Wide open spaces... Historic ranching heritage... Endless recreational opportunities!
Rich in history and western tradition where the outlaw and homesteader lived side by side. Living in this remote area captures and inspires the imaginations of many that call Northwestern Colorado home!
Over half of this area's land is public lands available for many types of recreation, including camping, fishing, hiking, backpacking, big game hunting, river rafting, canoeing, cross country skiing, biking, and much more! Mountains and hills to the east with rugged, colorful canyon lands in the west. Rich in western history, the area also features rock art and historical markers from the Fremont and Ute Indian cultures, as well as the homesteaders, miners, and outlaws such as Butch Cassidy. The Yampa River flows through the heart of this country. It is the last major free flowing river in the Colorado River Basin. Abundant with wildlife including deer, elk, antelope, wild horses, mountain lion, bear and more. Fishing is above average.
Commonly known as "North Park," Jackson County, Colorado is a high, intermountain basin that lies near the Colorado/Wyoming State line. The floor of North Park is interspersed with many slow meandering streams that come together in the center of the county to form the North Platte River. The broad and fertile valley floor produces some of the highest quality hay in the West. These irrigated meadows give way to dry, gently rolling sagebrush and grassland terraces. The surrounding mountain slopes are covered with aspen, spruce, pine, and fir below timberline of the majestic mountain peaks. Elevations range from less than 8,000 feet above sea level on the basin floor to over 12,900 feet above sea level on the mountain summits.
North Park was home to the Ute, Crow, Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians who utilized the fertile pasture lands and hunting grounds of the region. The Ute Indians referred to North Park as the "Bull Pen", believing the majestic mountain ranges held the vast herds of big game in the valley floor
The first white men in the area were trappers, followed by miners and ranchers who homesteaded in the park in the late 1800's. The rich natural beauty of North Park, together with the fertile land, abundant water and timber provided ideal resources for farmers, ranches and homesteaders. Jackson County was formed in 1909 when North Park severed its relationship with Larimer County. The County is believed to be named after Andrew Jackson. Today, the quiet town of Walden serves as the county seat of Jackson County, but has proudly retained all of the history and personality of a small pioneer community.
Today’s North Park is one of many uses. However, it is first and foremost still a western ranching community. The large fertile valley continues to produce some of the finest hay in the west. The large sprawling ranches remain in the caring hands of agriculture and conservation minded owners. Many of these ranches are still owned by third or fourth generation homesteading families.
The town of Walden has retained its unique western character and serves both the local rancher and the recreational tourists who frequent the area. Recreation has become a primary industry in North Park. The fishing in the numerous streams and rivers offer prize winning trout. North Park also has Colorado's only resident moose herd, currently estimated at 600 head and growing. The public lands in and around North Park provide excellent hunting, hiking, camping, biking and horseback riding activities.
Routt County is a diverse environment offering breathtaking mountain vistas and picturesque ranch lands. Located in northwest Colorado, the county encompasses a total of 2,231 square miles. Communities located in Routt County include Clark, Hahns Peak, Milner, Phippsburg, and Toponas, the towns of Hayden, Oak Creek and Yampa, and the city of Steamboat Springs.
About 50% of the land in Routt County is publicly owned. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest makes up a large portion of the county. This includes the Mt Zirkel, and Sarvis Creek Wilderness areas. The local State Parks are Stagecoach Reservoir, Steamboat Lake, Elkhead Reservoir and Pearl Lake. These public lands provide residents and visitors with scenic recreational areas for hiking, picnicking, boating, hunting, fishing and water-skiing.
The 2000 census reports the full time residential population of the county is approximately 19,690. During the winter months the resort town of Steamboat Springs thrives due to a world-class ski resort, while ranching, agriculture, forestry, mining and power generation provide a year-round economy in the surrounding areas. The entire county abounds with a variety of cultural events, outdoor activities and educational facilities, including two community colleges, several public and private schools and a renowned performing arts academy.
Wide-open spaces are a thing of the present in Moffat County. From Black Mountain's golden aspens to rugged canyons in legendary Brown's Park, the region offers diversity in landscape and is home to some of the largest deer and elk herds in North America. The Yampa and Snake River valleys, mountains, and high plains desert cover an area 93 miles long and 52 miles wide, bordering Wyoming and Utah. Centrally located, the city of Craig is the shopping, family recreation, and entertainment center for the area. Newcomers and visitors to Northwest Colorado enjoy western hospitality and a friendly way of life. Moffat County is a lifetime experience, a great place to grow-up and to be a grown-up!
Moffat County's high-desert landscape provides world-class hunting and an abundance of winter and summer recreational opportunities. For visitors, we have the only wave pool complex on the Western Slope, a beautiful and challenging 18-hole public golf course with scenic views of the Yampa River, sport fishing, abundant wildlife and petroglyphs.
Resident elk, deer, antelope, mountain lions, sandhill cranes, eagles, wild horses and other species of wildlife may be spotted from state and county roads that wander through scenic back country. Northwest Colorado is nationally renowned for big game hunting.
