Maybell

Situated in the northwestern corner of Colorado, tiny Maybell watches the placid waters of the Yampa River flow by 60 miles downstream from the town of Craig.

This is rugged Colorado land, covered with hearty sage, cedar, juniper and ponderosa pines. Canyons carve through the landscape and you are just as likely to see elk and eagles as you are another human. The area's remoteness attracts residents and visitors alike, from the Wild Bunch outlaws in the 1860s to present-day birdwatchers and others just looking for a little solitude. 

Maybell is a small ranching community with a school, restaurant, gas station and general store. If you are headed through on Hwy. 40, the Cowboy and Gunfighter Museum in Craig details this area's rough past.

About the same distance to the west lies Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge, 13,500 acres of protected wetlands. Two hundred species of birds live here, including bald and golden eagles, as well as peregrine falcons. The park welcomes horseback riders, birdwatchers, sightseers and hikers year round. In areas like Maybell, you'll find rugged beauty in one of nature's finest playgrounds. There aren't many amenities outside of Maybell, but there's plenty of room for adventure.

The wild horses at Sand Wash Wild Horse Management Area, where a herd of more than 600 roam, are another natural wonder in Moffatt County. For more Western-horse-style action, visit in spring for the Great American Horse Drive, when hundreds of horses trot right through downtown — with a party and lunch following the amazing sight.

Find tried-and-true viewing spots along Wild Horse Loop on Sevenmile Ridge just north of Maybell. Another must-see just west of town includes Vermillion Falls, a 25-foot cascade right off Hwy. 318.