This year’s mild winter has been a struggle for many of Colorado’s mountain communities. Resort towns like Vail, Breckinridge, and Steamboat have been making their own snow just to make up for the absence of champagne powder in the Rocky Mountains. While North Park has its share of winter activities that rely on the snow, the recent warming trend has opened up other opportunities in Jackson County. Particularly for wildlife photography enthusiasts.

Back before the area was settled by prospectors, ranchers, and loggers, North Park was a revered summer hunting ground for indigenous people. Bands of the Cheyenne, Ute, and Arapaho set up camp and stalked game in these lands, particularly because the area made such an ideal habitat for wildlife—particularly bison. But deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose aren’t the only wildlife in the area. North Park still remains a major migration route for large game animals. The area has always been a great stopover for migratory songbirds, waterfowl, ungulates, and even large predators. What does this mean for you?

The unseasonably warm weather this year has presented the perfect opportunity for visitors to access back roads and public lands which would otherwise be socked in with snow until at least April. The animals are already becoming active, which gives wildlife photographers a great backdrop for some stunning shots early this year. The Moose Visitor Center in Gould at the Colorado State Forest State Park even keeps track of moose sightings in the area. Near the Cameron Pass summit, you might even get a chance to see bighorn sheep!

What Camera Gear to Bring

Whether you use full-frame, micro four-thirds, or film cameras, the mountains and plains of North Park will be a stunning spot for just about any background. When photographing wildlife, it’s best to maintain a safe distance, and not every field is going to be public land. Trespassing is taken seriously by landowners, especially with livestock that could be spooked and injured—or injure you. Telephoto rigs of 100mm and higher will bring those animals in close, while you might pack some prime lenses or wide angle lenses for landscape and panoramic views. 

Remember that the best camera to use is the one you have in your hand. Even if you don’t have your favorite camera with you, your phone will probably do well in a pinch. Animals appear and go into hiding so quickly sometimes that you won’t have a chance to go back to the car to get another camera. Pack a tripod, your favorite prime, telephoto, and wide angle lenses. You’re going to use every last one of them.

Shooting wide open with faster lenses will get you that great looking bokeh, while higher stops and telephoto lenses will give you that compression worthy of magazine covers. Set up your camera on a tripod for some spectacular astrophotography during our cloudless nights. The Colorado State Forest State Park is working on becoming DarkSky Certified within the next few years. Get a jump on the other stargazers and find a place to stay for night photo shoots under the Milky Way.

Places to Stay

Book a hotel, VRBO, or AirBnB vacation rental property and make it a weekend photo trip. Check out this article on rental cabins, or these articles on the Old Homestead and Powderhorn Cabins for some ideas on some truly unique and iconic North Park places to stay.

Some of our most popular accommodations:

• Antlers Inn: 970- 723-8690
• Caribou Crossing Motel: 970-501-6076
• Sleepy Moose Inn: 970-440-1614
• North Park Inn and Suites: 970-723-4271
• Chedsey Motel: 970-723-8201
• Lake John Resort: 970-723-8201
   

Tips for Exploring North Park

If you plan to take a trip to Walden to see wildlife, here’s a few tips to have the best experience.

Drive safely: You will probably have plenty of opportunities to take a photo, and just driving through the area you’ll see plenty of great shots ready to capture. Don’t make sudden stops and jeopardize other drivers. Take your time!

Watch for mud and snow!: Pulling off on the side of the road might get you stuck, especially with soft shoulders on the highway. Watch your speed on backroads and don’t be afraid to use 4WD for those slick frozen muddy spots.

Don’t harass wildlife: Harassing wildlife can get you a big fine, and it can cause injury to animals who are very skitterish around humans. It can also cause them to become aggressive, especially if they are caring for young in the vicinity. The shots will come to you if you are patient. And if you miss one, there will be other chances.

Keep your distance: Getting a selfie with a moose will get you trampled. The same is true for just about any other animal you’ll encounter. Remember, you are in their domain. This isn’t a city park and these aren’t animals in a petting zoo.

Time of day: Most animal activity will happen around Golden Hour and you need to be ready to line up your shots before the sun goes behind the Park Range and you lose your light. During the rest of the day, you’ll have good opportunities for photos, and usually spring cloud cover will give you some dramatic effects.

Dress in layers: Even though temps have been warmer, dressing in layers will let you be prepared for high winds, sudden snow flurries, rain, and hard sunshine at altitude.

