North Park Visitors Guide

2017-2018 VISITORS GUIDE

North Park, Colorado • Local Literature • Hunting • Fishing • Moose Viewing • Walden and Jackson County Maps • Calendar of Events • Where to Dine • Snowmobiling • Balloon Fest • Pioneer Museum • Platte River • Local Hiking

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

Welcome to North Park

The North Park Visitors Guide is published annually in the spring.

Contact us at P.O. Box 524 Walden, CO 80480 The North Park Visitors Guide is parkpress@centurytel.net published annually in the spring. parkpress123@gmail.com Mail us at P.O. Box 524 Walden, CO 80480 parkpress@centurytel.net northparkvisitorsguide.com

970-218-0664 970-218-0664

Debbie Wilson Debbie Wilson Publisher/Editor Publisher/Editor

The 2011-2012 North Park Visitors Guide is a publication of Park Press Walden, Colorado Copyright © 2011

Cover Photos: Debbie Wilson

The 2017-2018 North Park Visitors Guide is a publication of Park Press Walden, Colorado Copyright © 2017

North Park Visitors Guide

Helpful contacts to have While visiting north park (Area Code 970) Ambulance & emergencies

911

Arapahoe Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge

953 Cnty. Rd. 32

723-8202

Jackson County Sheriff

396 Lafever St.

723-4422

Jackson County Public Pool

282 Washington St. 723-8629

Jackson County Public Library

412 4th St.

723-4602

Moose Visitor Center

56750 Hwy. 14

723-8366

North Park Chamber of Commerce 416 4th St.

723-4600

North Park Medical Center

521 5th. St.

723-4255

Walden Town Hall

513 Harrison St.

U.S. Forest Service

100 Main St.

723-4344 723-8204

TAKE TIME TO MAKE THE DRIVE O

N A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME trip to the U.K., I met up with a Scotsman possessing all the knowledge one needs to successfully navigate the inspirational Isle of Skye off Scotland’s west coast. The weather resembled the early spring season we were in: blustery, cold, rainy and even snowy at times. I quizzed the gentleman on whether he had assisted many other tourists this early in the season, in his position as keeper of the tourist information center in Kyle of Lochalsh. He said, “Madam, if you’re visiting Skye this time of year, you are not a tourist, you are indeed a traveler.”

Perhaps North Park is the Colorado equivalent of the Isle of Skye. Indeed, we share a great deal. Each location is remote and somewhat isolated, getting to each requires a commitment and desire to experience what’s on the other end, and both offer a substantial reward for the effort.

If you are a traveler (or a tourist) who has journeyed to our village, whether passing through or settling in, I will share with you what you might expect to find here. And perhaps more importantly, what you will not find here.

If you’ve left the density of city life and arrived in North Park, you will not find fast food chains, pollution, or stoplights (if they ever arrive here, we will call them “golights”). Instead, expect to dine at a locally owned café, breathe fresh mountain air, and roll down the window and drive until you get there. Anywhere.

What we lack in population is made up for in the richness of our villagers. Visitors find our people to be authentic, hard working, and willing to go the extra mile to accommodate their needs. Living and working 65 miles from the nearest town requires a determination to be exactly where we are. North Park. We are entrenched in a place of beauty, surrounded by the vistas of the Rawahs, the Zirkel Wilderness, the Never Summer and Snowy ranges, and an abundance of watchable wildlife. We’re not sorry that the pace is slow, and we take the time to linger.

This is a contagious place to which you will return if you have taken the time to explore our vastness, our people, and our rich history. North Park offers unlimited recreational opportunities: world-class fishing and hunting, endless hiking trails

to explore, unrivaled camping, and a far greater wildlife population than human population.

Don’t miss the Moose Visitor Center in the Colorado State Forest State Park to learn why North Park is the Moose-Viewing Capital of Colorado. Visit the outstanding North Park Pioneer Museum to discover our diverse history of trapping, mining, logging and homesteading in this enchanted land. Wet a line in any of dozens of lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers to experience the thrill of catching the evening meal. Keep your camera ready. It’s impossible to take a bad pic-

ture with 360º mountains surrounding the boundaries of the park. Our trails system is diverse enough to please the young, the old, the timid and the brave.

So linger. Take a deep breath, lower your blood pressure and share this land with us. We encourage you to keep coming back to this special place and continue to explore its charm.

Debbie Wilson Publisher

2017-2018 | North Park Visitors Guide

BALLOON FEST

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FOLLOW ME TO MOOSE CREEK CAFE GOOD FOOD GOOD COFFEE GOOD FRIENDS

The Sky’s the Limit at North Park & North Park Day Street Fair Rise early and watch the colorful hot air balloons lift off at daybreak over the picturesque mountains of North Park. Over a dozen hot air balloons (and growing every year) will rise to the occasion each morning from the high school lawn, and a moon glow is the highlight Saturday night. Observe the lift-off from beautiful Hanson Park, or watch from an adjacent hillside. On-street parking near the event as well as limited space in the school parking lot is available.

Hanson Park comes alive with North Park Day, a festive event with homemade goods, art & crafts, fine art, local author’s works, and great food. Vendors will set up early in the morning and activities for kids and adults take place throughout Saturday, August 12.

You might choose to arrive on Friday or Saturday, enjoy a meal or two and some shopping in Walden and the surrounding communities, and watch the balloon launch on Saturday and/or Sunday morning. Bring a jacket; North Park mornings, even in August, can be chilly. A camera is a must, and bring along a lawn chair for a relaxing view of this spectacular event. The school can be accessed from Main Street by turning east on 4th Street. The launch area is three blocks off Main Street. Hanson Park is adjacent to the school.

For more information contact event organizers at 970-215-2354.

IT’S A GOOD THING! Enjoy a hearty meal, friendly service, and the best food value in Walden.

Look for the Moose.

Open Every Day at 6 am 508 Main Street • Walden • 970-723-8272 www.MooseCreekCafe.net

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

Humor to hunt by

By Jim Dustin Great hunting and fishing stories are timeless, the magnitude and truthfulness of each event becoming exaggerated as the story is passed down through the generations. With each retelling, such stories gain momentum until, eventually, such tales scarcely resemble their first incarnation.

Seven years ago the North Park Recreation Guide solicited humorous and unusual hunting and fishing stories and published them in the 2001 winter edition.

Like a great marriage, they have only gotten better with time, and we couldn’t resist lending them to a new audience this year.

Merely aspiring to become morphed into urban myths, here are the best sto-

SCHEDULE OF NORTH PARK EVENTS Jan. 13 & 14, 2018

June 24-25, 2017

Ice Fishing Contest Lake John & Cowdrey Lake

(Also, June 23 & 24, 2018) North Park Never Summer Rodeo

Jan. 27, 2018

June 24, 2017

Ice Golf Tourney & Calcutta Auction

Street Dance @ Moose Creek Cafe 7p.m.–11 p.m.

Feb. 3, 2018

Aug. 12-13, 2017

Ice Fishing Contest Delaney Butte Lakes

Sky’s the Limit @ North Park & North Park Days

April 21-22, 2018 Sage Grouse Tours

Follow us on Facebook at North Park Chamber NorthParkChamber@outlook.com 970-723-4600

ries from those submitted. We’ll start with a pretty basic one sent in by Lee Martin of Troy, Ill. Martin’s connection to North Park is that his wife, Joyce Smith Martin, is a cousin of long-time local Dennis Brinker.

A 450-Yard Shot In 1951, then M/Sgt. Lee M. Martin was hunting in the Rabbit Ears area. Martin was quite the outdoorsman. On July 4 of that year, he caught a 23-inch, five-pound German Brown Trout in the Poudre River, an impressive catch by trout standards.

Hunting season rolls around like it always does, and on October 15 Martin put down his rod and reel and picked up a .300 Savage and went elk hunting. At about 5 p.m., he saw a large bull about 450 yards away.

“My first shot was way off, but when I found the range, I pumped three quick ones into him,” Martin recalled. “After the last shot, the bull went 500 yards before he fell.”

It turned out to be quite a trophy.

The elk had antlers 48 inches high with a 38-inch spread. The animal probably weighed 1,200 pounds and dressed out at 640 pounds. It was one of the largest elk taken in Colorado that year.

“After we finished skinning and cutting the meat, I was so nervous, I couldn’t light my pipe,” Martin said.

“I would have died if I had missed that shot.”

Well, that’s a hunting story, but lots of people have successful hunts. A 450yard shot is a good shot; most elk are killed with shots of 100 yards or less.

This is probably a good time to mention that Dave Bross of Missouri didn’t get a deer one year, but he did manage to shoot his truck. Dave has since passed away, but would enjoy a retelling of his finest hunting moment.

Breaking probably two or three basic hunting safety rules, Dave put his rifle on the gun rack in the cab of his pickup and the gun fired, blasting a hole through the door of his brand new Ford 4X4. Not being the best shot in the world, those of us who have hunted with Dave remarked that if he had been shooting at his pickup on purpose, the only way he could have hit it was from the inside.

Here’s a tale about another particularly good shot. This one comes from a newspaper in Colorado Springs dated Feb. 25, 1965, about Al Rodriguez, who once operated The Centre gift shop and Park Theater in Walden.

An 800-yard shot Rodriguez was hunting with some friends from out of town, including a fellow by the name of J.B. Scott. The hunters were taking a break on the second day when one lonely deer wandered out onto a ridge across a valley.

Somebody put binoculars on it and noted that it was a buck mule deer.

The group sat around watching the deer for a while until Rodriguez picked up a scoped Model 270 Winchester and announced that he wanted to see which way the buck would jump if he put a shot near it. He took a while aiming, allowing that with that gun,

he might have to aim as much as 15 feet high, depending on the resolving power of the scope and how the rifle had been zeroed in.

Eventually, Rodriguez finished his calculations and fired. The deer reared up and took off running, but the hunters noticed the deer wasn’t running well. So the hunters went to look for it, and eventually found it dead not too far from where it had been standing on the ridge. Rodriguez had hit it in the neck with the one shot, severing its jugular vein. Scott estimated that shot was from 700 to 800 yards.

It’s one thing to make such a shot when you’re relaxed, have a gun rest and are properly prepared. I had another friend, who shall remain unnamed, who was hunting quietly along the side of a hill when nature called.

