2025 Year in Review: Taking a Look Back at Another Great Year

With just a few days left of 2025, we would like to take a look back at all the amazing things that have happened in North Park. Each week, VisitNorthParkCO.com features another story about the history, culture, and what is happening in Walden, CO and surrounding areas. We release four articles every month along with a Substack newsletter and some great photography of the area on Instagram.

January-February

The games began early on in 2025, starting off with New Years Eve at the Stockman Bar and Grill, which was soon followed up with Xtreme Mountain Racing trying to break the ice at the Walden Reservoir. Dozens of vintage snowmobile racers and customized side-by-sides zoomed around an all ice track for prize money, but also the glory of racing. 

Later on in the month, the same ice was visited by the annual return of the Ron Sessions Memorial Ice Golf Tournament, sponsored by the local Lions Club. This charity event combines the sophistication of golf with the hilarity of a wintery green as golfers find out who is the best at knocking a tennis ball into a hole in the ice.

The Lake John Ice Fishing Tournament is one of the biggest draws to Jackson County during the winter months. With a tournament in January and one in February, anglers vie for prize money in their pursuit of the biggest catch at Lake John. Sponsored by the North Park Chamber of Commerce, the Lake John Resort hosts this event every year, and always delivers some catches that require no embellishment. With youth and adult entry levels, prizes for Catch of the Hour, and a grand champion prize for the biggest fish caught, it’s no wonder hotels and RV spots fill up every year for this event.

Moose Foraging just outside of Walden, CO

March-April

The Colorado State Forest State Park is one of the most beloved and visited areas of North Park. This year marked the second time a major dog sledding club converged at the State Park with competitive dog mushing. Many of these dogs have been given a second chance, often rescued from animal shelters and trained to run their hearts out in the great outdoors, and loving every minute of the adventure.

April saw a return to the breeding grounds of the Greater Sage Grouse as the North Park Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual grouse viewing experience. Now with more access to the public and flexibility with stays and accommodations, this grouse viewing tour is a great way for bird watchers and wildlife photographers to hit the jackpot when it comes to raw mountain scenery and a once-in-a-lifetime experience being up close and personal to the greater sage grouse in their natural habitat.

The moose also began their migration back to the lowlands of North Park, following the rivers and willow bottoms to the wetlands for more abundant food and to give birth to the next generation of moose in Colorado! North Park isn’t called the Moose Viewing Capital of Colorado for nothing. In April and May you are almost certain to see a moose grazing in a field, or even right in the center of Walden!

May-June

The Never Summer Rodeo is always a big crowd pleaser, with competitors from the Wyoming and Colorado Professional Rodeo circuit as well as a few die hard locals. In Walden, the party runs all weekend long with live music and street dances, vendor shows, and plenty of summer games in the fresh mountain air to enjoy. Take a walk through Walden and check out our local history at the North Park Pioneer Museum, or visit some of our historical landmarks that still hold a place in Colorado History.

The summer months in North Park are the perfect time of year to explore our public lands, from alpine forests and tundra to high country desert. We have plenty of places to find hiking and biking trails, fishing, and wildlife photography. 

North Park Pioneer Museum

July-August

Up in the high country of the Colorado State Forest State Park, you might get a chance to watch incredible feats of athleticism as ultramarathon runners from all around the world converge at the GNAR 100K Ultramarathon. Running between 30 and 60 miles over two days with thousands of feet of altitude gain over all sorts of terrain, you won’t believe the punishment these runners put themselves through for what many consider the ultimate rush.

North Park Days is a great time to take a break from nature and hang out with locals who are out in force celebrating their love of this beautiful place they call home. North Park Days is a little more subdued than Rodeo Weekend, which makes it a great time of year to visit a local craft festival, hear live music, and relax as summer begins to wind down.

September-October

Those days of buzzing mosquitos are nearly forgotten, but we still remember the way the sun feels on your face as you wind your way through the mountains to get to North Park on an epic road trip. One of a handful of Scenic Byways in Colorado, the Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway takes you from Ft. Collins, CO through the Poudre Canyon, over Cameron Pass and through Walden for some of the most diverse scenery you can find in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. This scenic byway makes a great weekend or day roadtrip or a great place to go for a good social media detox.

Nobody roadtrips quite like the drivers and passengers of the Colorado Grand vintage automobile rally. After a few years away on other courses, the Colorado Grand returned to Walden in 2025 with hundreds of vintage cars from all around the world. The organization has been an ally to small towns throughout the Colorado Mountains for decades, providing donations for paving and other infrastructure. It’s also a great way to catch a glimpse at a one of a kind Ferrari or a multi-million dollar supercar.

Getting around in North Park is also done through the air, and this year, the local airport got a new runway to make sure that keeps happening. Read all about how a combination of grants and public funding has given the airport another thirty years of life for aviators and emergency flight services coming into Jackson County.

November-December

The holidays came in hot this year and local artisans and creators brought out the best for the season at a couple different arts and crafts shows. This year the Lodging Tax Panel (who hosts this blog) held their biggest giveaway yet, with tickets to local events, two nights stay at one of our local hotels, and an itinerary of plenty to do during the high point of our holiday events! 

A North Park Christmas captured the spirit of the holidays with local light displays and community events for young and old alike. From live reindeer to Brunch with Santa, and even a locally produced and performed melodrama, wintertime is one of our most special times of year! It’s also a time of giving and bringing the community together to help out those in need.

We couldn’t think of a better way to spend time with family and friends throughout this wild Colorado winter weather. Or a better place!

Winding down and rounding out the year

Just in case you missed anything, we hope you revisit these highlights of what has been going on in North Park in 2025. Be sure to check out the Visit North Park Blog along with our Calendar of events to plan your next visit to Jackson County, CO. If there has been a favorite article that caught your attention, or if you would like to know more about something in North Park we haven’t covered, please let us know on our Instagram, Facebook, or Substack in the comments!