Your February Winter Recreation Calendar for North Park, CO 2024
While much of the rest of Colorado is struggling with cabin fever there’s so much happening in North park in February. From ice fishing to poker, snowmobile racing and serene nights under the full moon, you won’t want to miss these things to do. Plan your trip today with our February Winter Recreation Calendar for North Park, CO.
Delaney Buttes Ice Fishing Tournament
- When: February 3, 2024
- Where: Delaney Lakes, 12 miles west of Walden, CO
- Cost: $55 for adults; $20 for youth 16 and under
- Contact: (970) 723-4600 for details
January kicked off the ice fishing season with a competition at Lake John, but Delaney Lakes continues to bring the fun with ice fishing in North Park. Delaney Buttes might not be as well known as its neighbor to the north, Lake John, but Delaney Lakes are known for their Gold Medal waters. Large sporting fish such as cutthroat trout, cuttbows, brown trout, and other Colorado sporting fish with upper end trophy lenghts to brag about for years to come.
Brought to you by the North Park Chamber of Commerce, you can sign up here to compete! Winners will be awarded with prizes, gear, and the prestige of landing some of the best fish in North Park this winter. Delaney Lakes are Gold Medal waters, so the use of live bait is prohibited—flies and artificial lures only. The possession limit for Delaney Lakes is two fish and must meet size limits to be considered valid.
Cost to enter is $55 for adults and $20 for kids 16 years and younger. Event begins at 6am on Saturday Feb, 3, and ends at 4pm. $100 hourly cash prizes are given, which also include youth entries! Grand prize winner of the adult category of the Delaney Lakes Ice Fishing Tournament will receive $1500. 2nd place gets $1000, and 3rd place takes home $500. A fun day on the ice is nearly always a guarantee!
Xtreme Mountain Racing
- When: February 3rd and 17th, Motos begin at 9am.
- Where: Walden Reservoir, one mile west of Walden, CO
- Contact: Forrest at (970) 948-1170 for more information
After a weekend of Ice Golf, a full season of vintage snowmobile racing is already underway. The success of the January races and growing interest in what is quickly becoming one of North Park’s biggest events of the year means more racing. Watch as dozens of riders on snowmobiles, side-by-sides, kids’ sleds, and motorcycles compete in a wide range of classes from stock, super-stock, and super-modified on the ice of the Walden Reservoir.
With nearly 70 entries this season and counting, racers push their stock and turbo-charged sleds to the absolute limit. Watch as riders throttle up to 80mph on straightaways and drift on the tight turns of this 3/8 mile track. Thrills, spills, and chills are on every corner of this track for two different Saturdays in February.
If you are interested in competing, contact Forrest at XMR’s website. Participants are all vetted and snowmobiles must meet regulation requirements to race. Spectators are in for a day of adrenaline pumping racing on the ice at Walden Reservoir.
After Prom Poker Tournament
- When: February 3, 6pm.
- Where: Watternberg Center, Jackson County Fairgrounds, Walden, CO
- Contact: 970-846-5817 for more information
Every year the school year commences with one of the biggest social events for North Park School District as high schoolers make new memories for the Senior Prom. The community comes together to support our students and keep them safe with an after prom celebration. Help make sure the night is one to remember for years to come by bringing your poker face and your wallet to the poker night fundraiser. The North Park Booster Club needs your support and invites you to mark your calendar for the yearly After Prom Poker Tournament. The games begin at 6pm and continue until there is a winner. A cash bar and snacks are available and proceeds all go to help build the best after prom party ever for our hardworking high school students.
Pete’s Pies and Chili Cook Off
- When: Feb 8th. Dessert drop off, tournament registration, and chili contest registration starts at 3pm and closes at 4:30pm. Chili tasting begins at 5pm. Cornhole tournament follows directly after.
- Where: North Park School
- Cost: Entry fee of $20 per team for the cornhole tournament. Chili contest entry and tasting is free!
The North Park Booster Club is back with the 2nd Annual Pete’s Pies Pie Auction and Cornhole Tournament. The event honors the memory of local resident, Pete VanValkenberg, whose fame for his delicious pies was second only to his support for the North Park Wildcats. The event starts off with a chili tasting contest, pie auction, and cornhole tournament. The event will be held in the high school gymnasium and cafeteria.