He sat down on a convenient log, performed his bodily function and was about to get up when the log rolled.

Without getting too disgusting here, he learned never to sit on the uphill side of a log when doing his duty.

And how many of us have been doing our duty, only to have our quarry, which we haven’t seen all day, suddenly come upon the scene.

This story, in Katie Follett’s own words, is an example of the adage, “It ain’t the killin’ that matters, it’s the huntin’.”

When Nature Calls “It’s 5:30, time to get up, Katie,” and thus began the first day of my very first big game hunting experience. I was so excited! We jumped in the car, and drove around looking for antelope most of the day. We saw some, but there always seemed to be other hunters around and not much of a chance to stalk them. Finally, my dad suggested we check out a small piece of BLM land in between two private ranches.

As we drove in, we immediately saw about 20 antelope crawling through the fence onto BLM land and start toward the other private property. I sat by the fence while Dad went around to try to get them to return to where I was sitting. Meanwhile, I was so nervous I had to pee, so I took off my one-piece camo outfit and orange vest, but didn’t realize the antelope were headed right toward me!

They came within 15 yards, and with my pants down, I tried to take aim, but I couldn’t see through my scope because of the sun. I aimed without the scope, and the shot went through their legs into the dirt. It was just like a nightmare. We sadly got back into the jeep; the first day of hunting was finished.

Katie’s story has a happy ending.

The following day, she and her dad went out again. This time, her pants were up, her aim was true, and she bagged her first antelope, although she adds, “I learned that hunting can’t always be about bagging an animal.

I look back on this experience, and I think of the hours I spent with my Dad and the hours spent in some truly beautiful country. The fact that we did get an antelope is icing on the cake.”

Of course, some of us get to see more of the country than others.

2017-2018 | North Park Visitors Guide

There was this fellow in 2000 who parked his pickup, got his gun and marched off into the woods. Returning several hours later, he found no pickup waiting for him. So he called the Sheriff’s Office and reported it stolen.

The deputies, having had this sort of experience before, went to the area where the man was hunting and found his pickup about three miles from where the man thought it had been.

Let’s take a break from hunting and turn to fishing. Here’s a pleasant little tale on how to catch fish without fishing. It comes from Myrtle Crouch of Kingman, Ariz.

Catching Fish Without a Reel “When I was growing up at Cowdrey, there were a lot of mouths to feed.

My mother knew how to fix fish. The boys in the family used fishing poles, hooks, lines and sinkers. But me, I used a shovel. Yes, I went fishing with a shovel.

“Some people ask me, ‘How do you fish with a shovel?’ I tell them this story. In my younger days, worms sold for $1 a can. I sold many worms. So when my stock got low, I took my shovel and went to replenish my stock.

“Usually, I met at least one fisherman fishing for rainbow trout. So we would trade fish for bait. That’s how I went fishing with a shovel in my younger years. Wish my mom was here to fry me a mess of them.”

Let’s move along to our first runner-up in the contest for the best hunting or fishing story. Most of us know some goofballs. We usually don’t hunt with them. I recall one fellow back on our farm who was worth about $1 billion and so figured he knew everything. Let’s call him Bud. Bud wakes up one morning during the opening day of deer season, puts on his L.L. Bean hunting duds, picks up his Weatherby, and saunters out the door. It’s about 7 a.m. Bud wanders up the slope, sees a friend of ours sitting in a deer stand, and yells from about 50 yards away, “How’s the hunting?”

This next story comes from the late Ron Sessions, who was one of Jackson County’s favorite citizens.

Add-dentures in Hunting It’s about Ike and Dan, a pair of cowpokes who were getting on in years.

Like most cowboys, they didn’t have a lot of love for coyotes.

Seems Ike and Dan were out on a line shed for a few weeks and were running low on meat. One of them spotted a coyote and shot it, and the other one suggested they dress it out and eat it.

“You ever had coyote?” Ike asked.

“I haven’t, no sir,” says Dan. “I haven’t neither, but the Indians used to eat dog all the time. Couldn’t be too bad,” Ike says. So they went and got the coyote, dressed it, butchered it and brought it back to the cabin. Now I mentioxaned that these two were getting on in years, and they both wore dentures. Dan had left his dentures in the truck because he had no intention of eating any coyote. It was a cold, windy, snowy night, and the two of them were inside the snug, warm cabin.

Ike cooked the coyote and started eating it. Dan was sitting across the table from him eating some sort of mush. Dan got to thinking that the coyote steak didn’t look half bad. Smelled pretty good too. Finally Dan says, “Ike, give me some of that coyote meat.” “I will,” Ike says, “But how’re you gonna eat it. Your dentures is out in the truck.”“Loan me yours,” Dan said, and Ike did.

My favorite one from last year was the hunter who was camped off the Lone Pine Road. For the uninitiated, that’s on the east side of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness.

His companions reported him lost, but he turned up the following day. In Steamboat Springs. Steamboat Springs is on the west side of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, the equivalent of a 20-mile hike across the Continental Divide, directly opposite of where the hunter was camped and the direction he should have hiked out.

That hunter was lost. This hunter was truly inept.

Was He Wearing an Arrow Shirt?

This next hunting story comes to us from Jackson County Sheriff Gary Cure with an assist from the Jackson County Search and Rescue crew. You had to know these guys would have a story. You hear a lot of stories about hunters shooting themselves. You rarely hear about a hunter shooting himself with a bow and arrow.

Sheriff Cure said the department got a report during hunting season in 1980 that a hunter had been shot with an arrow. Officers with the Sheriff’s Office, the State Patrol, the former Division of Wildlife and even departments in Wyoming responded to the scene in the northern part of Jackson County. They didn’t want someone out there hunting who was irresponsible enough to shoot at a human being at short range.

The injured hunter was about 35 years old, experienced, and had an arrow completely through his lower leg. Fortunately, it missed the bone. “Everybody was looking around the area, trying to find this bow hunter who had shot someone, when we noticed the arrow in his leg was exactly like the arrows in his quiver,” Cure recalled. “He finally admitted that he had shot himself.”

Cure said the man had spotted an elk, drawn back the arrow, but in his excitement, drew the head of the arrow behind the bow just before he let go of the bowstring. The arrow ricocheted off the bow and through the man’s leg.

“Apparently, he was just embarrassed to tell us what he’d done,” Cure said.

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

On The Hunt

Area Information: North Park borders Wyoming between the Continental Divide and Medicine Bow Mountains.

The valley floor at 8,099’ supports agriculture lands and sage.

Extensive willow stands line the streams — a favorite moose habitat, so be sure of your target. The forest surrounds the basin valley from aspen and lodgepole to spruce and fir.

The area is generally windy and colder than places in western Colorado. Prepare for snow during your hunt. Four-wheel drive is helpful, as are chains.

Over two-thirds of North Park is public land.

Mount Zirkel (west) and Never Summer (southeast) are the Wilderness Areas.

Access to State Trust Lands and Wilderness Areas is non-motorized.

Big game can move onto private lands with no public access.

There are moose in the area. Be sure of your target.

New Boundary Change! 27 - (Grand Routt & Jackson COS.) bounded on N and E by U.S. 40; on S by Colo.

9 and Colorado River: on W by Canyon Creek and Muddy Creek-Yampa River divide (Gore Range Divide).

2017-2018 | North Park Visitors Guide

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(Ice) FISHING For Dollars

By Bill Willcox North Park is largely known for its sporting activities. In outdoor magazines, we’ve all read about, or hopefully had the opportunity to experience first-hand, the friendships both formed and strengthened by the allure of the outdoors. Fishing trips with friends and family have always been a means of escape, with companionship. We occasionally liven the event with insider competition, such as making friendly bets or having payouts for first, biggest, and most. For some, a winter day in the mountains can be a venture of its own, while others want the excitement and opportunity of winning it big. Bragging rights of sorts — King for a Day, or in this case, a whole year. What if you could have it all? Association with friends, add a little risk, and mix in a fun time at a sporting event, all wrapped into one grand adventure. Like a fishing trip to a casino in Central City, but the only gamble is based on your own fishing expertise — and some luck of course. What would you call it? How about an ice-fishing contest?

Growing up as a boy in Michigan, fishing was as common as Tuesday, yet each trip was as exciting as Christmas. In the days when power augers and ice huts were more for the elite, ice fishermen were judged by the girth of their biceps, strength in their back, and quality of their ice spud. However, things have changed since those days, and modern equipment has us staying warm while cruising the ice and drilling at will. But one thing has not changed. If you want to pay a couple bucks, compete for a lot more, and have a good time doing it, you can always find an ice-fishing contest going on somewhere.

That was a lifetime ago, and after moving to Colorado in the early 80s, ice-fishing skills perfected, I found myself a beginner in unfamiliar territory. Trout, trout everywhere. Sure, I had fished for trout before, usually spooking the entire pool in some stream while swatting at mosquitoes prior to getting a line wet. But through the ice? Never!

Well, curiosity got the best of me. Sure, there were some lakes here in Colorado where we could catch walleye and perch, nearer to my experience level. Nevertheless, these trout were intriguing. I fished for these motivating creatures up and down the Front Range, both winter and summer, for several years. Leaping up the scale from beginner to novice, I was ready to broaden my horizons. I was longing to do more ice fishing. There were some years in the flatlands when you could only walk on water a month, if that long, due to unsafe ice. Besides, most of the trout I caught were less than a year old, and a 2-yearold, 15-incher was considered a trophy in my book. Those lower elevation lakes just weren’t cutting it. Than I heard there was a place that held trout the size of tuna, and this place was familiar. But wait, this place was familiar. It was the land of the elk and the deer that I pursued each fall. And this same location had the trout that I treasured? With ice-fishing contests? I must have died and gone to North Park!

North Park has held at least one annual icefishing contest since 1986. When things began, as it still is today, it was an affair sponsored by the North Park Chamber of Commerce and local participating businesses. As you may also realize, the number of volunteers needed to help

run such an undertaking is impressive to say the Photo Courtesy John Lake Resort least. Some locals would even open up unoccupied sleeping quarters in their homes to give contestants a place to stay. With over 700 participants in the first annual, and nowhere near that many motel rooms, believe me when I say the hospitality was well appreciated.