Wear sunscreen: At 8000 ft about sea level plus, there’s a lot less atmosphere to protect you from the sun. Be sure to stay hydrated and wear sunblock with an SPF rating of 30 or higher. It’s not unusual to get second degree burns even when snowshoeing.

Leave No Trace: Whether you are camping or just driving through, always be aware of the impact you have on this beautiful countryside. Pack out all trash and waste. Not only does it keep North Park looking beautiful, but it also reduces the risk of making animals sick or dependent on human beings. Losing their fear of people is often what gets animals killed in Colorado.

Where to Photograph Wildlife in North Park

With such a wide range of public land space in Jackson County, just about any back road is an opportunity for capturing wildlife on camera. The Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for waterfowl, from ducks and geese to migratory cranes. As early as March, sandhill cranes begin to arrive in North Park on their way to their famous rendezvous in Nebraska. 

The greater sage grouse has been strutting its stuff in leks throughout the sagebrush plains and basins of North Park since before humankind arrived. Today you can see them do their mating dance all over Jackson County, particularly at the Arapaho Wildlife Refuge.

In the high country, robins, cardinals, several species of jay, and bluebirds are already making appearances in their telltale splash of color that welcome warmer weather. The best place to see these kinds of birds make their debut is around Rand and Gould, CO. Also several areas in Walden, such as Hanson Park and McNamara Park offer open ground for song birds to converge. Stop by the Moose Visitor Center, where bird feeders attract these seasonal travelers on their ways to summer destinations. The Visitor Center is the gateway to the Colorado State Forest State Park, which runs nearly the whole length of the Medicine Bow Mountains on North Park’s east side. It’s also a great place to catch a glimpse of a moose as they begin their move across Jackson County towards willow stands and wetlands at lower elevations.

The open fields and river basins of the Michigan, North Platte, and Illinois rivers offer a great place to view massive herds of pronghorn antelope, mule deer, white tailed deer, and elk. North Park is one of the largest habitats for elk in Colorado, with a standing herd of around 2000 animals. The most dramatic time of year to see these beautiful creatures is in the Fall during the autumn rut, but they are impressive animals to see in person any time of year.

Large predators such as mountain lions, coyotes, bears, and even wolves are more active this time of year as well. If you are camping in the area, be sure to be Bear Aware and safely contain all food and garbage so as to not draw attention from very hungry animals that might be looking for a snack. This includes pets (and small children). 

Every year, human/wildlife encounters take their toll on the local animal population. Read more about what one family is doing to remedy that, and the top-ranked vacation rental they are running to fund their efforts. 22 West is in the top 5% of AirBnB's and doing everything they can to protect area wildlife.

Avalanche Danger

As intense as the idea of wolves might be in Colorado, the biggest threat to life and limb here is still the weather. The same conditions that create the crusty snow that draws deer and elk out of the high country are also the same as what creates the danger of avalanche. 

As temperatures rise and fall throughout the day, the top layers of snow form an icy layer of packed snow. Beneath the surface, especially on mountainsides and high elevations, the snow underneath is drier, made up of the accumulation of dry winter storms. Check the CPW website for information about trail conditions or closures.

A Unique Opportunity for Wildlife Photography

Each year the North Park Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a trip of a lifetime. Jackson County is one of the best kept secrets of birding in the United States. The Greater Sage Grouse have called North Park home for thousands of years, giving intrepid photographers and bird enthusiasts a chance to visit a lek and experience the mating dance of the greater sage grouse first hand!

With the expansion of populated areas and the destruction of much of the land the greater grouse used to inhabit, either from fires, development, or climate change, their territory is shrinking and their numbers are diminishing. The Chamber of Commerce is offering a guided tour of a few of these mating grounds of the greater sage grouse in April, 2026. Check out their website for details on how you can get a spot on the tour!

An Unforgettable Experience Year Round

Traveling to North Park any time of year can be the experience of a lifetime. Not only will you find beautiful sights to see in winter, but also the other seasons of the year. You’ve already found the VisitNorthParkCO.com site. If you like what you’ve seen subscribe to our Visit North Park Newsletter and follow us on social media on  Facebook or Instagram, for regular updates of events, stunning photos, and historical tidbits. Whether you are an aspiring photographer, outdoor adventurer, or simply looking for a social media detox, make North Park your favorite destination all year long. We will see you soon!