To many of us, the rumble of the motor and the rush of air as you travel down the highway sound like nothing else. The new vistas and undiscovered landscapes are what keep us putting fuel in the tank and pushing us to keep adding up the miles. With the cost of gasoline getting higher, road trippers have to be careful which roads they choose nowadays. Every mile counts and for those who answer the call of the open road, every tank had better be worth it.

Whether you are riding a motorcycle or taking on the thrill of the open road in your car or RV, Colorado is your happy place when it comes to dramatic scenery, ever-changing landscapes, and new places to explore. For many of us, it is the journey and not the destination, and in Colorado, North Park is a rare gem that will tempt even the most jaded driver who thinks they have seen it all. From alpine forests to upper altitude tundra, rolling plains of prairie and green fields, and even some sand dunes, Jackson County, CO contains just about every kind of land there is in the Rocky Mountains.

Known mostly for Walden, there’s a lot more to explore when wanderlust strikes and you have a lot of ground to cover. Whether it’s mountain villages, frontier ghost towns, or wide open spaces, our little corner of Colorado has to be experienced to be believed. So queue up your favorite road trip playlist and add North Park to your road trip itinerary.

The Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway

Coming in hot from the east, CO HWY 14 from Ft. Collins, CO all the way to Walden is a silver thread of winding canyon road that follows the Cache la Poudre River up to the staggering heights of Cameron Pass and back down into the North Park valley. Along the way, you’ll see little towns like Rustic, Glen Haven, and Gould, CO. 

Cellular reception is nearly non-existent in this corridor of highway, which gives you plenty of time to stay off-line, disconnect from phone calls, texts, and social media, and just enjoy the scenery. The road takes you through the narrows of Poudre Canyon along the whitewater river up to the edge of the Never Summer Range and Medicine Bow Mountains. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to see wildlife such as moose, deer, mountain lions, and even bears. The road descends into Jackson County at the foot of the Nokhu Crags, opening up just north of Gould to the North Park basin.

The Cache la Poudre Scenic Byway is one of several scenic byways in Colorado, each chosen for their remoteness and aesthetic beauty. The byway ends just west of Walden as HWY 14 continues on towards Rabbit Ears Pass and Steamboat Springs, CO. 

Gould, CO

A small, tight-knit community living on the fringes of Jackson County, just about 22 miles away from Walden, Gould has a varied history. Starting off as a logging camp during the railroad boom, Gould later served as a POW camp for German soldiers during WW2. The area was so reminiscent of the Bavarian Alps that after the war, many former prisoners of war returned to the area to vacation. The area mostly supports State and National Forest operations for the Colorado State Forest State Park and Routt-Araphaho National Forest. It’s also a great destination for outdoors enthusiasts and even trail runners!

There’s a number of great places to stay if you want to stop on your way through. You can spend a few nights in a rustic cabin at the Powderhorn Cabins, or for a unique glamping experience, check out YonderYurts. A search through your preferred vacation rental app is bound to turn up something that catches your eye for an extended stay. The Howling Coyote Mexican Restaurant is also one of the nicest places to eat in North Park, so be sure to stop by for some authentic Mexican food in Gould.

From Wyoming to Walden

Coming in from the Wyoming side, you’ll cross the border into Colorado just south of Wyo-Colo and not much past that you’ll get an incredible view of the Park Range and the Medicine Bow mountains. The highway once criss-crossed a railroad spur that ran from Coalmont, CO to Laramie all the way up until the early 1990s. The iron and ties have been removed, but throughout the area, the old railroad grade has been preserved as a biking and hiking trail running between the border and Fox Park. It’s a great place to ride due to its even grades and smooth ride.

Along HWY 127 you will pass through King’s Cañon, and near the headwaters of the North Platte river, on the way to Saratoga (on HWY 125) just before the river enters Wyoming. Cowdrey, CO marks the crossroads to Big Creek Lakes as well as a few miles north, access to the North Sand Hills recreation area, which attracts off-roaders and ATV riders from all over the mountain west. RVers and road-trippers alike will find a great place to stop at Sentinel Mountain RV and Quick Stop.