Contrary to the belief that the scoring change was made because contestants might be tempted to cheat by increasing the weight with pebbles and sinkers shoved down the fish’s throat, the actual reason for the adjustment was that the scales would get wet and freeze up, rendering them inaccurate. When that happened, participants would have to take their fish to town and weigh them at the grocery store.

Lakes that were included in the single yearly event were all three Delaney Butte lakes, Lake John and usually Cowdrey Lake. In 2002 they separated the fly-and-lure Delaney lakes contest, which is currently held in February, from mid - January’s Lake John / Cowdrey Lake contest, where bait is allowed. Since the split, North Park has been sponsoring two ice-fishing contests per annum. The only cancellation in the history of Local Jim Knoll took home top honors with this these sporting events was in 2008, when the Del- rainbow lunker. aney Butte Lakes contest had to be called off due services, all with an exceptional staff to help to horrific weather. with every need, each within close proximity; our The fish continue to get larger each year. The Chamber of Commerce has easy pre-registration earliest existing records only go three places and by mail, with early and late local hours for walkshow the winning fish from 1986 weighed 2.75 lbs ins; county-cleared roads and no-fee parking and came from North Delaney. Second place was areas for easy access around lakes; picturesque from South Delaney and weighed in at 2.66 lbs., views in a mountainous setting; measuring stawhile third place was a 2.33-pounder from Lake tions carefully located close by for less time away John. Recent records demonstrate that fish being from the fishing action; substantial prize money measured with the length plus girth method payouts and generous hourly winnings; and a break the 40-inch mark, in either contest. This sizeable raffle with significant gifts and door equates to monsters in the 6- to 8-pound range. prizes. And all for a modest entry fee. You get North Park is a touch more accommodating North Park hospitality — with nearly 25 years of to the individual angler – with all the features of ice-fishing contest experience you just won’t find the “big guys” and none of the hassles. In North anywhere else. The ultimate expression of apprePark, you can expect: full accommodations and ciation that we receive is your repeat attendance.

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

303 5th Street Affordable North Park Getaway! This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home is close to all North Park has to offer!

Nice mountain views! Economical heating with the wood stove and a new forced-air furnace. $91,000

170 JCR 27~Rand Nice open concept with this 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom home located on 3 acres in Rand. Built in 2003 this home is nearly new and in excellent condition! Plenty of room to build a large shop/garage or barn! Awesome views in every direction! $227,500

1019 5th Street This 2-bedroom/1-bath home is located just outside of the town limits! Plenty of room for a garage or storage shed!

Great starter home or income-producing property! New steel roof in 2015. New interior paint & carpet! $76,000

Custom-Built Home on 11.4± Acres You are sure to appreciate the beauty inside & out of this newly constructed home.

Nestled just outside of Kings Canyon, this 4-bedroom/2-bath home is both rustic and elegant! Call for a full list of details! $547,000

45 Deer Court Located on 1.51 acres, this 3-bedroom/2-bath home has been incredibly well maintained! New, large family room with vaulted ceilings! Nice, large openconcept kitchen with bonus pantry! All new carpet and tile! Finished attached 2-car garage! $272,000

476 Main Street 2,900 sq.ft. commercial building located right in the heart of Main Street.

Ideal opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors. Structure includes a nicely updated separate office area and large showroom/retail area with an expansive storage/staging area in the back of the building. $115,000

432 LaFever This historic 3-bedroom/2-bath home is a rare find! Enjoy the sunshine in the large south-facing family room complete with a large wood stove and beautiful wood floors! With five town lots, a 2-car garage, two outbuildings and a treehouse...this house is a great home and a steal at $157,900

284 Main Street So much potential and so much space in this home! 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms all situated on 3 town lots. This home has an open-concept style with vaulted ceilings. Plenty of room for shop/garage behind the house.

Priced to sell quickly! $79,800

560 Garfield Great first-time home or get-away second! Hike, hunt, fish minutes from your front door! Enjoy the rock fireplace with insert, glassed-front porch, mature yard and country charm. Hardwood floors, hobby space, elevated ceilings, covered patio. Nice updated bath, built-ins, ceiling fan. 1.5-car garage and storage space. $120,000

432 Logan Street The gourmet kitchen was custom-designed and perfect for entertaining family and friends! Nice open-concept design keeps the family engaged. You are sure to appreciate the spacious master suite that has a huge walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom! Plenty of storage options with the two-car, attached garage and the one-car detached garage. $237,000

222 Coyote Drive Incredible 3-bedroom/2-bath ranch home on one acre in Eagles Watch subdivision. Nice neighborhood! Amazing views! Huge living room and open-concept kitchen. Beautiful sunroom offers additional living space that could be used for a dining room, office, play room, etc. $209,000

321 Logan Street Fantastic custom home built in 2006 and situated on 4 town lots! Easy living with this open-concept design; all necessities are located on the main level. This home is in perfect condition and ready for immediate occupancy! Many possible options with the partially finished basement. Plant the garden you have always dreamed of in the large, fully fenced yard! $231,000

472 & 480 Garfield Street Take a look at this great deal! Buy one house...get one free! This property has over 3 town lots, a 2-bedroom/1-bath home and an additional 1-bedroom/1-bath home! Great investment property with many possible options. $91,500

344 LaFever This 3-bedroom/2-bath home is super cute! New windows, master suite and blue-stain pine accents are a few of the features that make this home so charming! Large detached shed/workshop could have lots of possible uses!

Plenty of room to build your own custom garage or shop! $140,000

716 5th Street You’re sure to fall in love with this 4-bedroom/1.75-bath home which has recently been renovated! Beautiful hardwood flooring & new carpet! Nice, large corner location with mature landscaping! Large detached 2-car garage! $162,000

475 Main Street Let your imagination run free with this commercial opportunity on Maint St. With over 2,500 sq. ft. this location has endless possibilities ~ restaurant, retail shop, office space, etc.! With the fully furnished apartment, you can easily add extra income to your business venture! $189,000

572 McKinley Street This 4-bedroom/1-bath home is a steal! Completely renovated and ready to go! New kitchen, new bathroom, flooring, vinyl siding & new paint – inside and out! The metal roof and furnace have also been replaced within the last 5 years! $97,500

521 5th Street Previously known as the “old” medical clinic, this commercial building could have many possible uses! Would make a great coffee shop, office building, gift shop, etc.! $65,000

652 Washington Street

This charming 3 bedroom / 2 bath home is located right on the eastedge of Walden! Large open kitchen / living room with wood flooring and an island. Nice fenced yard and detached garage. $135,000

3400 Highway 127 Amazing location with this 2-bedroom/1-bath cabin in Kings Canyon! Enjoy sitting on your back porch listening to the creek! Lots of outbuildings and a detached 2-car garage! Easy access off 127 – would make a great weekend getaway or full-time residence! $227,000

Vacant Land 80 acres located west of Walden off state Highway 14. Minutes to town and 360-degree views! $158,000

For more information, please contact

The Old Homestead Amazing potential awaits you at this 104-acre parcel known as The Old Homestead This property features historic lodge with full kitchen & bar, Managers home 13 cabins, Shower house, & RV Hookups - Call for more info! $993,000

Jaime Sessions 970-420-7892

www.waldenrealestate.net ~Service With Sincerity~

2017-2018 | North Park Visitors Guide

You’re in Moose Country

With the state’s largest herd of Shiras moose, numbering between 500 and 600, Walden has the official title of “Moose Viewing Capital of Colorado.” Jackson County’s herd began with the translocation of 12 Wyoming moose here more than 30 years ago.

Moose viewing is one of the main draws for visitors to North Park. They are exciting to view because, unlike elk, deer, antelope and other big-game species, moose often will stand and pose for photos and watching. Some of the better areas in North Park for moose viewing include the State Forest State Park, where it is not uncommon to see moose visiting the Moose Visitor Center. Also observe moose near Colorado Highway 14 from approximately mile marker 40 to Cameron Pass; the South fork of the Michigan River; Arapahoe National Wildlife Refuge; Snyder Creek and Willow Creek on both sides of Colorado Highway 125; and the Illinois River southeast of Rand and Jack Creek.

Follow these tips for increasing your chance of viewing moose: • Early morning and early evening are the best times to spot moose, but it’s possible to see moose any time of day.

• Look for moose among the willows and brush along streams and ponds.

Moose can blend with their surroundings surprisingly well. You may be looking at a moose without knowing it. Scan the willows for out-of-place shapes, colors and sounds. Or look for motion, like the flick of an ear, the bobbing of antlers or the rustling of willow branches.

• You may see evidence of moose on the trails. Their large, two-toed hooves are about six inches long, and their scat is approximately one inch long. Moose leave a larger hoof print than deer and elk, making it easier to distinguish one from the other. They sometimes leave scrapings on aspen bark with their front teeth or antlers.

• It is advisable to admire and watch moose from a distance. Moose are peaceful animals, but may feel threatened if approached too closely. They can act aggressively and charge if they sense a need to defend themselves or their young. Moose can be especially dangerous during the rut (fall) and calving (spring) seasons. If a dog or other pet accompanies you, please keep it on a leash to avoid any unwanted confrontations. Many harmful confrontations with moose occur as the pet owner chases the pet into the path of a surprised moose.

Rule of thumb: if they are watching you, you are too close.

Don’t miss the opportunity to stop at the Moose Visitor Center in Gould.

There are several interesting interpretive displays including a full-grown moose display, as well as an outstanding Rocky Mountain Nature Association store. The center carries a nice selection of books, maps, postcards and clothing. The facility is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Footnotes: 1,2,3 Deb McLachlan, Colorado State Forest State Park

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

Piled Higher & Deeper

By Jim Dustin Walden is gaining as a center for winter snowmobiling, if for no other reason, it’s in close proximity to the outrageous terrain of Rabbit Ears Pass.

Rabbit Ears features thousands of acres of snowmobile terrain that includes groomed trails, open meadows and guided tours. Snow piled up as deep as ten feet on the Pass some winters and is accessible later than most other areas in Colorado. The views from anywhere atop the trails astonish even the locals.

The parking areas along eastbound Colorado Highway 40 out of Steamboat Springs that offer access to Rabbit Ears are usually busy all winter, and can be packed on weekends. But savvy snowmobilers know of a better access to Rabbit Ears – from the Walden side at the end of Jackson County Road 24 at what was once the U.S. Forest Service’s Grizzly Creek Campground. There is a parking lot there that is rarely full. Occasionally, however, Jackson County Road 24 can be closed by blizzards, as it was last winter.

