Meeker combines singletrack trails for hiking and biking with a history that stretches from the former Camp on White River to its historic downtown. This gives you different ways to focus your trip: outdoor trails, local history, or a mix of both.
Trails and Parks Around Meeker
The Meeker Trails include a total of 11 miles of singletrack open to hiking and biking. The trailhead is located in Sanderson Hill Park. The park has parking, a restroom, a playground, a ball field, and a picnic shelter. This trailhead therefore combines access to the trails with several park amenities.
The Meadow Loop is a mostly flat beginner trail. It can be accessed from Sanderson Hills Park or 7th Street. For beginners looking for a mostly flat trail, the Meadow Loop is one option. If you’re looking for a different park area, Phillip & Dorcas Jensen Memorial Park, just outside Meeker, offers 57 acres of rugged open space with maintained hiking and biking trails. The China Wall Trail starts there at the Pinyon Trail.
West of the city limits is Ute Park, which serves as a starting point for access to BLM land. It’s another landmark to consider when planning outdoor activities.
Meeker’s Local History
Meeker was founded in 1885 on the site of the U.S. Army post Camp on White River. The original White River Museum building was built as housing for U.S. Army officers in 1880. The camp’s former officers’ quarters and barracks later became the museum. Three of the five log cabins built at the camp in 1880 remain at their original locations.
Downtown also offers a distinct connection to the area’s history: the Meeker Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. It encompasses all or part of eleven blocks in the historic downtown. Another destination connected to local history is the Bank Robbery Trail, which leads to the original vault of the Meeker Bank. The bank was robbed in 1896.
The White River Museum also houses the original 19th-century stagecoach that Teddy Roosevelt rode on his hunting trips to Meeker. The museum is open daily year-round: from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from mid-April through the end of November, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter. Check the opening hours before your trip.
Events and Local Heritage
The Range Call Festival has been held in Meeker since 1938 to celebrate Western heritage. The annual program includes a parade, rodeos, fireworks, and a reenactment of the bank robbery on July 4. Program details may vary from year to year, so check that year’s schedule before your trip.
The Meeker Classic centers on a five-day sheepdog trial held on the Meeker course. The Meeker Classic also works to promote and preserve the region’s agricultural heritage. The events therefore have different focuses: Range Call celebrates Western heritage, while the Meeker Classic highlights sheep husbandry and agricultural heritage.
The White River and the Flat Tops Scenic Byway
Visitors can reach the White River from Town Park and stroll along its banks. Fish in the White River include brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and cutthroat trout. The Flat Tops Wilderness Area surrounds the Town of Meeker, providing another connection to nature during your stay.
The Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway is 82 miles long and runs between Yampa and Meeker. In summer, the route is passable by any passenger vehicle; weather and road conditions can affect seasonal access. Check current conditions before driving. The route’s length and two endpoints offer a different scale for planning than the trails in the parks around Meeker.
Discover more destinations: Rangely.
Go to the parent travel overview: Rio Blanco County.