Make a Pit Stop in Walden, CO

Take HWY 125 south to Walden for fuel, snacks, groceries, and restaurants. There’s also a couple great parks to stretch your legs, play some beach volleyball, or maybe even spot a moose cropping the new buds off the trees in April-May. RVers can use the free dump station and refill water tanks by the baseball diamonds at Hanson Park.

For a list of places to stay, eat, and shop in Walden, please check out several of our other blogs on the area! Keep an eye out for an upcoming post for just Walden!

Road to Rand, Granby, Grand Lake, and Winter Park

HWY 125 continues south from Walden across generations old ranchland and homesteads, many of which are now part of the Arapaho National Wildlife Reserve. Take an auto-tour to see waterfowl and other wildlife in their natural habitats. Keep an eye out for moose, hawks and eagles, and other wildlife on the way to Rand, CO.

Stop by the Rand Store for books, t-shirts, and other souvenirs of your visit. The Never Summer Mountains in the distance mark the northern boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park. Granby and Grand Lake and the ski towns of Fraser and Winter Park are not far beyond. If you would rather stop and stay for a while, the newly reopened Old Homestead welcomes you with a variety of cabins, RV spots, and a healthy dose of nostalgia for returning visitors to North Park. 

The ruin of Teller City isn’t much further down the road in the Routt-Arapaho National Forest. Once a thriving community during the silver boom in the 1880s, Teller City once boasted several hotels and saloons. The forest has nearly reclaimed this old relic of the area’s past, but it’s still worth a visit.

The Road to Steamboat and Kremmling

Taking the other fork in the road just outside of Walden will take you towards the prominent Rabbit Ears Peak. During the height of mining in North Park, the town of Coalmont would have been the terminus of the railroad line here. A coal seam fire that continues to burn deep underground shut down production and the town not long after. The area is more commonly known by natural features such as Spicer Peak as well as a section of the Continental Divide Trail which runs along the southern end of Jackson County.

The ancient volcanic peaks of Rabbit Ears and Spicer peak are a reminder of the fiery geological history of the area, and part of the reason why places such as Hot Sulfur Springs and Steamboat Springs are known for their hot springs. The long straightaways and winding roads along Grizzly Creek and others are a dream for motorcycles just before hitting the long climb up Muddy Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass.

The Colorado Grand Vintage Car Rally

The Colorado Grand vintage car rally passes through this area each year in late summer, bringing with it millions of dollars worth of vintage and antique automobiles from all around the world. The Colorado Grand has been instrumental in helping Jackson County maintain roads and other infrastructure through generous donations and awareness of the area.

Much More to See

There’s so much more to see in North Park if you plan to venture out on a road trip this summer. We have hundreds of miles of well-maintained county roads taking you to trail heads, lakes for great fishing, and other amazing sights to see! Whether it’s a road trip or a weekend away to detox from social media, there’s much more to North Park than just visiting Walden. You could stay for weeks and still not see it all! 

Our outdoor recreation possibilities are nearly limitless with a fraction of the crowds and traffic you’ll find in other places in Colorado. If you want to drive through one of the last towns in Colorado without a stop light, Walden is the place to do it! Whichever way you choose, you will be looking at a memorable drive that will stay with you for years to come. Maybe enough to satiate that wanderlust until your next visit! It will be worth the price you pay at the pumps and then some!

Plan Your Trip Now!

It’s never too early to start daydreaming about planning your next adventure in North Park. Jackson County is Colorado’s best kept secret when it comes to outdoor activities, fishing, and wildlife watching. Whether it is hiking, climbing, mountain biking, or just taking a long drive to pass the weekend away from the city, add the Walden, CO area to your itinerary of places to discover the real Colorado. And leave the crowds behind.

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