If that’s the case, and you’re in Walden, where do you go now?

Head northwest toward Big Creek lakes. There are miles of ungroomed trails up that way and some truly challenging terrain. Because the road leading to Big Creek lakes often is not plowed in the winter, accessing that area requires a snowmobile ride of 10-15 miles before you get to the really good stuff.

That’s a bit of a commitment, but can be worth the challenge. Seems like the better the snow for snowmobiling, the tougher the access.

Or, you can go south to Gould (near the base of Cameron Pass) and connect with 81 miles of groomed trails and probably the most challenging

mountain terrain in the county, including “Roll, Jim, Roll! Hill.” CDOT willing, this area is always accessible off Highway 14 between Fort Collins and Walden. It has an advantage over Rabbit Ears because it has amenities; cabins and gas at North Park Campground, and cabins and some services at Powderhorn Cabins.

The last possibility is to go north from Walden about 20 miles on Highway 125/127, and just over the Wyoming border into the Snowy Range network.

This is one of the premier areas for snowmobiling in the nation. It has 225 miles of groomed trails winding through the Snowy Range from the WyColo Lodge in the south to Arlington, Wyo., in the north, from Centennial on the east to near Saratoga in the west.

There are meadows galore and from 2,000 to 3,000 miles of ungroomed trails.

If that sounds like an exaggeration (the official number is 114 miles of ungroomed trails), the number comes from Ray Duvall, now owner of the Albany Lodge. For many years, Duvall groomed these trails under contract with the State of Wyoming. I asked him if that was an eight-hours-per-day, five-day-a-week job.

“No, it was more like 14 hours per day, six days a week,” he said. Duvall said on top of the miles upon miles of trails, there were perhaps 1,000 acres of meadows.

Harry Corkle Construction Custom Homes Remodelng Excavation Road Work Gravel Sales

Harry Corkle Construction Office...970-723-4676 • Cell...970-217-6534 P.O. Box 306 34612 Hwy. 14 • Walden, CO 80480

The area is approximately 800 square miles, and the trail system map admonishes riders to “watch your fuel level” because you can literally ride too far from services.

But before that happens, check your gauge, and then check-in at the Albany Lodge. Duvall’s Albany Lodge sits on the eastern edge and is accessible from Highway 11 (which connects to Highway 130 out of Laramie, if you’re starting from the north). Albany Lodge has a full-service restaurant and bar, cabins, fuel, and 50 snowmobiles for rent. It’s a summer destination too, with mountain bikes and ATVs for rent.

A 60-mile Tour

2017-2018 | North Park Visitors Guide

from Page 12 But we’re coming from Walden, to the south, so we’ll start out at WyColo Lodge, a restaurant and bar. There is ample parking in the area for any size outfit. There is a big parking lot south of WyColo Lodge, and another big lot - Tic’s Parking - about a mile to the north along the highway.

We parked at Tic’s, sharing the parking lot with exactly two other rigs. One thing about Snowy Range riding - the maps are excellent, and the trails are extremely well marked. The trail system is loops connected to loops connected to loops. We started out on Trail T. Grooming had ceased for the year, but the trails were still in great shape. A rank beginner could handle these trails.

In the spring, you can ride many miles of trail even with a low skill level because the snow flattens and hardens.

That is not to say you can be careless.

We saw tracks leading out across Rob Roy Reservoir, which is always risky travel in the spring. I think it’s risky travel anytime because some of these reservoirs are drawn down in the winter, leaving chasms below the ice - certain death if you bust through.

Starting at Tic’s, we had no trouble following Trail T. It winds through the woods, down some creek ravines, past abandoned log cabins heavy with snow, and into a little group of buildings called Keystone. Someone has dressed this place up to look like an Old West stage stop. It’s a fun place to stop for a break.

From there, the trail continues to Rob Roy Reservoir, a large impound-

ment mostly surrounded by national forest and some private property. After about 30 miles of trail, Trail T heads due north, and Trail Q branches off to Albany Lodge. If you stay on T, it will take you to more lodges in the Centennial area.

Now, this is my kind of snowmobile adventure. I go out with some of the hot shots of North Park, some of the best riders in Colorado. I usually wreck my sled when I ride with them. Duvall used to ride with them, but we all get old. The Snowy Range trails can be challenging if you get off the groomed routes. Or, you can stay on the groomed routes and travel from lodge to lodge (or bar to bar, if that’s your nature).

From Tic’s Parking to Albany Lodge is about 40 miles. And there are some grand sightseeing turnoffs. About two miles from Rob Roy, there’s a half-mile, fairly easy uphill turnoff to a ranger tower on the top of Spruce Mountain.

We were in the midst of a snow squall when we got there, so I couldn’t tell you what you can see from the top, but I bet

it’s a lot.

Who Pays For This?

We got to Albany Lodge, had lunch, a couple of beverages, and talked to Duvall. If you’re just a casual snowmobiler, you may not know how these trail systems got built and are maintained. You may think it’s your tax dollars at work. Not so. “Not one penny of tax dollars goes into grooming these trails,” Duvall said. Maintenance is funded through snowmobile registration fees.

All snow machines in Colorado and Wyoming have to be registered. Those fees go into a fund that the states use to maintain the trails. In Wyoming, Duvall owned the equipment and worked under contract with the state.

In Colorado, it is frequently snowmobile clubs that take on that responsibility. In Jackson County, the North Park Snowsnakes groom those 81 miles of trails around Gould.

The fees are reasonable, about $30$35 per machine per year in Colorado and Wyoming, respectively.

11

As an aside, this isn’t usually a problem. In Wyoming, you can buy a registration sticker at any of the lodges, snowmobile dealers in Laramie and other outlets. You stick it on your snow machine hood, and that’s that. But when I rolled my machine down a cliff, the fiberglass hood disintegrated. One chunk of wreckage that I found had my registration sticker on it, so I carried that around in the storage compartment for the rest of the season.

Anyway, we had lunch at Albany Lodge. As is the case throughout the Snowy Range, these trail loops interlock with one another, and if you’re like me, you don’t like to go home over the same route you used going in. And you don’t have to. You can take other trails back, or you can go farther and higher into the Snowy Range, stay at a lodge overnight, and return the following day. Warm up and relax at the Lodge while preparing your adventure for the next day.

We took a shortcut back to a trail that led us, with a little bushwhacking, back to Tic’s Parking well before dark. So we took off at the crack of 10:30 a.m., rode 40 miles, played in some meadows along the way, drove up Spruce Mountain, ate lunch at Albany, came back 25 miles to Tic’s Parking and were in Walden in the late afternoon.

If you’re interested in snowmobiling in this area, you should get the Southeast Wyoming Snowmobile Trails Map. All the lodges have them. Wyoming tourism information is 307-777-7777.

Albany Lodge is 307-745-5782.

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

Campgrounds / RV

CABINS

MOTELS

North Park Campground 53337 Hwy 14, Walden (970)723-4310 www.NorthParkRV.com

Clark Peak Cabins 55278 Hwy 14, Gould (970)723-8300 www.ClarkPeakCabins.com

Antlers Inn & Majestic Suites 460 Main St, Walden (970)723-8690, 723-4670 www.WaldenAntlersInn.com

Granite Corner RV Park 580 G St, Walden (970)723-4628

Lake John Resort 2521 JCR 7A, Walden (970)723-3226 www.lakejohnresort.com

Lake John Resort 2521 JCR 7A, Walden (970)723-3226 www.lakejohnresort.com Never Summer Nordic 247 JCR 41, Gould (970)723-4070 (719)440-1508 www.NeverSummerNordic.com

Powderhorn Cabins JCR 21, Gould (970)723-4204 www.GouldColorado.com Red Feather Guides & Outfitters Hwy 14, Gould (970)723-4204 www.RedFeatherGuides.com The Cabins Gift Shops 55862 Hwy 14, Gould (970)723-3750

Chedsey Motel 537 Main St, Walden (970)723-8201 www.ChedseyMotel.com North Park Inn & Suites 625 Main St, Walden (970)723-4271 www.NorthParkInnandSuites.com Roundup Motel 365 Main St., Walden (970)723-4680 Westside Motel 445 LaFever St, Walden (970)723-8589

Whistling Elk Ranch 4164 JCR 27, Rand (970)723-3284 www.WhistlingElk.com Buffalo Creek Ranch 2320 JCR 28A, Rand (970)723-4045 www.BuffaloCreek.com Colorado Elk Outfitters 10523 Hwy 125, Rand Cowdrey Trout Camp 41489 Hwy 125, Cowdrey Hugh Olney 476 Washington St, Walden

Ivory & Antlers Outfitters 7631 Hwy 125, Rand Red Feather Guides & Outfitters Hwy 14, Gould (970)723-4204 www.RedFeatherGuides.com Spur Outfitters 967 JCR 29, Walden (307)327-6505

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ST RANCH/HOME

ffalo Creek Ranch 320 JCR 28A, Rand (970)723-4045 ww.BuffaloCreek.com

ortsman's Retreat 6 McKinley St, Walden (970)723-4216 .NorthParkAnglers.com

The Rock House 3 LaFever St, Walden 0)723-4736, 819-1523 .waldenrockhouse.com

agle's Wing Ranch 42 JCR 24, Coalmont VRBO #676148 www.vrbo.com

Use these convenient maps to locate all of the fine properties to stay the night (or the week!) in North Park. The area can accommodate your needs whether you choose to take in nature’s finest and camp under the stars, prefer the four walls of a remote cabin, or enjoy Wi-Fi, satellite TV, and clean towels in a Walden motel. Regardless of your tastes, during peak weekends reservations are recommended, occasionally months in advance. So plan early and come back often!

• All of our motels are in Walden and may be found on the Walden map • Campgrounds/RV, cabins and guest ranches/ homes may be found on the Jackson County map or the Walden map • Guides & outfitters service Game Management Units 6, 16, 17, 161 and 171 throughout North Park (Jackson County). Please contact them individually for specific units and services.

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

North Park: A Mecca for Writers History, science fiction, memoirs, politics, country humor, cookbooks, child development, novels—whatever kind of book you might be looking for, North Park authors have written it.

Following is a brief description of the books by North Park authors.

Timber Times & Tales

by Earlene Belew Bradley.

