Rio Blanco

If you didn't know better, you might just miss Rio Blanco. Located on Colorado 13 between the hunting and fishing hubs of Rifle and Meeker, Rio Blanco is but a bump in the road.

What may not be evident on the surface is most certainly hidden deep in the past. And there's no better place to explore the richness of Rio Blanco County's past than the White River Museum in Meeker. The local historical society has captured the history of this rugged part of Colorado in artifacts, photographs and plenty of old tales. The big hunting escapades of Teddy Roosevelt, one of Colorado's most famous visitors, are also well documented here.

Those who pass through Rio Blanco today are typically on their way to an exciting hunting or fishing excursion in the famed Flat Tops Wilderness area. The surrounding natural areas are also popular destinations for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter.

Rio Blanco itself is situated in a basin formed by the Yampa Plateau, Danforth Hills and Williams River Mountains on the north and east, and the White River Plateau, Bookcliffs and Book Plateau on the south. The panoramic views here reveal mountains topping out at 12,000 feet and will inspire any photographer.