Cowdrey

Set in a valley between towering granite mountains in Colorado’s North Park area, Cowdrey is a rural farming community.

The town is fairly close to the Wyoming border and fairly close to the sky — it sits at 8,000 feet of altitude. Just west of town is Independence Mountain, a 12,000-foot behemoth with trails that lead to views for miles and miles.

Head east to North Sand Hills Recreation Management Area, where sand dunes reign supreme amid cottonwood groves.

Fun fact: It’s the only sand off-highway vehicle recreation area in Colorado. Snap a photo of the post office, a charming building that looks like it was made of Lincoln Logs, before proceeding north for a hike to the cascading Big Creek Falls in Routt National Forest.