Stories from the Gould area during the logging days of the 40s and 50s.

No Humans Were Hurt and Other Stories from The Jackson County Star Police Report

by Jim Dustin Jim Dustin was the awardwinning publisher/editor Of The Jackson County Star for 15 years. His police report in the newspaper was the first item everyone turned to because of his humor and unique outlook. In this book he compiled eight years of the best of the police report.

Dog Tales

by Jim Dustin A collection of short stories about dogs, some a bit science fiction, some just tales that will bring a tear to your eye.

How Frank the Dog Saved the World

by Jim Dustin This is a story about how the human race in the near future might face extinction—execution, actually—because of their behavior toward animals in general and one dog in particular. It mixes science fiction, politics and philosophy and is a smashing good read.

North Park

by Hazel Gresham The definitive history of North Park up to 1975.

Ranch Hands, Rhubarb and Radishes

by Mardie Hanson Cebe and Mardie Hanson spent more than 20 years running the Big Horn Ranch. Mardie spent a lot of time cooking for the ranch hands, when she couldn’t find a cook to hire. These are tales of what life was like on the ranch and of some of the ranch hands that crossed her path, along with recipes for meals she cooked for them.

Gentle Path

by Martha (Mardie) Hanson In 1848 a young woman desperate to escape her murdered father’s enemies joins a wagon train bound for the Oregon Territory. An entertaining tale of perilous hardships and found courage.

Feeding the Flock

by United Methodist Women Wonderful recipes from the women of North Park.

Spicer Club Cookbook

If you wonder what the women of North Park feed

their families and serve to their guests, wonder no more. This beautifully done cookbook is full of the best recipes in the county.

Whiff of Sage and Second Opinion

by Oley Kohlman These two books are based on Oley’s longrunning column in The Jackson County Star.

Moonshiners, Bootleggers, and Some Prohibition

by Oley Kohlman The days of prohibition, as seen through the eyes of North Parkers and residents of the High Plains between Greeley and Cheyenne.

Uphill with the Ski Troops

by Oley Kohlman Oley’s recollections of the years he spent in the Army as part of the 10th Mountain Division.

Logging the Rockies

by Pat Langendorf The history of the Langendorf family and their years logging in the North Park area.

Child Protective Services Survival Manual for Parents

by Carolyn Lewis The author writes: “I want to educate those parents whose greatest desire is to love and properly care for their children but want to avoid run-ins with CPS because of a silly error or misunderstanding. This can happen to any parent.”

View from the Folding Chairs

by Michala Miller Mickey Miller’s childhood memories from her home in the north end of the Park.

Westward in a Trunk

by Michala Miller A true story about a doll who headed to Colorado with her long-time owner. Both had already been through many adventures, but there were many more to come.

Where the Rockies Ride Herd

by Stephen Payne Payne’s classic tale of what life was like in the early years of the 20th century on a remote ranch in North Park.

Colorado’s North Park: History, Wildlife and Ranching

by Paul Richard Paul Richard’s great-grandparents settled in North Park in 1886. This book describes the history and geography of the Park and tells what it was like for his great-grandparents in those early days, and what the Park is like now.

Growing Up Wild

by Paul Richard Paul’s memories of growing up on the Two Bar Ranch at the north edge of Walden.

Smokey, A Dog of My Own

by Paul Richard This is a beautiful love story of a brave, faithful dog and his adventurous young companion growing up in the 1950s on a beautiful ranch high in the Colorado Rockies. Richard makes the land and its creatures come alive with his keen observations. No surprise that he became a biology professor when he grew up.

Exploring the Galapagos Islands

by Paul Richard A book for middle-schoolers about a young South American finch who becomes cast out to sea and ends up exploring the Galapagos Islands. It’s an exciting trip with feathered adventurers investigating many secrets of nature on unique enchanted islands with weird animal life far out in the Pacific Ocean. A great way for youngsters to gain knowledge of the world while being entertained.

Departure of the Cliff Dwellers

by Paul Richard If you have ever wondered what happened to the Anasazi people of Mesa Verde, wonder no more. This beautiful tale of the lives of two Anasazi children gives a clear picture of the ancients who lived in and then abandoned those places. As you read this, you will come to feel the reality of what life must have been like for those cliff-dwelling people.

Roy Romer is Alive and Well and Living in California

by Helen Williams Stories about Colorado’s last three-term governor by his colleagues and staff. These stories reveal the real Roy Romer, in all his complexity and political brilliance.

Sing to Me in Spanish

by Helen Williams A memoir about a year spent teaching in a Mexican orphanage. The experience changed the author’s life, while letters from the children in Spanish and English express what it meant to them.

These books are available at www.waldenpress. com. Some of them are also for sale at the North Park Pioneer Museum in Walden, at the Rand Store, and at the Moose Visitor Center. Or, if you want personal delivery in Walden, call Helen at 970-723-8639.

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NORTH PARK Willow • Lazy One Lake Shirts • Jan Sport

FULL-LINE GROCERY STORE • Hunting & Fishing Licenses • Big Game Cold Storage • Fresh–Cut Meat • Sporting Goods • Gift Shop • Clothing • Bakery • Lotto 1 mile North of Walden on Highway 125 970-723-8211

The North Park Arts Council Celebrating North Park Arts •The Sky’s The Limit Hot Air Balloon Rally Second Weekend in August

Hours vary seasonally–closed Sat. Please call for current hours Day Fees: Public Showers $10 ������ ������� ��� Adults...$4 (includes ��������� �������linens, ���� soap, shampoo/ Ages 55+...$3.50�������������������� conditioner) Ages 3-17...$3 Ages 2 & under...Free w/paid adult

• Open Swim • Fitness Equipment • Hot Showers • Water Aerobics

•The Never Summer Quilt Show •Harvest Craft Festival •Supporting The North Park Music Program •Supporting The North Park Arts Program

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

PIONEER Museum What you see on the outside of this 1880s log cabin is not what you will experience on the inside. When you step inside, the world of homesteading and ranching in the 1800s will open its arms and invite you in. Everything in the museum was owned, used, and loved by the families who settled the area for agriculture and towns in the counties. Every item is original and helped make life easier in this rugged country of North Park.

The museum consists of 27 rooms that are themed. Enjoy reminiscing about the kitchen with its old wood cook stove, the parlor with the old piano and sheet music, as well as the garments from the mid1800s to the 1960s. There is something for every interest, including the refurbished doctor’s buggy from Pearl. The museum also offers a library where genealogy can be pursued, delving into local history for Teller City, Pearl, Rand, Gould, Sage Hen, and Walden, cities that still exist and some that are now only a wistful memory.

When you enter the front door, you will realize you haven’t given yourself enough time to really see what’s inside. Come visit The Best Little Museum in the West. There will be a knowledgeable host or hostess in the museum to answer questions, but the viewing is at your leisure. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through the summer months from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. If Wednesday is more convenient for a group to view the museum, please call Rick (970-723-7505), Carolyn (970-723-8228, or Verna (970-723-4692) and make an appointment.

North Park Pioneer Museum operates solely on the generosity of its customers.

There is no entry fee but donations are greatly appreciated. The museum is open from May 30 until September 29 this year.

2017-2018 | North Park Visitors Guide

17

THE START OF SOMETHING BIG

By Helen Williams There is something magical about the spot where a great river begins. Not far from Walden you can stand on a hillside and look down on the rising of the North Platte River. People living in New Orleans on the banks of the Mississippi are, if they only knew it, seeing water from Jackson County, Colorado, flow by their doorsteps.

When Lieutenant John F. Fremont’s expedition came into North Park in 1844, he wrote: “The valley narrowed as we ascended and presently divided into a gorge, through which the river passed as through a gate—a beautiful circular valley of 30 miles in diameter, walled in all around with snowy mountains, rich with water and grass, fringed with pine on the mountain sides below the snow, and a paradise to all grazing animals.”

The North Platte River begins about ten miles southwest of Walden, where the Big and Little Grizzlies join. As it flows north from its humble beginning, the Roaring Fork joins it and then the North Fork of the North Platte. On the east side of the park, the Illinois and the Michigan, which join at Walden and become the Michigan, join the Platte just north of Cowdrey. A short distance below that the Canadian River joins it, and then Pinkham Creek. From there it flows into Wyoming through Northgate Canyon—the “gate” that Fremont described—and crosses the state line into Wyoming south of Saratoga. The Laramie River joins the North Platte northeast of Wheatland. At North Platte, Nebraska, it joins with the South Platte to become the Platte River. The Platte joins the Missouri River at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, and the Missouri joins the Mississippi north of St. Louis, Missouri.

The waters of the North Platte Basin are crucial to the economic health of Jackson County.

Ranchers use it to grow hay and raise cattle; the tourist industry uses it to attract visitors who come to fish in its streams, rivers and lakes. A 2008 report by Colorado Parks and Wildlife attributes more than 12 percent of all local jobs to hunting and fishing activities in North Park.

The waters that flow through Northgate Canyon have been designated a Gold Medal fishery, shared with whitewater rafters and kayakers.

North Park also has abundant wetland areas.

In 2010, researchers with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program identified more than 600 species of plants in a sampling of 100 wetland sites, more than 20 percent of the plant species that exist in the entire state.

Water in the North Platte basin and other high mountain valleys flows over state lines in every direction, “the water towers for much of the western United States.” It is managed to meet the needs of both people and the environment—human usage (electricity being one of the major components), crops, livestock, wildlife, and recreation—and its usage is strictly controlled by the Constitutions of Colorado and other states and U.S. Supreme Court decrees.

A 1994 report by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District describes the pre-development Platte River as “wild, unpredictable, unreliable, and untamed. It had too much water, not enough, or none. It was virtually useless as a means of transportation; it supported no fishery; it was unreliable as a drink-

ing water source; it was unreliable as a source of water for agriculture and it was destructive at flood stage, regularly ravaging a wide and ever shifting floodplain.”

The North Platte Project of the Bureau of Reclamation changed all that. The Pathfinder Dam, cornerstone of the project and named after the early explorer, John C. Fremont, was completed in 1908. Other dams and canals followed and now the North Platte Project extends 111 miles along the North Platte River Valley from Guernsey, Wyoming to Bridgeport, Nebraska.

