Abstract: Due to the limited communication capability and energy constraint of sensor nodes, a target tracking scheme is proposed for sensor networks based on Dynamic Cluster Routing Optimization and Distributed Particle Filter (DCRO-DPF). In order to achieve a balanced distribution of network energy consumption, DCRO-DPF utilizes a dynamic clustering approach to divide the nodes which deployed randomly in the monitored region into a number of clusters, then optimizes not only the communication routes between member nodes and cluster head in each cluster, but also the communication routes between cluster heads and the base station. On this basis, the activated cluster member nodes execute distributed particle filter to track the maneuvering target. The simulations corroborate that this scheme can effectively reduce the total energy consumption of the sensor networks, achieve the goal of tracking and guarantee the tracking accuracy simultaneously.