Categories for the chili contest include red and green chile. Winners of the best chili win prizes and bragging rights for being the best in North Park. Proceeds from the pie auction and cornhole tournament help support the North Park Booster Club and North Park Athletics. Let’s go Cats!
Hunter Education Classes
- When: Feb 16 & 17th
- Where: Wattenberg Center, Jackson County Fairgrounds, Walden, CO
- Cost: Check the CPW website for details
Growing up in North Park, CO gives a lot of new hunters access to some of the best wilderness and public land in Colorado. Many of us might take for granted what we have at our own backdoor, especially when it comes to outdoor recreation and wildlife. Responsible hunting begins with a solid foundation of education and a respect for the animals that are being harvested every season.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering a hunter education safety course for new hunters and those needing to fulfill the requirement to purchase licenses for the 2024 Hunting season and beyond. Courses are expected to be held on Feb 16th and 17th at the Wattenberg Center at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. A minimum of five students is required to hold the course.
Registration starts now, so check out the CPW website to begin. To Register in North Park, enter the Walden, CO zipcode (80480) to sign up. Fees and other details are available on the CPW website. Continue a tradition of responsible land management and hunting with your family today!
Gould Poker Run
- When: Feb 17th, 10am-4pm
- Where: Gould, CO
- Cost: $5 per hand or five hands for $20
- Contact: Check out the North Park Snowsnakes Facebook page for more information
If anyone ever needed an excuse to load up the snowmobiles into the toy hauler and take them out on some of the best snow in Colorado, mark your calendar for the Gould Poker Run. On February 17th, join in the fun with a poker run that takes you all around the groomed trail system surrounding Gould, CO.
At $5 per hand or 5 hands for $20 you can win prizes, ride with other snowmobilers, and have a blast on some of the best snowmobile trails in Colorado. Check out some of our hotels, motels, and vacation rentals for this weekend of playing in the snow!
Moonlight Snowshoe/Skiing
- When: Feb 24th, the trek begins at 6pm
- Where: Moose Visitor Center, Colorado State Forest State Park, Gould, CO
- Cost: Admission is free.
With all of the high octane and high adrenaline winter sports coming to North Park in February, some of the more laid back activities can get overlooked. The State Forest State Park is hosting an evening of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing under the light of the full moon on Feb 24th.
The February full moon is known as the Snow Moon, and in North Park, nothing could be more fitting. Nordic skiing and snowshoeing trails along the Gould Loop are groomed, with a thrilling experience that is sure to be the highlight of just about any cross-country skiier or snowshoer’s month.
This self-paced trek begins at the Moose Visitor Center in Gould at 6pm. Rangers will host a campfire 3/4 of a mile down the trail. Bring a potluck dish to share at the dinner before the event. Snowshoes are available to rent for $5 per pair.
Best Places to Stay in North Park and Walden, CO
Some weekends are busier than others. Every weekend XMR runs their vintage snowmobile races, so almost every accommodation in Walden, CO is booked solid. Plan ahead and book your lodging in a hotel, VRBO, or AirBnB vacation rental property in Walden, CO. Choose from a wide selection of vacation rentals, ranging from quaint to unique, for anything from single occupancy to large groups of visitors.
Reserve your rooms for seasonal events early as rooms tend to fill up quickly. Nearly everything is within walking distance of lodging in Walden, but if you don’t want to brave the weather, there are plenty of free places to park.
Here are the best hotels in Walden, CO and places to stay in North Park:
Best Places to Eat and Drink in Walden and North Park, CO
Once you come in from the cold, you’ll want to warm yourself from the inside out with a hearty meal or places to get coffee in Walden, CO. Check out some of our local restaurants, bars, and coffee shops during your visit.
- Rita’s Cafe, Walden, CO
- Howling Coyote Mexican Inn, Gould, CO
- Rand Yacht Club, Rand, CO
- The 10th Frame, Walden, CO
- River Rock Cafe, Walden, CO
- Stockman Bar and Grill, Walden, CO
- Four Winds Pizza, Walden, CO
*Winter Hours are Subject to Change, especially depending on weather.
Come See Us This February!
February can be a month of the midwinter blahs, but North Park still has plenty of winter left to go around. Whether you are trying to beat seasonal depression or looking for a good excuse to dust off your crosscountry skis, you need to add North Park to your winter destination itinerary. We will see you soon!