Today the Platte River—created from the waters of the North Platte Basin in Jackson County, its tributaries, and the other rivers that join it along its torturous route—provides several million people in a three-state area with drinking water, an agricultural economy, outstanding recreational opportunities, and vast wildlife habitat.

The histories of the planet are written in water, that most precious and crucial of all the planet’s resources, as is the future.

“North Park also has abundant wetland areas. In 2010, researchers with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program identified more than 600 species of plants in a sampling of 100 wetland sites, more than 20 percent of the plant species that exist in the entire state.”

Including its many meanders, the North Platte River flows over 700 miles to Nebraska where it marries the South Platte River and becomes the Platte River. The river ultimately empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

Hike to a Jewel of A Lake

By Jim Dustin Among the wealth of exercise advice out there is one that suggests if you undertake an activity that will raise your heart rate to 120 beats per minute and continue that for a half hour, and do that three times a week, that is sufficient to maintain cardiovascular health. With the right diet, you should also lose weight.

Distance runners, of course, do this with regularity. But what about us old duffers whose hips and knees will not support a running regimen?

As one of those fellows whose doctor has told him to stop running, I recommend the day hike.

A day hike doesn’t really take all day if you live in North Park. A 20-minute drive from Walden in any direction will take you to 100 paths that lead up the sides of mountains - safe, well-maintained and well-traveled paths.

One ideal hike is the trail to Jewel Lake in the Colorado State Forest.

The State Forest is a 72,000-acre swath that cuts across the eastern part of Jackson County. The State Forest is contained within the Colorado State Forest State Park, and the Park attracts about 200,000 visitors a year.

Because it is a State Park, it has some drawbacks from my standpoint - too many rules. One of those rules is you have to keep your dog on a leash.

If your dog is anything like my dog, she would prefer to run free while you climb. There are drawbacks to this too. In the Colorado State Forest, your dog might well encounter a mountain lion, a bear, coyote or badger. A domestic dog is no match for any of these animals. The farther south you go into the Colorado State Forest from Highway 14, the more likely you are to run into these animals and other wilderness dangers, all without the availability of emergency cell phone service.

The Colorado State Forest sits atop a mountain range that stretches south from Wyoming and connects with the Continental Divide.

If you like climbing mountains, but don’t like that part where you hang from ropes over vertical drops, this is the place for you. A two-hour climb can take you to the top of a mountain ridge that rises in easy stages to the 12,951-foot Clark Peak, Rawah Peak, or several other high points along the ridge from which you can see all of North Park stretching out below you.

If you know what you’re doing and where you are going, your day hike could take you up and over the ridge and down into the Rawah Wilderness, and from there you can pick up a wilderness trail and take a downhill hike to the Laramie River Valley. At that point, you’d want a car to take you back around to the

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But we’re talking middle-age man, cardiovascular afternoon exercise here. The hike to Jewel Lake is a perfect introduction to the exercise. The drive from Gould to the trailhead is a beautiful one, by the way. Not only is the scenery terrific, it is one of the prime moose viewing areas in the state. Keep yours eyes on the willows, the primary habitat and source of food for moose.

If you start your hike at the 2-WD

parking area, you’ll be hiking about two miles. If you hike at my rate of between one and two miles per hour, you’ll more than achieve your cardiovascular goal.

The beauty of the trail is not only is it well marked and safe, it climbs constantly. You’re not going to lose your 120-beat threshold by having to go down and then up again. Depending on where you start your hike, you will gain 1,000 to 1,500 feet in altitude. Jewel Lake sits at over 11,000

Bobby Magill

The reward for the gain in elevation of between 1,000 and 1,500 feet is this stunning view of Jewel Lake in the Colorado State Forest.

2017-2018 | North Park Visitors Guide

from Page 18 feet above sea level. It is one of the sources of the Canadian River that flows northwards until it joins the North Platte River in north-central Jackson County.

What I like about hikes like this one is that you get your exercise in first when you’re fresh. When you get to Jewel Lake, you’re done. You can sit there at a pristine little mountain tarn (and there are fish in the lake), eat your lunch, think about life, then hike back to your car - it’s downhill all the way.

If you’re more ambitious, you can follow a branch trail up onto the mountain ridge separating Jackson and Larimer counties. Or you can take a branch trail north to Kelly Lake, camp overnight, and come back the next day.

One caution, though. Before you embark on high altitude climbing, you should either know you can do it without a day or so of acclimatization, or check with your doctor. One of the No. 1 causes of vacation interuptus in the high country is at the least, rapid heart rate and shortness of breath, or at the worst, altitude sickness with possible fatal consequences.

And all mountain hike writers are required to say this: be prepared for bad weather. I always carry enough equipment that I can stay out overnight: a poncho, matches, fire-starter sticks, extra shirt, energy bars, gloves, towel, knife and a warm dog. You can put all of this (except the dog) in a utility belt or small backpack. Also, the sun is intense up here.

If you’re coming from St. Louis, you have approximately two fewer miles of atmosphere to protect you from ultraviolet radiation, so - sunscreen and hats.

To get there: From Gould (on Colorado 14 west of Cameron pass), go to the North Park Campground two miles north. Turn west (right) onto Jackson County Road 41. There is a fee here to enter the State Forest.

Follow the curved road past the North Michigan Reservoir and Dam. Go past the Bockman Camp turnoff (3.5 miles from North Park Campground) and continue another 1.6 miles. Here, turn west (right) onto a smaller dirt road that is signed for, “Jewel Lake”. Continue for 1.0 miles until you reach a parking lot on the road’s north (left) side. I would suggest starting your hike, here unless you have a very good four-wheel drive vehicle or an ATV. The elevation is 9,560 feet at the trailhead.

Granite Corner RV Park 580 G Street, Walden, Colorado

 Small, friendly park  Quiet setting  Full hookups  Close to town  Pull-through units  Mountain views

970-723-4628

The Jewel Lake (aka Ruby Jewel Lake) trail leads east and north to the lake at 11,270, well above timberline in these parts. The summit in view here is the first summit south of Clark Peak along the south ridge.

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

EVENTS JANUARY First-Day Hike | January 1, 2018 Every state park in Colorado hosts a first-day hike to get people outdoors. We will gather at the Moose Visitor Center for the first hike of the new year! Contact Colorado State Forest State Park at (970) 723-8366.

LAKE JOHN AND COWDREY LAKE ICE FISHING CONTEST | JAN. 6 & 7, 2018 This event offers generous cash prizes for overall and hourly winners. If you don’t win a cash prize, you can still win merchandise or apparel at the Payoff Party after the contest. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Lake John Resort and other area businesses.

Additional information and registration forms are available from the Chamber, P.O. Box 68, Walden, CO 80480. 970-723-4600. northparkchamber@outlook.com.

RON SESSIONS MEMORIAL ICE GOLF TOURNAMENT | JAN. OR FEB., 2018 There may be other ice golf tournaments in the country, but none is more fun than this one. Held every January or early February as soon as Walden Reservoir has enough ice, the tournament in 2016 had 80 teams playing on the 40-hole golf course carved out on the frozen waters of the reservoir just west of town. The course design is based on an actual golf course with shorter distances. Players hit tennis balls using regular golf clubs. The “holes” are six inches in diameter, drilled into the ice. The “greens” and “fairways” are clean ice, and the “roughs” are snow. Cash prizes of several hundred dollars (based on the number of entries) can be won by the best golfers, or by entering a Calcutta and selecting the best team. The Jackson County Lions Club sponsors this fundraising event but it wouldn’t be possible

In the heart of the Moose-Viewing Capital of Colorado!

without the help of local businesses such as Sessions & Sons contractors, the Walden Reservoir Company, Wyatt Redi-Mix, Mountain Parks Electric, and a host of volunteers. All proceeds above prize money and expenses go to support local projects such as eye care for needy individuals in the community, college scholarships, and support of Lions Park. Date is TBA and dependent upon ice conditions. Contact: 970-723-4012 for tourney date, an entry form or further information. Ask for the club pro.

MOONLIGHT SKIING - FULL-MOON OPEN HOUSE | JAN. 6, 2018, 3PM-9PM The Colorado State Forest State Park hosts two FullMoon Open Houses, one in January and one in February. The 6.5-mile groomed trail is lit with glow sticks and participants receive glow-in-the-dark bracelets.

Bring a dish to share during the potluck.

SFSP also has a recreation activity in the park called geocaching, a sort of “high-tech treasure hunt” with a GPS unit that can be done year-round.

You can rent a GPS unit at the Moose Visitor Center for $10 a day. For more information visit www. geocaching.com. A vehicle park pass is required.

The contact for moonlight skiing and geocaching is Grace Kelley at 970-723-8366.

COMMUNITY ICE RINK

Walden’s ice rink opens as soon as the ice freezes (and volunteers can find the time to remove the snow). Open from daylight to 10 p.m. when the lights are turned off.

Skating is free and there are occasional pick-up hockey games. Located east of the high school building at the end of 3rd Street. Contact: Mark Russell 970-723-8480.

FEBRUARY MOONLIGHT SKIING FULL-MOON OPEN HOUSE FEB. 3, 2018, 3PM-9PM

This is the second of the Full-Moon Open Houses hosted by the Colorado State Forest State Park; see the description under January events. A vehicle park pass is required. The contact for moonlight skiing and geocaching is Grace Kelley at 970-723-8366.

This annual contest offers generous cash prizes for overall and hourly winners. There are prizes for kids, a raffle for donated merchandise and other fun stuff. The tournament starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Additional information and registration forms are available from the North Park Chamber of Commerce: 467 Main Street, P.O. Box 68, Walden, CO 80480. 970-723-4600, northparkchamber@outlook.com.

NORTH PARK SNOW SNAKES POKER RUN | FEB. 10, 2018

This event starts and ends in the Colorado State Forest State Park. The route is along groomed trails in the State Forest and Routt National Forest. There are door prizes, cash winnings, a live auction and a warm meal before and after the ride. Contact: Randy Miller at 970-218-4974.

31ST ANNUAL GOULD SKI SCRAMBLE AND SNOWSHOE STOMP | FEB. 25, 2018

This cross-country ski and snowshoe event includes a potluck supper and dance with live music in the rustic log cabin of the Gould Community Center. The routes follow trails through the Colorado State Forest under the tallest mountains in North Park. Registration forms can be found on the Colorado State Forest web site at http://lamar.colostate.edu/statefor/skirace.htm, or call 970-723-4070.

