We initiate the study of real $C^*$-algebras associated to higher-rank graphs $Lambda$, with a focus on their $K$-theory. Following Kasparov and Evans, we identify a spectral sequence which computes the $mathcal{CR}$ $K$-theory of $C^*_{mathbb R} (La
mbda, gamma)$ for any involution $gamma$ on $Lambda$, and show that the $E^2$ page of this spectral sequence can be straightforwardly computed from the combinatorial data of the $k$-graph $Lambda$ and the involution $gamma$. We provide a complete description of $K^{CR}(C^*_{mathbb R}(Lambda, gamma))$ for several examples of higher-rank graphs $Lambda$ with involution.
