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 Highway 40, the Cowboy and Gunfighter Museum in Craig details this area's rough past.
About the same distance to the west lies Brown's 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 isn't a great deal of amenities outside of Maybell, but there's plenty of room for adventure. |