APRIL SAGE GROUSE TOURS APRIL 14 & 15 AND 21 & 22, 2018 Held every April during the middle two weekends of the month, this is a chance to see the greater sage grouse males perform their mating dance in hopes of convincing the females to choose them. Birders come from as far away as England to observe the sage grouse in their mating rituals. Additional information is available through the North Park Chamber of Commerce, 970-723-4600, and northparkchamber@outlook.com.

Charming Gould, Colorado cabins offering luxurious amenities  500-count luxury sheets and pillowcases  Soft and luxurious towels  Flat-screen satellite TV  Robes, hair dryer, Welcome Basket  Coffee and tea service including electric tea kettle and coffee plunger  Breakfast including cooked-to-order hot breakfast and daily specials  Private fishing pond stocked with rainbow and brown trout  Complimentary use of fishing gear  Picnic area with propane grills & cooking tools  Guest lounge with fireplace and big-screen TV Guest Lodge Relax in the cozy lounge of our lodge and enjoy an afternoon snack of homemade goodies, entertainment on the big-screen TV, or check your email with our free Wi-Fi. The dining room, with its large, circular fireplace, is where you will be served a full, hot breakfast each morning and a home-cooked dinner each evening (with Dinner-Included option). The gift shop features hand-made leather goods from ColoradoBootopbags, furs by The Fur Side, and hand-made jewelry by Courtney.

55278 Colorado Highway 14 (90 miles west of Ft. Collins & 20 miles east of Walden, Colo.)

970-723-8300

DELANEY BUTTE LAKES - ICE-FISHING CONTEST | FEBRUARY 3, 2018

“This is our fifth stay and so far the best.

Millie & Gerry made our stay feel like we were at home with family. We always have loved the cabins and it was immaculate and homey...”

Dustin, Shannon, Madrisa and Logan Brush, Colorado

“Thank you for a most delightful vacation.

Great accommodations – comfortable and relaxing.

Great food. Great company – the best!”

Jeannie and Jim, Loveland, Colorado

Visit our website at www.clarkpeakcabins.com Email us at info@clarkpeakcabins.com

2017-2018 | North Park Visitors Guide

JUNE STATE FOREST STATE PARK

On weekends throughout the summer months, State Forest State Park at the Moose Visitor Center on Highway 14 offers informative talks on regional flora and fauna and short, guided hikes to spectacular spots. Watch the newspaper for dates and events or contact Grace Kelley at 970723-8366.

Be sure to save the date: August 12, when the Moose Visitor Center will host “A Day of Moose,” which will include experts from Colorado Parks and Wildlife answering questions and talking about the moose in North Park. There will be stations set up with different activities and, if we are lucky, a few moose wandering by now and then.

Watch for more details in The Jackson County Star. The contact for the Moose Festival is Grace Kelley at 970-723-8366.

SFSP also has a recreation activity in the Park called geocaching, a sort of “high-tech treasure hunt” with a GPS unit that can be done yearround. You can rent a GPS unit at the Moose Visitor Center for $10 a day. For more information visit www.geocaching.com. A vehicle park pass is required.

GOULD COMMUNITY EVENTS

Gould, 22 miles south of Walden on Highway 14, was a timber town that began in the 1930s and continued through the 1950s. Although the town itself is gone except for a few buildings, it still thrives as a community with permanent residents who live off the main road. From June through August, the community hosts potlucks where residents, summer visitors, and anyone who wanders by get together for a good meal and an evening of fun. Potlucks begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Gould Community Center. June dates are the 5th, 17th and

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26th; July dates are the 15th and 24th; and August dates are the 7th and 26th. Bring a dish to share and join in the fun. For more information contact Jean Krause at 970-723-4785.

Fishing Clinic at State Forest June 10, 2017 Join us for our annual Ranger Lakes Fishing Clinic with a Ranger. Rangers will be out at Ranger Lakes teaching all ages how to fish. Get outdoors and learn how to rig your rod, bait your line, and cast like a professional. No experience is needed, however, experienced anglers are also welcomed.

Fishing equipment will be provided, or feel free to bring your own. A valid 2017 Colorado fishing license is required for 16 years and older. Fishing licenses are available for purchase at the Moose Visitors Center.

see events Page 22

WHERE TO DINE

Four Winds Pizza & Subs 496 Main Street, Walden 970-723-8668 Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Closed Tuesdays Entrée price range $5-$25 Dine in or take out

Four Winds Pizza & Subs serves homemade pizza and subs, salads and ice cream. Enjoy foosball and air hockey before or after your meal, or browse the antiques and collectables at the adjoining Chipped Kettle antiques shop.

Moose Creek Café

508 Main Street, Walden 970-723-8272 Open every day at 6 a.m.

Entrée price range $8-$29 Dine in or take out www.MooseCreekCafe.net American and Southwest cuisine served in a casual atmosphere.

Moose Creek Café offers the only patio service in North Park.

Enjoy a hearty meal, friendly service, and the best food value in Walden. Look for the moose on Main!

The 10th Frame

(formerly Paradise Lanes) 688 Main Street, Walden 970-723-8616 Open 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Closed Thursday Entrée price range $7-$11 Dine in or take out Check us out on Facebook Enjoy a great selection of hot sandwiches, burgers and snacks.

Fridays are always Mexican food featuring stuffed sopapillas, smothered burritos, chili rellenos, tamales & Santa Fe chicken!

Watch your favorite team on the TV in a clean, comfortable atmosphere. Open bowling, video games and pool table.

River Rock Café

460 Main Street, Walden | 970723-4690 Open May–November: Sun–Thur 7am–9pm & Fri. & Sat. 7am–10pm Open December–April: Mon.–Thur. 11am – 8pm & Fri. 11 am – 9pm Sat. & Sun. 7 a.m.–9 p.m.

Entrée price range $9-$32 Dine in or take out www.WaldenRiverRock.com Country-style breakfasts, hearty lunches of made-to-order sandwiches, and a dinner menu featuring choice steaks, ribs, shrimp, chicken dishes, and salads — all prepared to perfection. It’s the place where the expectation of fine dining is exceeded only by the fellowship of good friends, a great atmosphere and excellent service.

Full bar, catering, private parties and banquet services available.

StormSplitter Grill at Lake John Resort 2521 Jackson County Rd 7A, Walden 970-723-3226 OPENING SOON! Dine in or take out www.LakeJohnResort.com

Stay in one of our cabins or hookup your RV, fish all day and enjoy your hot meals at the StormSplitter Grill on the shores of Lake John. Stunning 360-degree views and world-class fishing are right out your front door.

We will be offering a full-service bar and grill.

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

from Page 21 KING’S CANYON ARCHERY SHOOT, JUNE 10, 2017 This archery shoot is an event organized by the Colorado Bowhunters Association and held at the Village Bell Road just north of King’s Canyon. Information can be found on the www.coloradobowhunting.org website.

NORTH PARK HORSE & LIVESTOCK JACKPOT, JUNE 17, 2017

Northwest Colorado 4-H and FFA Jackpot Livestock Show. Youth from surrounding counties in Colorado and Wyoming participate. The Swine Show begins at 10 a.m., the Lamb show begins at 1 p.m., directly followed by the Goat Show; they wrap up the day with the Steer Show beginning at 3 p.m. For more information. Contact Deb Alpe at the Extension Office, 970-723-4298.

NEVER SUMMER RODEO & PARADE AND NORTH PARK PIONEER REUNION, JUNE 24 & 25, 2017 This is the biggest weekend of the year and the town fills up with rodeo fans, rodeo competitors, and reunion attendees. A long-time local tradition, the Never Summer Rodeo is held both Saturday and Sunday at the Jackson County Fairgrounds.

The busy day is capped off in the evening with a public BBQ on Main Street. This is a perfect time to meet the special people of North Park and share in a beloved tradition. When the sun goes down, the music comes up. Live music is heard on Main Street as the rodeo dancers two-step and swing the night away. Sunday kicks off with a parade through downtown and is followed by another day of rodeo competition. Contact: www.npneversummerrodeo.com.

The North Park Pioneers Association is celebrating its 89th annual reunion, a gathering of current and past North Park residents, family and friends. This is a time for old friends to gather and catch up, to look at photo albums from previous reunions, and to share a meal. The short program includes a presentation by the Pioneer Family of the Year (this year the Richard family), a little entertainment, and a silent auction to raise money to help support the Pioneer Museum. While you’re

here, check out the new annex at the Museum. A local resident donated a two-story building that has been attached to the current museum (behind the courthouse), providing more space to show the treasures donated by North Park pioneers. Contact: Rick Cornelison at 970-846-7507.

NORTH PARK FFA OYSTER FRY, JUNE 25, 2017

The North Park FFA puts on an oyster fry every year on Sunday, at 11 a.m. during the Never Summer Rodeo weekend. It is held in the parking lot of Timberline Builders Supply and features Rocky Mountain oysters, hamburgers and trimmings. It’s a good fundraiser and a good meal. Contact: Eric Wellman at 970-701-9107.

JULY 100-Mile Garage Sale JULY 8, 2017, 4 P.M., TO JULY 9, 7 P.M. What a fabulous way to spend a day - cruising down beautiful Poudre Canyon on a lovely summer day, garage-saling to your heart’s content! A map of sales from Walden down Highway 14 to the mouth of Poudre Canyon will be available online at www.waldencolorado.com/events.

NEVER SUMMER 100k July 21-23, 2017

Think you could run 64.2 miles? How about if you had to run it through the mountains of Jackson County in Colorado’s State Forest State Park?

Last year’s Never Summer 100k-race started with 273 runners; 192 finished. The third-annual race begins on July 22 at 5:30 a.m. at the Gould Community Center, at an elevation of 9,100 feet, and goes up and down some of North Park’s highest peaks (North Diamond Peak is one, at 11,850). It’s not all up and down as the route passes through some beautiful alpine meadows and along forest roads. The race is organized by Gnar Runners of Fort Collins, founded by Nick Clark and Pete Stevenson. Their website is gnarrunners.com and there you can find all you need to know about participating (or just observing).

