Located in the northwest corner of Colorado, Rangely is a stop along the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Historic Byway — a 512-mile route that showcases traces of prehistoric dinosaurs. The town offers high desert adventures near the Utah border and is only 20 miles from Dinosaur National Monument.
Rangely is truly a hidden gem, tucked away from the hustle and bustle that offers wide-open spaces to explore. This rural town is often referred to as “Small Town USA” or “Mini-Moab” by locals, so you know it’s perfect for your next visit.
Holler “fore” as you take on the nine holes at Cedar Ridges Golf Course, a short yet challenging par 36 that’s open mid-March through mid-November. Just out of sight of downtown, the course is located atop one of the mesas — those epic flat-topped mountains.
When the heat of summer hits, Kenney Reservoir is an ideal cool-off spot, located five miles east of Rangely. Boating, fishing, cliff-diving, paddleboarding, kayaking and swimming are all permitted in the reservoir’s bright blue sea. The bonus? It’s seldom crowded!
With room to roam, this hamlet beckons bikers, hikers and OHV enthusiasts. You can spend hours attempting to spot wildlife or looking for the pictographs and petroglyphs left by the Fremont and Ute in the Canyon Pintado National Historic District. If you want to learn about the nation’s largest oil fields, take a self-guided tour at the Rangely Outdoor Museum.
If big game hunting is for you, there is primo trophy-hunting grounds right outside of town. The area is home to the largest elk population in the state.
Once you’re done frolicking outside, admire a collection of rare vehicles at Rangely Automotive Museum or experience a one-of-a-kind sonic environment at The TANK Center for Sonic Arts. This concert hall lived its former life as a steel water tank from the steam engine age.
As the sun sets, let the kiddos run off their abundant energy at Elk Park, located in the municipality center. Meanwhile, you can grill up dinner at one of the picnic pavilions. Then nighttime rolls in and paints the sky jet-black, which means it’s time for stargazing — spot planets, stars and maybe even the Milky Way.