in Main.
Next week as I head toward northwest Iowa from the Denver area, I made the decision to stop for a couple days near Lake Manawa, in Council Bluffs, Iowa after reading an article in a recent "Outdoor Photography" special issue on recommended locations for nature and wildlife. For those who have visited this site, I appreciate if you could share some shot location suggestions. Thanks in advance.

PH CIB

The road goes all the way around Lake Manawa which is a State Park you could call them direct at 712-366-0220, probably not iced over due to warmer weather this week, you should be able to spot Birds and Wildlife from the road, also Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue their number is 402-731-3140. Just north on I 29 about 20 miles at the Missouri Valley Exit head West a couple of miles to the Desoto Bend Wildlife Refuge and Boyer Chute, for Migrating Birds and Wildlife...their number is 712-388-4800 You could probably call first to see about Migrating Birds and other Wildlife and talk to a Biologist for other ideas. Maybe the Hitchcock area...their number is 712-545-3283... Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is a great Zoo and right across the street from it is Lauritzen Gardens, with a huge three story greenhouse and acres of grounds, West on I 80 just West of Omaha is a Drive Through Zoo with Elk and Buffalo and Antelope and near there the Sac Museum which has a SR72 Blackbird Spy Plane hanging from the ceiling and much Vintage Aircraft, on I 29 both South and North of Omaha, lakes from the Interstate to the Missouri River caused by Flooding, also Josyln Art Museum their number is 402-342-3300...for multi ideas on photographic opportunities...I like to go to the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge 95 miles south of Omaha on Interstate 29 at Mound City Missouri a Great Road goes all the way around multiple Water Impoundments and with Photographic Opportunities should take a couple of hours or more to drive and should be lots of Migrating Birds and Eagles...I recommend calling them at 660-442-3187

PH CIB

Drive through Wildlife Safari Zoo, car drive through and hiking trails, elk and bison and deer and wolves and black bears and eagles, open Saturday and Sunday 9am to 4pm, just West of Omaha on I 80 at Ashland, Nebraska,,,,http://www.wildlifesafaripark.com/wolf-canyon phone 402-944-9453

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Thank you, PH. I really appreciate your suggestions. Looking at my planned route, I’m surprisingly close to your suggestions. A few years ago, we visited the SAC museum and really enjoyed the displays. The hanging SR-71 visible at the entrance is really impressive.

PH CIB

https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Loess_Bluffs_Waterfowl_Survey_20191118.pdf

https://rowe.audubon.org/

https://cranetrust.org/visit/vip-photo-experiences/

On Saturday drove through the Wildlife Safari at Ashland Nebraska take the turnoff for the Sac Museum and head just across the Interstate in the other direction, I really recommend it, only spent two hours there and could have spent a half or whole day there, many bull elk on drive through with impressive antlers, some Deer, great walk in Aviary with two bald Eagles and two Whooping Cranes in Natural Habitat, short hike for some Photo Opportunities of two huge Black Bears and four or more Wolves, all in natural habitat and from some locations not shooting through a fence, lots of Pelicans and Sandhill Cranes and Geese, and a lot of Bison, on the Drive Wife drove the car with me in the back seat with both windows rolled down to shoot photos on either side. Loess Hills National Wildlife Refuge the Old Squaw Creek Refuge latest count maybe 150000 geese, 15000 ducks and 30 or more Eagles that is 90 miles south of Omaha on Interstate 29 at Mound City Missouri...If you take I 80 back to Colorado, just past Grand Island take the Alda Exit just south of the Interstate and Visit Crane Meadows, the Naturalists there can help you with photo opportunities. Just East of Kearney Nebraska take the Minden Exit highway 10 to go south to Audubon Rowe Sanctuary for information from Naturalists on Photo Opportunities...Lastly I want to Thank You I had not been to the Wildlife Safari in Ashland in years and really enjoyed visiting it again !!!

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

PC... you've been incredibly helpful. Unfortunately, my planned trip tomorrow is a non-happen because of the weather we're slated to receive in the NE corridor of Colorado in the next couple days. That same front is stretching all across NE to NW IA. But... your suggestions will, I'm sure, prove to be invaluable because this trip will happen soon, just not "now" as I had hoped. It's funny, my wife and I have been incredibly close to all these attractions/locations over the last 10 years and didn't even realize it. More than likely because we were always so destination driven that we never took the time to "look around." When we lived in Connecticut, we made the trip back to NW Iowa via car a number of times. One of our routes was I-80 to Cedar Rapids then head north to Mason City, then west from Clear Lake on Rte 18. Almost every trip, we'd bring up the subject of wondering how near we were to the Surf Ballroom where the "day the music died" occurred. Onedrive we actually decided to find it. Turns out Rte 18 is within a block of it. Just goes to show! Much thanks to you!! Pleased that you enjoyed the Ashland Wildlife Safari.