Discover Rangely

When looking for a hotel in Rangely, you can plan your trip around whether you’re interested in cultural history and sound art, water activities, off-roading, or golf. The different themes offer a variety of ways to shape your stay.

Cultural History and Sound Art

The Rangely Outdoor Museum uses historic buildings to tell the story of the area’s Indigenous peoples and Rangely’s prehistory, as well as its pioneer and ranching history and the development of its energy resources. The Canyon Pintado National Historic District focuses on archaeological sites: it includes hundreds of sites, primarily associated with the Indigenous Fremont and Ute peoples.

With The TANK, Rangely has a sound art center and audio laboratory for musicians, sound artists, educators, and residents. The building is a seven-story Corten steel water tank that was moved to Rangely in the mid-1960s. Cultural interpretation and sound art thus represent distinct cultural themes of the destination.

SeptemberFest takes place in Rangely every year over Labor Day weekend. If you plan your trip around the festival, check the specific event dates in advance.

The White River and Kenney Reservoir

One mile east of Rangely lies Kenney Reservoir, where the Taylor Draw Dam holds back the White River. The calm waters are suitable for water skiing, diving, swimming, boating, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Activities may vary depending on the weather and local conditions. The reservoir also has a marina, campgrounds, and areas for wildlife watching.

The White River flows through the center of Rangely, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and wildlife watching. Conditions for floating are seasonal. Sandstone cliffs frame the river along the northern edge of Rangely, with lush vegetation in the warm season. The reservoir and the river therefore differ in the water activities and conditions described.

Off-Roading, Mountain Biking, and Golf

The Rangely Rock Crawling Park is a few miles southwest of Rangely. It is the only designated natural rock crawling park in the state of Colorado. BLM lands south of Rangely offer terrain for mountain biking. They can be accessed via County Road 23, also known as Dragon Road, and include sagebrush plains and prominent rock ledges.

The Wagon Wheel OHV Trails range from easy to extreme. This range of difficulty is a separate consideration when planning an off-road trip; it describes the trails and is not a rating of the other activities mentioned.

The public Cedar Ridges Golf Course is located on the mesas above Rangely. The course has nine holes and is par 36, with panoramic views of the town. If golf is part of your travel plans, check information about tee times in advance.

Discover more destinations: Meeker.

For the broader travel overview: Rio Blanco County.