Discover Western Fremont County

Western Fremont County is the area west of Cañon City or the Royal Gorge Region. The area represents a different slice of Colorado but no less beautiful and full of its own adventure and historical significance.

Western Fremont Towns and Places

Parkdale – Western Fremont

Parkdale’s prime location on the Arkansas River and near the Royal Gorge makes it a popular base camp for visitors. The area is the gateway to whitewater rafting in the Gorge and Bighorn Sheep Canyon.

Bighorn Sheep Canyon

Long known as a gateway into the Rockies, Highway 50 (once known as the Rainbow Route) runs west through the towering rock walls of the Arkansas River Canyon. This beautiful canyon is dubbed “Bighorn Canyon” and hosts a thriving population of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Colorado’s state animal. These majestic animals are often seen on both sides of the river throughout the canyon. The Arkansas River Headwaters Recreation Area is a Colorado State Park running through the Bighorn Sheep Canyon with several recreational sites. These sites host restrooms, river access for rafting, fishing, picnicking, wildlife observation, camping, and interpretative signs of the area. Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Texas Creek

Named for the Texas cattle driven through the area, this fly-fishing, ATV, and camping hotspot is loaded with scenic vistas and wildlife viewing opportunities. Highway 69 south at Texas Creek takes you to Hillside and the beautiful Wet Mountain Valley, where you can enjoy fantastic views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, one of the most beautiful in Colorado.

Cotopaxi

This quaint community was once a railroad stop and is well known for the Russian Jewish Agricultural Colony, which settled here in 1882. A small fenced section of Russian Jewish graves remains in the cemetery behind the Cotopaxi School (Founded in the 1870s).

Hillside

Roughly 100 people call Hillside home. It is situated between Westcliffe and Cotopaxi, a tight-knit farming community that has never had a mayor, town hall, or city council.

Coaldale

A bustling mining town and popular touring stop for opera stars in the late 1800s, Coaldale is surrounded by towering peaks and is known for its secluded camping opportunities. Head south on Hayden Creek Road to see some of Colorado’s last remaining charcoal kilns. Charcoal production was a major industry in the early 1900s, producing charcoal for area smelters and railroads.

Vallie Bridge

A river access and camping area is also the start of the Pathway into History interpretive drive with signs explaining the area’s history.

The Town of Howard – Western Fremont

The Arkansas River runs through this pleasant Western Fremont Valley community, drawing rafters, kayakers, and fishermen. The beautiful forested area features horseback riding, hiking, and ATV tours. The Old Howard Church, constructed in 1898, sits on the original location of the Howard town site, about a mile off Highway 50, facing the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Twin Sisters peaks, named by one of the original homesteaders. Self-guided tours of the area are available at the church.