Walden
Just over Muddy Pass on the way to Steamboat Springs, Walden rests on a high glacial plain at the headwaters of the North Platte River in an area called North Park — known as the Moose Capital of Colorado.
Just over Muddy Pass on the way to Steamboat Springs, Walden rests on a high glacial plain at the headwaters of the North Platte River in an area called North Park — known as the Moose Capital of Colorado.
Nearby State Forest State Park is an excellent place to spot the lumbering beauties. Be sure to stop at the Moose Visitor Center in the park to learn about the North Park moose and early timber camps. Meanwhile, the Cache la Poudre-North Park scenic byway is an excellent way to tour the area's beautiful scenery.
Historically a favorite Ute hunting ground, the area, just 20 miles from the Wyoming border, has also begun to draw outdoor enthusiasts who are interested in pursuing their interests — hunting, hiking, camping, fishing in Gold Medal waters, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, snowmobiling — in more remote Mt. Zirkel Wilderness and Routt National Forest.
Walden's Main Street welcome center can point you to all the outdoor activities surrounding you year-round, including ghost-town exploration, wildlife refuges, rodeos and the OHV trails in North Sand Hills’ sand dunes. The area is home to several ghost mining towns including Tellar City, Pearl and Coalmont, and is also known as the Moose Capital of Colorado.
The town of Walden offers several restaurants and inns. The North Park Pioneer Museum, in a 1882 ranch house, keeps track of the region's history back to its founding in 1890. Through several expansions the museum has grown to 27 rooms, including some re-created historical rooms and plenty of pioneer artifacts. The North Park Never Summer Rodeo held each June is rich in Western and cowboy heritage, July is highlighted by North Park Day festivities and August is focused on the Sky's the Limit Hot Air Balloon Festival.
Walden is part of the Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program, a nonprofit that helps visitors delve into the region’s rich culture and heritage. Look for signs in town highlighting notable icons in the community.