AUGUST 10TH ANNUAL WILD WEST RELAY (A.K.A. GET YOUR ASS OVER THE PASS!) AUGUST 4 & 5, 2017

The WWR is an annual 200-mile adventure race designed for runners of all abilities in which teams of four to 12 distance runners run through the night to reach the finish line. The race begins in Fort Collins, passes through Walden, and finishes in Steamboat Springs. Held on open public roads, much of this very scenic and remote course runs through National Forests or on dirt roads. The route winds through Roosevelt, Medicine Bow, and Routt National Forests, and through small mountain and ranching communities, including highways in North Park. Last year, 1,000 runners participated. For information contact Paul Vanderheiden at 303-800-5353 or paul@timberlineevents.com.

MOOSE FESTIVAL, August 12, 2017

The Moose Visitor Center will host “A Day of Moose,” which will include experts from Colorado Parks and Wildlife answering questions and talking about the moose in North Park. There will be stations set up with different activities and, if we are lucky, a few moose wandering by now and then.

Watch for more details in The Jackson County Star.

The contact for the Moose Festival is Grace Kelley at 970-723-8366.

NORTH PARK DAY Street FAIR, AUG.12, 2017

Hanson Park on 4th Street will be filled with booths offering a variety of products — handcrafted items, jewelry, art, clothing, books by North Park authors, flea markets, food and the not-to-be-missed pie and ice cream (all homemade) booth of the North Park Woman’s Club. The Never Summer Quilters show may be held at the Jackson County Public Library on Fourth Street (pending). Check out the displays at the North Park Pioneer Museum, “The Best Little Museum in the West.” Call the North Park Chamber of Commerce at 970-723-4600 for booth rental and more information.

2017-2018 | North Park Visitors Guide

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT @ NORTH PARK HOT-AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL AUGUST 12 & 13, 2017

There’s nothing quite like watching hot air balloons rise into North Park’s clear blue skies. This wildly successful balloon festival is marking its 13th year, an annual event growing in popularity every year. More than a dozen hot-air balloons will lift off from the North Park School grounds shortly after sunrise on Saturday and Sunday, with a balloon glow at dusk on Saturday (weather permitting). Join the fun and observe these colorful balloons floating in the crystal air against a backdrop of the high peaks of North Park. This is a spectacular explosion of color and is a late-summer event not to be missed. Contact: Matt at 970-215-2354.

WOMEN’S RETRIEVER CLUB FIELD DOG TRIALS EXPO WHISTLING ELK RANCH AUGUST 2017 (EXACT DATE TBA) Contact: North Park Chamber of Commerce at 970723-4600.

VOLUNTEERS FOR OUTDOOR COLORADO - LAKE AGNES TRAIL PROJECT AUGUST 19 & 20, 2017

Trail Maintenance/ Stewardship Project. Contact State Forest State Park - Louis Moeller @ (970) 723-8366 ext. 13

STATE PARKS VOLUNTEER DAY AUGUST 26 & 27, 2017

Trail Maintenance/ Stewardship Project. Contact State Forest State Park - Louis Moeller @ (970) 723-8366 ext. 13

SEPTEMBER JACKSON COUNTY FAIR, SEPT7-10, 2017 This four-day event is a North Park tradition that provides opportunities for youths and adults to exhibit their skills and talents. The display of authentic Jackson County craftsmanship, home arts, agriculture and prize-winning livestock showcase the rich culture of North Park. Projects from

FFA and 4-H clubs are judged, as well as the Home Arts division with cooking, canning, art, photography, quilting and numerous other categories. Don’t miss the Saturday night BBQ featuring smoked beef, pork and lamb. Dinner is followed by the popular Junior Livestock Sale where you can purchase a steer, lamb, pig or rabbit and contribute to a young person’s college fund. Contact: Deb Alpe 970-723-4298.

North Park STOCKGROWERS 23RD ANNUAL RANCH RODEO JACKSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, SEPT. 17, 2017, 10 A.M.

Organized by the North Park Stockgrowers Association, this is a regional gathering of talented ranch hands and cowboys competing at such activities as team penning, branding, doctoring, trailer loading, and a hide sled race. Activities begin with the 8 a.m.

Cowboy Church and 9 a.m. registration and Calcutta.

The Grand Entry begins at 10 a.m. followed by rodeo events.This is the perfect opportunity to observe real cowboys doing what they do best and some of the best roping horses around. Contact: Lacey Paeglow at 970819-0102.

OCTOBER HALLOWEEN PARTY OCTOBER 28, 2017

Held at the beautiful Moose Visitor Center south of Gould, the event includes food, fun, pumpkin-carving contest and a costume contest. Just bring a potluck dish to share. A $7 park pass is required. Contact: Moose Visitor Center 970-7238366. (This annual event was still pending at press time. Check with the Moose Visitor Center or The Jackson County Star.)

NOVEMBER HARVEST CRAFT FESTIVAL, NOV.11, 2017

The annual Harvest Craft Festival brings out the best from local artists, artisans and cooks, and is a perfect time to do your Christmas shopping.

Welcome to The Rand Store!

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isit us and enjoy the ambience of pleasing scents and charming displays of lodge-style home decor, throws, pillows and wall hangings. We have a wonderful variety of moose items, wind chimes, pottery, candles, stained glass, baskets, puzzles and Christmas ornaments. ur selection of books includes something for everyone–Western history, birds, wildlife & wildflowers, hiking & camping, and books by local authors.

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The ABCs of seasonal merriment — Artisans, Bake sales, Craft booths — gather at the old high school gym to entice your interests. Some years you can see a demonstration of how to make a gingerbread house; some years there is live music; and sometimes Santa shows up. You never know what delights you might find. This is a great way to find unique Christmas gifts and to support the local community. Plan on having lunch there— local cooks will provide a tasty lunch for a small price. Call the North Park Chamber of Commerce at 970-723-4600 for booth rental and more information.

DECEMBER CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, DEC. 15, 2017

Birders and nature enthusiasts across the western hemisphere participate in Audubon’s longest-running tradition, the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The CBC is vital in monitoring the status of resident and migratory birds across the western hemisphere, and the data, which are 100% volunteer generated, have become a crucial part of the U. S. Government’s natural history monitoring database.

The Jackson County, Colorado, CBC will be held at the Colorado State Forest State Park Moose Visitor Center, 56750 Highway 14 (one mile east of Gould). Groups will enjoy a light breakfast furnished by the State Forest State Park, then head out by 8 a.m. After the CBC, a warm meal will be provided. Contact: Grace Kelley at 970-723-8366.

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSES

Many of the businesses in Walden hold an open house during the weeks in December where visitors can nibble homemade food and escape work for a little while. Each weekday one or more Main Street merchants welcome all into their place of business. The North Park Chamber of Commerce, 970-723-4600, sponsors the event.

? g u l p n U to

d e e N e to the serenity onf places... pe o e Escap d i w k’s r a P h t Nor

Originally built as a hotel in the late 1890s, this historic building has served as a stage stop, general store, hotel, cafe and convenience store. Our family has owned and operated The Rand Store since 1972.

We are located in Rand on Colorado State Highway 125, a scenic route between Rocky Mountain NP and Yellowstone NP. Visitors are drawn to the Rand area for the beautiful scenery and the moose viewing.

Moose were transplanted here in 1978 and have been thriving ever since in the near-perfect habitat of the forests and willow bottoms.

At The Rand Store you’ll have access to information on hiking trails, fishing holes, the latest moose sightings, and the “local” news of the day. Because of winter weather, we are a seasonal business open June through November, so call before you venture this way. However, you can visit our online store year-round to see our newest products and photos of the area. We hope to see you soon!

el & Trav aps!

M Area

The Rand Store

Hours: Thurs.–Sun. 10 am to 5 pm 970-723-4300 Online store at TheRandStore.com

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To learn more about spectacular North Park, Colo., visit www.visitnorthparkco.com & check us out on Facebook!

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North Park Visitors Guide | 2017-2018

ONE OF THE LAST FRONTIERS...

THE FAMOUS RAND YACHT CLUB w/RESIDENCE.. this is a wonderful opportunity to fulfill your entrepreneurial spirit! The Rand Yacht Club, as featured in the special dining segment of the Denver Post, is available for new ownership along with a 3-bedroom home and six sleeping cabins all situated on seven lots. Imagine delicious destination dining and perhaps live music playing from the patio all located in the peaceful Rocky Mountain town of Rand, Colorado. Or your own personal saloon. A destination to visit and enjoy! All you need to bring are your ideas for success as the possibilities are limitless.

10180 & 10178 Highway 125 Offered for $285,000

JUST LISTED...amazing Craftsmanstyle home situated on 8.13 fenced and irrigated acres. Close to amenities yet in the country. Easy and efficient living in this functional, fun and flexible space. Great room, family room, hobby rooms, truth window...this home is amazing! Attached garage, ample storage. Wonderful opportunity to enjoy your own custom-built home with acreage in the Rocky Mountain West known as North Park - the adventurers’ mecca.

122 Jackson County Road 17B. Offered for $349,000

Cute 3-bedroom home... fenced yard, detached garage.

308 Main Street.

CABIN ON ACREAGE.... here is your chance to own the dream on 10 acres with well and electric near the famous Delaney Buttes fishery, Zirkel Wilderness, Buffalo Pass and so much more! Located in the heart of North Park’s recreational mecca. Majestic mountain views, private location yet easily accessible. The mountain cabin dream can be yours! 6267 JCR 22 Offered for $195,900

Call Jen for...Mineral and water rights are transferred with this 199 +/- acres located in southeastern Jackson County. Call Jennifer for lengthy legal and additional information. Offered for $210,000.

160 acres near Pearl and Big Creek Lake. Co-Listed with Rick Beveridge, Vail Valley Real Estate Offered for $205,000

Call Jen for all current North Park Listings 970.219.4982 | 970.723.8311 (H) waldencoloradorealestate.com

Jennifer Weddle

“Your North Park Real Estate Professional”

Jennifer Weddle | Broker, G.R.I., C.R.S. 454 Main St. Walden, Colorado northparkpremier@gmail.com

“Serving North Park’s inclusive Real Estate needs since 1998”

RANCH - RECREATION - RESIDENTIAL - COMMERCIAL

Free

• Local Literature • Hunting • Fishing • Moose Viewing • Walden and Jackson County Maps • Calendar of Events • Where to Dine • Snowmobiling • Balloon Fest • Pioneer Museum • Platte River • Local Hiking

North Park, Colorado

2017-2018 VISITORS GUIDE