Clockwisefromtop^left:^Courtesy^ of^ Grand^CountyColoradoTourismBoard(^2);^ Courtesyof^ Bureauof^ Land^Managment;^Courtesyof^ LiquidDescentTRAVEL
GORE CANYON
Come August, this stretch
of the Colorado River (about
three miles southwest of town)
is usually mellow enough for
expert rafters set on conquer-
ing Gore’s fearsome Class V
rapids. Even then, the U.S.
Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) recommends attempt-
ing the challenge with an
outfitter. Liquid Descent’s
guided six-hour trips meet
in Kremmling and hit such
thrillers as Tunnel Falls, which
sends paddlers over a dra-
matic 12-foot ledge, and the
Class IV, quarter-mile-long
Kirshbaum rapids. $160 per
person, coloradorafting.com
Town & Country
At the confluence of the Colorado and Blue rivers sits Kremmling, a
tiny ranch community home to a mountainous landscape and myriad
opportunities for pulse-quickening adventures. —KELLY BASTONE
taps at Grand Adventure
Brewing Co. Meander over
for a crisp River Ranger
Pilsner, then take advan-
tage of your cabin’s picnic
table, grill, and campfire
to roast s’mores beneath
starry skies. From $119;
315 River Lane, muddy
creekcabins.comMIDDLE PARK MEAT CO.
You expect great steaks
in ranch country, and
this meat shop delivers.
Most of the cuts, such
as the aged beef and
judiciously seasoned
jerky, are sourced from
Colorado farms. We
recommend picking up
a few apple-cured pork
chops to toss on the grill.
The recipe, developed by
Harlan Land (who oper-
ated Middle Park Meat
Co. from 1975 to 2016), is
still used by the current
owner. 1107 C O 9KREMMLING CRETACEOUS
AMMONITE LOCALITYAbout 10 miles north of
town, a brief trek up a
wind-raked ridge leads to
the remnants of gigantic
snail-like creatures (called
ammonites) scatteredacross the hillside. These
birdbath-size fossils are
all that’s left of the mam-
moth gastropods after
primeval seas receded
about 72 million years
ago. Free; blm.govGORE CANYON TRAIL
If you’re not quite ready for
Class V rapids, admire Gore
Canyon’s sheer walls from
the safety of
dry land. This
2.8-mile out-and-
back trail starts
at the BLM’s
Pumphouse Rec-
reation Site, hugs
the shoreline for
the first half-mile,
and connects
several enticing
fishing holes
(trout are plenti-
ful along this part
of the Colorado
River). Soon, the
path climbs the canyon walls
on a narrow, cliff-edge course
offering bird’s-eye views of the
gorge. Nine miles from CO 9
on Grand County Road 1MIDDLE PARK FAIR AND RODEO
The 103rd edition of this
Grand County get-together
features country crooner
Easton Corbin (August 10) and
bronc riders. The main attrac-
tion, though, might be the Get
Smashed Demolition Derby
(August 17), in which cars,many decorated for the “best
theme” contest, collide in an
explosion of mindless—and
highly entertaining—destruc-
tion. Tickets and schedules at
middleparkfairandrodeo.comBIG SHOOTER COFFEE
A mural-size sign depicting
an upside-down yellow cow
in a coffee cup marks the java
shop and bakery where local
commuters stop for monstrous
breakfast burritos and cof-
fees to go. In the afternoons,
hand-dipped ice cream is best
savored on the shop’s pine-log
front-porch swing. Or sip an
Electric Fence—a milkshake
spiked with espresso and
coffee grounds—while you
browse Big Shooter’s eclec-
tic mashup of Nordic skiing
memorabilia and taxidermy.
311 Park Ave.MUDDY CREEK CABINS
These 10 log abodes (each
sleeps four) back up to the
eroded cliffs just north of
Kremmling and feel like remote
backcountry outposts—espe-
cially when deer graze within
sight of your front porch. Yet
they sit only one block from theThe small yet
wild town of
Kremmling48 |^5280 |^ AUGUST^2019