4 Best Sights in Steamboat Springs and Northwest Colorado, Colorado

One of just three ranges in the United States set aside for wild horses, this range encompasses 36,113 acres of rugged canyons and plateaus in the Bookcliffs. Between 90 and 150 wild horses roam the sagebrush-covered hills. Most years new foals can be spotted with their mothers in spring and early summer on the hillsides just off the main trails. Local favorites for mountain biking and hiking include the Coal Canyon Trail and Main Canyon Trail, where the herd often goes in winter. Vehicles are permitted on designated trails.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Cross Orchards Historic Site re-creates a historic agricultural community of the early 20th century on its 24½-acre site. A workers' bunkhouse, blacksmith shop, country store, and an extensive collection of vintage farming and road-building equipment are among the exhibits. Tours lasting 1½–2 hours, or tours that are tailored to visitors' interests, are available upon request. Call to check hours; it's not always staffed.

The Museum of the West relates the history of the area since the 1880s, with a time line, a firearms display, and a Southwest pottery collection. The area's rich mining heritage is perfectly captured in the uranium mine that educates with interactive sound and exhibit stations, and the museum also oversees paleontological excavations. The museums of the Grand Junction area have banded together as the Museums of Western Colorado, which comprises the Museum of the West (this one), the Dinosaur Journey Museum ( 550 Jurassic Ct., Fruita), and the Cross Orchards Living History Farm ( 3073 F Rd., Grand Junction).

This center rotates a fine permanent collection of Native American tapestries and Western contemporary art, including the only complete series of lithographs by noted printmaker Paul Pletka. The fantastically carved doors—done by a WPA artist in the 1930s—alone are worth the visit. Take time to view the elegant historic homes along North 7th Street afterward. Admission is always free for children under 12; it's also free on Tuesday for everyone.